OFM_WinterAthletes_1121FINAL_SW.qxp_Feature 10 / 25 / 21 5 : 38 PM Page 5 S sport ? Were you young R when you started ? Joe EGONZALEZ JG : I started when I was M 8 and my brother started Winter Park boys wrestling R when he was 11 . It’s a Gonzalez , a senior , is coming off a remarkable funny story : I’ve Obeen junior season in which he captured the 145 - F boxing since I was 3 , and pound state championship . He also earned I did karate from 6 to R8 district and regional titles on his way to an and jiu - jitsu from 6 to E8 . undefeated 19 - 0 record . So I had all the Pstandup fighting stuff , but when Orlando Family Magazine : Winning states is the Kpin - I it came to the ground nacle for high school wrestling . What did it mean Ato didn’t know anything ex - you to accomplish that feat last Eyear ? cept being on my back . Joe Gonzalez : It meant a lot because I didn’t get to So I was sparring PMMA wrestle my sophomore year and I came up short my one day and a kid who freshman year . I trained really hard to make it to states knew judo ended up tak - and do what I had to do to win . … It was a total adren - ing me down a bunch of aline rush and it felt great . times . No matter how good my hands or feet were , or OFM : What are some of your other interests ? even my jiu - jitsu , I was just no match for that aspect of JG : Honestly , wrestling is a year - round sport . When OFM : What’s it like to have your brother James on his game . So my dad put me into wrestling after that to I’m not taking wrestling seriously , I’m taking MMA se - the team ? Are you workout partners ? teach me how to defend the takedown . We didn’t really riously . Sometimes on the weekends I go out with JG : Yes . Whenever we’re in the Winter Park wrestling expect to get this far , get this competitive or even go to friends or family and do little stuff but I don’t have a room , we usually pair up and usually we work out to - a tournament . But after my first tournament when I was lot of free time . gether all the time . It’s amazing to have my little brother about 9 years old , I think my dad realized I had a little bit I know and on the team so I can teach him everything of natural talent and I might as well keep going with it . OFM : Do you like growing up in Florida ? help him get better . He’s going to surprise a lot of peo - JG : Yeah , Florida is the best state . I’ve been to a lot of ple this year . He made it to states last year but kind of let OFM : Do you see yourself wrestling at the next level other states and Florida is one of the more free states . the spotlight get to him a little bit . He had never wres - now ? you can’t do in other You get to do a lot of the stuff that tled in the spotlight like that before , so he didn’t wrestle JG : Of course , yeah . Right now I’m looking at a few col - states . We have a lot of beaches , Sea World . When I was up to his potential . This year will be different . leges . It’s going a little slow because of school and a toddler I lived in Buffalo , New York , but pretty much COVID , but I’m looking at some D - I and D - II colleges and my whole life I’ve been in Florida . OFM : How did you and your brother first get into the seeing what’s the best option for me . More athletes we’re keeping our eyes on . STAR WATCH O with her team - first attitude . The UCF commit averaged Ven - Allen Lubin , Orlando Christian Prep : An athletic , BOYS BASKETBALL 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and led Lake Highland Prep 6 - foot - 8 power forward , Lubin helped Orlando Christian Denzel Aberdeen , Dr . Phillips : A senior combo guard , in assists and steals as the Highlanders repeated as Prep go 27 - 0 last season , extending its winning streak Aberdeen scored more than 18 points per game last state champs . to 47 over the past two years . His top college choices year for the 7A state champions . He will continue his include Florida , Auburn , Notre Dame , Clemson , Alabama , Hannah Kohn , Hagerty : Kohn led The Master’s career at Florida . Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech . Academy with 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game Jared Berry , Lake Highland Prep : Berry has started last year as a sophomore and is primed for a big Jayden Williams , Windermere Prep : Williams , a every game since his freshman year and will be aiming season at her new school . This summer , she was the senior shooting guard , poured in 16.3 points per game for his fourth straight district title this winter . Last only rising junior on the Hoops Dream Elite U17 team , last year to help Windermere Prep finish with a 16 - 6 season , he shot 38 % from 3 - point range and averaged which went 14 - 3 on the Adidas travel circuit . record . He holds the school record for 3 - pointers made 18 points , 4.6 rebounds and 3 assists per game . He is in a season and is headed to Dartmouth . Maria Newman , The Master’s Academy : Newman receiving college interest from Campbell , Embry - Riddle flashed a ton of potential as a freshman last year for a and others . team that went 17 - 8 . She averaged 6.4 points , 3.3 GIRLS BASKETBALL A.J . Brown , Orlando Christian Prep : A senior shooting rebounds and 2.6 assists and will look to become a go - guard , Brown led the Warriors in scoring last year at to scorer as a sophomore . Janiah Barker , Montverde Academy : A 6 - 2 forward 14.4 points per game to go with 5 rebounds as they who is a perimeter threat , handles the ball well and Carmen Richardson , Colonial : Richardson , a sopho - claimed their fourth state championship in five seasons . dominates on the boards , Barker is the No . 3 recruit in more guard , had quite an impact as a freshman with He is committed to Ohio . the country according to ESPN . She her terrific defense and versatility on offense . She recently committed to Georgia . Evan Chioli , The First Academy : A averaged 8.5 points to go with 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 6 - 1 senior guard , Chioli has been part assists for the Metro Conference champions . Sophya Barreiro , Colonial : Described of the program since middle school as an extra coach on the floor , this and is primed for a huge final season . junior point guard has a high bas - He will be counted on as a consistent BOYS SOCCER ketball IQ and puts in the work at scorer for a team looking to build on both ends of the floor . She averaged last year’s 15 - 9 campaign . Lorenzo Amaral , Oviedo : Amaral has an outstanding 7.2 points , 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals work ethic in the classroom and the soccer field — he last year as Colonial reached the re - E.J . James , Olympia : James , a junior has a 3.8 GPA and trains every day with the hopes of gional semifinals . point guard , impacts a game in many becoming a professional in the future . As a sophomore ways , as evidenced by his averages last year , he netted 18 goals to go with eight assists to Ajalon Gillard , West Orange : Gillard , of 14.5 points , 3.5 assists , 3.5 rebounds earn all - Seminole County honors . Amaral plays club a senior who can play either guard and 2 steals last year . Also a starter soccer for the Florida Kraze and is being recruited by a spot , has a sensational handle , a quick on the E1T1 travel team that is na - number of Division I schools . first step and 3 - point range . She is tionally known for playing on the committed to Florida Atlantic . Nike EYBL circuit , James has offers Luis Carlos Cruz , Cypress Creek : Last year was from Georgetown and Florida Gulf Cruz’s first year in the United States after moving from Stefanie Ingram , Lake Highland Coast . Venezuela , and he had an impact right away on the Prep : A senior guard , Ingram helps el - field . The center back anchored a defense that posted evate the play of those around her Ajalon Gillard 28 ORLANDO FAMILY november 2021 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM