OFM_SpringStudentAthletes_0326FINAL.qxp_OFM 2 / 12 / 26 2 : 37 PM Page 3 6 2 0 2 OFM : How long have you attended Montverde , and MONTVERDE ACADEMY GIRLS STRACK what has the experience been Elike ? T NH : This is my third year . I went to Dr . Phillips [ before ] . It’s E L definitely different from public school ; they’re more hands on H with you for academics and things like that . It hasn’t ATbeen rough , though . It was easy to get adjusted and it’s a nice envi - L ONAKIRA ronment . I like it for sports and academics . O H C OFM : What made you commit to South Carolina ? S NH : On my visit , I loved the team and I loved the dynamic . The H GHUDSON coaches are nice , and I love the training program they have I H for my event , the 400 . There was nothing they lacked . I really Hudson , a senior , captured the 2A state G like everything about South Carolina . N title in the 400 meters last spring to Igo R with district and regional crowns , and she P OFM : What is your ultimate goal in the sport ? S also placed third in the state in the 200 . NH : I would like to go pro eventually . It’s going to take disci - A South Carolina commit , she helped the pline and making track a lifestyle , not just something that’s a Eagles win team championships at dis - hobby . I have to continue doing what I’ve been doing . tricts and regionals and finish second at OFM : What else do you do for fun when you have a states . She also has a national title in break from training ? her collection in the indoor 4x200 relay . cousins and family members . They would always say , ‘ You’re so NH : I like to go out with my friends and eat dinner , go shop - fast . ’ So I decided to try it . ping — the basic teenaged stuff . Orlando Family Magazine : Last outdoor season was a OFM : How did the 400 become your specialty ? OFM : Do you have a particular routine before a big [ race ? hugely successful one for you . Do you have any certain NH : I was just testing things out and that’s the one thing that NH : I wouldn’t say I have any traditions . I kind of keep it goals for this one ? stuck , so I continued doing it . I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite simple before all of my races . Everybody likes listening to Nakira Hudson : I just want to continue that momentum . I race , but it’s the one I’m good at , so I respect it . My favorite music , but I don’t . I like being aware of my surroundings while want to win states , districts and regionals again , and possibly race is the 200 — it’s shorter and it’s like a happy medium I’m getting ready for my race . get another national title to add to my résumé . between the 100 , which is short , and the 400 , which is long . OFM : Have you traveled a lot through the sport ? OFM : When did you first get into track ? OFM : What is it like having other great sprinters on NH : Yes . I’ve been to Alabama , Canada , Philly and Boston . I NH : I started in middle school during my seventh grade year , your own team , like fellow state champion Dasia liked Philadelphia the best . It was hot when we were there and so this is going to be my sixth year . Reed ? Do you bring out the best in each other ? I got to see the city a little bit . NH : Yes , all the time , from practice to anything like our diet , OFM : What inspired you to start — were you always fast ? which we stay on each other for . They always push me to be OFM : Did you get a cheesesteak while you were there ? NH : Kind of , yeah . When I was younger , I would always race my better , on and off the track , so I love having them . NH : [ Laughs ] No , but we did go to Raising Cane’s . Mary , nothing changed . Everybody I’ve met has been amazing . LAKE MARY BOYS LACROSSE OFM : Speaking of the weather , that’s going to change for you when you get to New Jersey for college . Are you ready for that ? BL : I’m looking forward to snow . When I was younger , we would travel out west to see my cousins in Colorado , and it was always BODHI a fun experience seeing the snow . It’s going to be a little dif - ferent , definitely , but I’m excited to see the change in seasons and the snow . I’m not afraid to play in the snow — I welcome it . LYON OFM : What did you like about NJIT to make you Lyon , a senior goalie , made 92 saves commit there ? BL : First off , I love coach [ Eric ] Wolf , coach [ Bobby ] Russo and posted a miniscule 1.8 goals and [ the other coaches ] . They all seem like great people and against average during his sensational they seem like they have the program going in the right direc - junior season as Lake Mary went 19 - 1 tion . When I toured the school , it was incredible . The facilities and reached the 2A state semifinals . are amazing , the academics are good and it fits what I want team in Lake Mary called the Mohicans , and they needed a He will play Division I lacrosse at the to study . Then when I took more of an official visit with some guy in goal , so I stepped up . Ever since then , I haven’t looked New Jersey Institute of Technology . of the other recruits , I met some players and the culture all fit back . I love the position and I wouldn’t change a thing . what I was looking for . It seemed like a perfect fit . OFM : Do you have to have a short memory as a goalie , OFM : What are you going to study ? since a lot of goals can be scored in lacrosse ? Orlando Family Magazine : Are you excited to get back on [ BL : I’m looking to study biomedical engineering . I’ve always BL : Without a doubt , within the game you have to have a the field and continue Lake Mary’s outstanding tradition ? been interested in the human body and all the different short memory . But I would say when the game is over , you Bodhi Lyon : Oh yeah , we’re super excited for the upcoming aspects of it , and I’m interested in engineering and building have to go back and watch the film , see what went wrong and season . We have a lot of new guys coming in and a lot of all sorts of different things . I take some pretty advanced fix those things . During the game , you can’t afford to be potential . We’re excited for where things are headed . classes , so I figured , why not combine the two ? thinking about what went wrong on the previous goal . If you’re not mentally focused , it can cause a snowball effect . OFM : Do you have any personal goals ? OFM : What else do you do for fun away from lacrosse ? BL : Personally , I would like to make first - team all - state . But a BL : I love to weight lift , I go to the beach whenever I can , and OFM : What do you like about growing up in Florida ? state championship is the ultimate goal no matter what , and I’m a huge football fan . I watch football every weekend until BL : The people . Everywhere I’ve been , it’s been the most wel - whatever I can do to put my team in the position to win a the season is out , and then we’re blessed with lacrosse . coming people and an incredible vibe . You can’t beat the state championship is all I need . Hopefully the World Cup is promising this summer too . But weather down here , either . Besides the cold front that just mostly I love to hang out with friends and I’m just trying to came in , it’s almost always paradise . But it’s mainly the people . OFM : How did you become a goalie in the first place ? soak up this last year of high school . I grew up in New Smyrna Beach , and when I moved to Lake BL : I started off playing attack and middie . 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