PK Yonge senior Jack Reichardt has waited a long time for the chance to play on a full 11-on-11 high school soccer stage, and the opportunity has paid off in a big way.
A Gainesville native who has played the sport nearly his entire life, Reichardt transferred from a smaller local school to PK Yonge prior to last season. Now in his second year with the Blue Wave, he has emerged as one of the area’s most productive players, helping guide PK Yonge to a 15-3-2 record entering this weekend’s district tournament.
“The entire team and staff were very welcoming,” Reichardt said. “I was part of group chats from the start and welcomed immediately. It took time to build trust on the field and figure out how to play with a new group of guys, but it’s been a tremendous experience.”
Reichardt has been the catalyst behind the Blue Wave’s success this season. He leads the team with 21 goals and 19 assists and recorded a four-goal performance in one match. PK Yonge closed the regular season with three straight wins by a combined score of 22-1.
For his performance, Reichardt was named this week’s UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week.
“It was a great honor to represent PK Yonge and win this award,” Reichardt said. “There’s definitely a lot of hard work that goes into having success, but now I hope to carry that into districts and accomplish the goals we set before the year of winning districts and regionals.”
The Blue Wave will open district play Friday night against Newberry, a team they defeated convincingly earlier this season. PK Yonge finished undefeated in district play during the regular season, and Reichardt likes where the team stands heading into the postseason.
“We’re healthy, we’re prepared, we’re confident,” Reichardt said. “It’s been a great year with the bus rides, the communication on the field and the way we’ve played. Now we just need to keep it going when it matters most.”
Health has been a key factor in PK Yonge’s run, and Reichardt credited athletic trainer Jade Case for her role throughout the season.
“Ms. Jade is a great athletic trainer,” Reichardt said. “She contributes so much both on and off the field. I feel a sense of security because she knows how to handle the cramps, bumps and bruises we get during games.”
While his scoring totals stand out, Reichardt takes just as much pride in creating opportunities for teammates.
“Giving a teammate a perfect setup or a great assist is very rewarding,” Reichardt said. “I like to share the glory. I’ve scored a lot of goals, so seeing someone else do it is pretty special.”
With his high school career nearing its end, Reichardt hopes to continue playing at the collegiate level. Regardless of what comes next, he says his time at PK Yonge will leave a lasting impression.
“The school has been great, very welcoming and very friendly,” Reichardt said. “I’ve made great friends and connections, people I’ve talked about going to college with. It’s been a great experience being part of the PK community.”
Each weekly UF Health Athlete of the Week winner is eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year Scholarship, a $2,500 award presented at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.