Going into his senior season at Santa Fe High School, Wayne Boone believed something special was possible.
The senior captain had spent years alongside a tight-knit core of teammates, and throughout the offseason he sensed a different edge, a hunger that hadn’t fully materialized before.
“I knew we had potential and a group of guys that wanted to win,” Boone said. “We just had to put it all together and show ourselves we could do it.”
Boone and the Raiders did more than put it together.
After a record-setting regular season, Santa Fe powered through the Class 3A regional playoffs with three consecutive victories, securing the program’s first-ever trip to the state final four and a trip to Lake Myrtle Sports Park. The breakthrough came one year after a disappointing loss in the regional semifinals.
“We’ve earned our place,” Boone said. “We’ve all worked really hard to be the best team in the region and no one can take that away from us. We knew those wins wouldn’t come easy, but we had the right mindset and executed when we needed to the most.”
Boone delivered when it mattered most.
In the regional semifinals against South Walton High School, Santa Fe trailed in the closing moments before Boone scored a dramatic last-minute goal to tie the match. The Raiders eventually advanced on penalty kicks.
“That game against South Walton was crazy,” Boone said. “We were down to the last minute and I knew the game would be over if I couldn’t score. There were a ton of tall people that I had to get it over, but it’s all about executing when it matters the most and I was ready for the moment.”
Days later in the regional final against Pensacola Catholic High School, Boone again rose to the occasion. This time, he delivered a perfectly placed corner kick to his younger brother, freshman Owen Boone, who buried the game-winner to send the Raiders to the final four.
The connection was fitting. Boone has played soccer since he was 4 years old but had never shared the field with his younger brother in a match until this season. In the season opener, Wayne assisted Owen on a corner kick. The same sequence, older brother to younger brother, sealed the region title.
“It’s been such a blast this year to play with Owen,” Boone said. “We know how each other plays and know each other’s moves, so it’s made for some really great times this year.”
The brotherly bond reflects the chemistry of the entire roster. Boone said the team’s closeness off the field has helped build the trust that carried into high-pressure moments.
“We hang out with each other a lot,” Boone said. “From the Cilantro nights to bonding at church, all of these guys are like family to me. It’s been so great getting to know them and I’ll certainly miss being around this program when the season is over.”
Health has also been a key factor in the Raiders’ postseason run. Boone credited athletic trainer Tianna Doctor for keeping the team on the field.
“She always has our best interest and dedicates a lot of one-on-one time if we need something,” Boone said. “She has to take care of a lot of athletes on this campus, so her being so nice and personable and dedicated to keeping us healthy has been great for us.”
For his clutch performances throughout the playoffs, Boone has been named the UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week.
Santa Fe will face Somerset Academy - Canyons in the state semifinals. Regardless of the outcome, Boone’s soccer journey will continue at the collegiate level, an opportunity he embraces with the same enthusiasm that fueled his senior season.
“Soccer to me is fun, it’s easy, and very inclusive,” Boone said. “I really enjoy it and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Each weekly winner is eligible for the UF Health High School Athlete of the Year Scholarship, a $2,500 award presented at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.