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UF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute

It wasn’t until his sophomore year of high school that Prince Fortuna Abdullah even considered wrestling.Originally a kickboxer who hoped to pursue mixed martial arts, Abdullah had to be convinced to try the sport. Three years later, the Buchholz senior is a state qualifier who says joining the wrestling program changed his life.

For as long as he can remember, Juwan Scippio has had a basketball in his hands.The Newberry High School senior fell in love with the sport at 4 years old and has spent nearly every day since working to become the best player he can be whenever he steps onto the court.“I grew up being one of the better players out there and that just kept inspiring me to be even better,” Scippio said. “This game has helped me accomplish so many things, so I’m never gonna stop going hard and working.”

In a town of roughly 2,300 residents, where Friday nights and packed gymnasiums serve as community gatherings, history does not go unnoticed.For the first time ever, the Trenton High School boys basketball team reached the state Final Four, a milestone fueled by belief, resilience and the steady play of junior guard Mason VunCannon.

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.

Jerdarrius “JD” Jackson walked into the North Marion gym four years ago unsure of what his future might hold.Now, the senior point guard has written his name into the program’s record book.

From the first time Bryan “Koop” Hayes put a basketball in his hands at the MLK Center as a 3-year-old in Gainesville, he knew he’d never love a sport more than hoops.“It’s just always been my first love,” Hayes said. “Nothing compares to being out there and hanging around your guys. I get such a good feeling on a basketball court. It’s just something that’s a part of me.”

For many soccer players, the phrase “fútbol is life” isn’t just a catchy line from a television show, it’s a way of living. That sentiment rings especially true for Williston junior Yandel Mujica, who has been chasing a soccer ball for as long as he can remember.

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.

It has been a banner season for the Bell High School boys soccer program, which wrapped up the regular season this week with a 9-3 record and an undefeated run through district play.The Bulldogs’ strong performance has positioned them as a regional championship contender, a goal the team set long before the first match of the season.

Nathan Jennings and his Hawthorne teammates didn’t need game consoles or gadgets on their Christmas lists this year. Instead, the Hornets leaned on a different kind of list heading into the Holiday season, one that steered them to their third state championship in four seasons.“We all left really bad when we didn’t win it last year for that group of seniors, so we all made lists of what was going to happen in 2025, and it made for the most intense offseason I’ve ever been a part of,” junior athlete Nathan Jennings said.

The UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute Athletic Trainers will be providing Free EKG Screenings for those students in Grades 8-12:

The OSMI welcomes Marc Swiontkowski, from the University of Minnesota.Agenda:5:30pm: Dinner6:00pm: Presentation7:00pm: Discussion, Question and Answer sessionDr. Calfee will present a talk to faculty and residents as outlined below.