When it comes to the state of Florida, you will find that our athletes are just that – athletes.
While they may play football, baseball and basketball as a primary sport, that doesn’t mean that they don’t compete in other arenas at the school. In fact, it is essential that our student/athletes play more than one sport to help teams win.
In south Florida, football prospects will either run track, play basketball, wrestle or just about any other activity that will keep them competitive and sharp. It has long been that way, but never spotlighted.
While some football coaches are NOT supportive of letting their prospects play some sports, although they will deny it, there are many who want their athletes holding down that competitive edge year round– and that’s why you have so many impressive athletes.
When our football players make it to the NFL, they always tell stories about their successes in other sports – and how that helped them reach the highest level.
KINLOCK PROFILE
PLAYER: Jaeden Kinlock
POSITION: LB
SCHOOL: Plantation American Heritage
CLASS: 2022
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 195
SCOUTING: By now, when head coach Pat Surtain and his staff roll out a standout on the football field, it is certainly no surprise.
Linebacker David Vadala proved that last year – and his used what happened during the football season to grab the attention of college coaches after an amazing freshman season. Vadala also followed that up as one of the top weightlifters on the team.
As Jaeden Kinlock started to showcase his many abilities on the football field – and showed that the future would be very bright on the girdiron, this sophomore also made a statement away from the football field.
This winter, this gifted athlete made a huge statement on the wrestling mat for the Patriots, posting an impressive 29-2 record and a second place regional finish last week at the Region 4-1A tournament in Jensen Beach.
That impressive performance was enough to send him to Friday’s first round of the 2020 Florida State Wrestling Tournament at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
This tremendous athlete will have the opportunity to make a major statement when he faces off with junior and No. 3 seed Xavier Stillgess (37-10) from Panama City Rutherford in the opening round. If he wins that match, he will have his hands full on Day 1 with the winner of the match between No. 1 seed Tyler Barnett (45-10) from Clearwater Central Catholic or No. 4 seed Torianno Mackie (34-15) from Rockledge.
To all athletes who compete in multiple sports, we say congratulations – and to the many vying for state championships in basketball and wrestling this week, we wish you good luck.