Winning Winter

This special section celebrates a 2021-22 high school winter sports season in which eight Orlando area schools celebrate state championships in five different sports and exceptional athletes lead the way. Our all-area teams, selected by the Orlando Sentinel with input from coaches, include the best in basketball, soccer, wrestling and girls weightlifting. Topping each one of those teams are players of the year.

The boys basketball list includes five high-major college signees headed to UF, Kansas, Ohio State, Mississippi State and Notre Dame and a couple of juniors who are being courted by top programs.

Players of the year include three-time state champion wrestler Cooper Haase of Kissimmee Osceola and Lake Highland Prep’s Nyla Harris, who helped lead the Highlanders to three consecutive girls basketball state team titles. Nationally ranked Girls Wrestler of the Year Kailey Rees of Freedom went 35-0. The state title teams also included Dr. Phillips in girls basketball, Bishop Moore in girls soccer, Orlando Christian Prep in boys basketball and Freedom in the inaugural FHSAA girls wrestling championships.

To add to that list, in a sport that does not have individual honors, Foundation Academy won its first state championship in any team sport and perennial contenders Hagerty and Lake Mary also captured state titles in competitive cheer.

The All-Area teams include players from FHSAA state series schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, and southwest Volusia counties.

All of the award winners can be seen at OrlandoSentinel.com/Varsity.

Lake Highland prep players Brice Sensabaugh and Nyla Harris, both seniors, end their high school careers as All-Area Boys and Girls Basketball Players of the Year. PHOTOS BY STEPHEN M. DOWELL AND RICARDO RAMIREZ BUXEDA/ORLANDO SENTINEL

BOYS AND GIRLS WRESTLING, PAGE 4. Winter Springs High School’s Ryan Phillips.

Hagerty High School’s Skye Barnes. BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER, PAGE 3.

St. Cloud High School’s Abby Davis. GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING, PAGE 4.