WEST ORANGE TIMES
WOTimes.com
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2015
3B
HOMECOMING by Steven Ryzewski | Sports Editor
spring football by Emilee Jackson | Contributing Writer
OCOEE — A standout offensive lineman for the West Orange Warriors during his own varsity career, Kalvin Rymer has returned to West Orange County in the second stop of his coaching career. The 2012 graduate of West Orange High School is the new offensive coordinator and college recruitment coordinator for the Central Florida Christian Academy Eagles. Rymer is one of the hires made by new Eagles head coach John Davis, who took over the program in the offseason. After coaching at Orlando Christian Prep in East Orlando for two seasons after playing a season of college football at ASA College (a junior college program in Brooklyn), Rymer is happy to be back in West Orange County. “I felt like it was perfect timing,” Rymer said. “The enthusiasm for football (at CFCA) is amazing. The faculty there is incredible, the students. Each day we gain a kid or two that’s saying, ‘Hey coach, we want to play football.’” Ironically enough, coaching the offensive and defensive lines at OCP meant that Rymer has come to CFCA with some familiarity with the Eagles. The two teams played twice in 2014, with the Warriors taking both victories (one regular season, one in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs). Although it made for a slightly awkward introduction — OCP did, after all, derail CFCA’s championship aspira-
Knowing what lies ahead in the fall, players from Foundation Academy are focused as they prepare for their spring game against Seffner Christian on May 22.
Former Warrior added to Lions bring no-nonsense Central Florida Christian staff approach to practice field
SPRING FOOTBALL JAMBOREE WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday,
May 18
WHERE: CFCA, 700 Good
Homes Road, Orlando PARTICIPANTS: CFCA, Windermere Prep, Orangewood Christian
tions — Rymer said studying film for those games has given him a head start in knowing the personnel he has available to him as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. “It kind of gives me the advantage of having a certain type of knowledge of what guys can do what,” Rymer said. Davis and his staff, including Rymer, come to CFCA at an interesting time. The program also something he can use as a motivational tool as he looks to inspire a program that has struggled in recent years. “It’s stuff that the kids can see, and, momentum-wise, it’s just progress … the process and everything we’re trying to do is starting to show something,” Bullock said. “(Jones is) a great kid. Him getting an offer, that can be something where, ‘Hey, it’s not just Dorian’s offer — it’s Ocoee’s offer.’” Bullock said it will continue to take time to get his new roster up to speed with the program’s new tempo and direction, but the first two weeks have been encouraging. “We have a lot of potential,” Bullock said. “We’ve got guys that are starting at a certain level, and we can get them to another level. You can always get them better; there’s always a ton of room for growth.”
is riding high after an 8-4 season that saw it place fourth in the 24-team SSAC. For his part, as a young coach, Rymer acknowledges he still has plenty to learn. Having worked with a veteran staff at OCP, the former West Orange Warrior believes he has a solid foundation. “I learned a lot,” Rymer said. “Each day I just learned from the offensive coordinator … just bits and pieces and learning how to conduct yourself as a coach and learning new philosophies.” And although being named as a coordinator so early in his career could be daunting for an up-and-coming coach, Rymer said his new boss made sure he knew he had his back. “The first thing (Davis) told me is, ‘You’re not going to be in this alone,’” Rymer said.
IF YOU GO
UNIVERSITY COUGARS AT OCOEE KNIGHTS WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday,
May 21
WHERE: Ocoee High
School, 1925 Ocoee Crown Point Parkway, Ocoee EXTRA POINT: The Knights will take the field for the first time under a new coaching staff on their home field in Ocoee against a talented Cougars team.
Emilee Jackson
Foundation quarterback Jacob Murphy has been a leader for the Lions during spring practice. ference-makers this season. Not only does the team have to make up for the athleticism it lost but also the leadership its key senior players contributed. “Some of those guys were really good leaders, but we’re trying to step up in that category,” Murphy said. “We had some good athletes, but athletes can only get you so far.” Echoing this thought, Colby Adamson has seen attitudes throughout the team go through a positive change coming out of the offseason. “Some of the kids that used to give attitude on the field — I don’t see it anymore,” Adamson, the placekicker for the Lions, said. According to Lord, Adamson can kick anywhere he wants on the field. Averaging more than 40 yards each punt and with 24 touchbacks last year, Lord describes him as athletic and tough.
What is giving Foundation Academy its edge this spring is the difference in its unity. The Lions spent their winter in the weight room getting stronger on and off the field, building a bond in the process. “I’ve never seen this team come as a brotherhood before — I’ve been here for five or six years, four years playing football, and I’ve never seen a varsity team come together like this brotherhood,” Adamson said. “I don’t care if we don’t win games. I like that we see a brotherhood, and we’ll always be brothers.” Also seeing this change is Sydal Barton, rising junior and defensive tackle. “I feel like this is the best spring practice that we’ve started out to because we’ve all bonded together as a team; we’re all one unit,” he said. For their spring matchup, the Lions will face Seffner Christian Academy May 22.
As for Jones, the offer from Tulane is an exciting development — and the first of many, he hopes. “I hope I can get many more (offers) and explore my options,” Jones said. “But I’m also very happy with the offer I got.” Contact Steven Ryzewski at sryzewski@wotimes.com.
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fer going into my junior year, and now, that dream has come true,” Jones said. The offer for the rising junior is a good barometer of his potential, something to which new Ocoee assistant coach Terrance Larmond can attest. Larmond, in previous coaching stops at South Lake and Mount Dora, has a track record of developing high-level defensive backs. “(Jones is) an extremely hard worker; he’s self-motivated — that’s the biggest thing about him,” Larmond said. “That’s a trait that’s been in all my other guys that have been All-Americans … (Jones) displays that same type of work ethic and hunger.” For Bullock, the offer is more than just a sign that he has a talented defensive back — it’s
IF YOU GO
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OCOEE / PAGE 1B
Steven Ryzewski
Kalvin Rymer, who graduated from West Orange in 2012, works with members of the CFCA football team at practice on May 7.
WINTER GARDEN — The Foundation Academy Lions are preparing for their spring game against Seffner Christian with an eye on a high-intensity, competitive season in the fall. Jacob Murphy, a rising senior and the Lions’ second-year quarterback, has been key in helping the Lions step up during their spring practices. “We’ve got a game plan, and we’re following it, and we’re not really taking a whole lot of nonsense,” Murphy said. That level of focus has been apparent to head coach Brad Lord, who likes what he has seen so far from his program. “It’s actually the best spring we’ve had,” Lord said. “We have a lot of returning starters, a lot of returning all-district players.” According to Lord, the spring is all about evaluation. Winning their spring game in May is not his goal, necessarily — the veteran coach simply wants to practice and see where his team stands as it prepares for the fall. The Lions will kick off the fall season with their first game being against the West Orange Warriors, a steep challenge for a Class 2A program. “Our boys are up for the challenge and ready for it,” Lord said. “Bob Head is a good friend of mine, so we’ll have a little fun battle of Winter Garden going here.” Although some of their key players last season were graduating seniors, Lord said the Lions have some of the best running backs in the state. He believes Gabriel Walker, Konrie Brown and Jaquane Patterson will be dif-
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