Sunlake, Fulmer Look For A Turnaround

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When <strong>Jay Fulmer</strong> took over for <strong>B.J. Hall</strong> after last spring ended, it was a move that Land O'Lakes Sunlake felt would start to turn things around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While winning just once in 2023 was not the start that the veteran coach wanted to begin his regime with, but as much as the fans wanted a quick turnaround, this is something that will take time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fulmer is used to coaching teams that need that rebuild. At New Port Richey Gulf and Ridgewood he compiled a 47-66 record in 11 seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sunlake program has long faced the task of rebuilding almost every year – with Hall and <strong>Allen Suber II</strong>, but that is something that Fulmer will be out to change with a rising senior class (2025) that is willing to work in the off-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With spring about two weeks away, and the summer offering several avenues to improve, there is plenty of optimism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 class includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1130699' first='Joshua' last='Barnes']</strong> (DL/OL, 6-2, 205 – 3.24 GPA), <strong>Ziv Bennaim (</strong>LS, 5-11, 180 – 2.96 GPA), <strong>Tony Bonilla</strong> (OL, 5-10, 230 – 3.63 GPA), <strong>Blake Calzon</strong> (DB, 5-10, 155 – 3.12 GPA), <strong>Michael Capdevila (</strong>LB, 5-10, 195 – 4.0 GPA), and two-way lineman <strong>Aidrian Contes</strong> (OL/DL, 5-9, 210 – 3.48 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That group of rising seniors also will feature <strong>Joshua DeFazio</strong> (OL, 6-7, 250), <strong>Brenan Finan</strong> (OL, 6-2, 250 – 3.48 GPA), <strong>Malachi Gittens-Ampadu</strong> (FB, 5-11, 210), <strong>Matthew Hopkins </strong>(LB, 5-10, 190 – 2.7 GPA), <strong>Jace Leslie</strong> (DB, 6-0, 165), <strong>Nasir Taylor</strong> (WR, 5-11, 150 – 3.15 GPA), and offensive lineman <strong>Jacob Whitehead</strong> (5-11, 260 – 2.82 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UNDERCLASSMEN WILL BE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the rising senior class will be counted on for experience and leadership, the 2026 group of rising juniors are gifted – with <strong>Christian Canarte</strong> (OL/DL, 6-4, 280),<strong> Julius Cannon </strong>(Athlete, 6-0, 160 – 3.55 GPA), <strong>Makell King </strong>(WR/DB, 5-11, 160 – 3.04 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1143093' first='Trenton' last='Lindsey'] </strong>(OL/DL, 6-1, 260 – 3.47 GPA), <strong>Matthew Madley</strong> (SS, 6-1, 210 – 3.77 GPA), <strong>Ace Missbach</strong> (WR/RB, 5-9, 160 – 3.63 GPA), <strong>Nathaniel Peguero </strong>(LB, 5-8, 200 – 2.77 GPA), and quarterback <strong>Ty Webster</strong> (6-2, 185 – 2.73 GPA).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even the rising sophomore (2027) class will be exciting as well – with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239065' first='Jaden' last='Donald']</strong> (DL, 5-11, 245 – 2.7 GPA), <strong>Nathan Marriman</strong> (WR/RB, 5-9, 155 – 3.18 GPA), <strong>Liam Thomas</strong> (TE/K/P, 6-0, 170 – 3.5 GPA), and receiver <strong>Jayven Williams</strong> (5-11, 180 – 2.66 GPA) ready to contribute.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNLAKE FOOTBALL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 PROSPECTS TO WATCH.</strong> <a>https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2025-rankings/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at:</strong> Floridakids1@aol.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->