Can Winter Park Take It A Step Further?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the 2017 season, Winter Park has enjoyed plenty of success, winning district titles and coming out on top in several state playoff games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all the winning the Wildcats have done, posting an impressive 56-12 record in that stretch, this program under veteran head coach <strong>Tim Shifflet</strong>, has never reached a state championships game, coming close in the 2017 season when they lost to Wekiva in the third round of the state playoffs, finishing 12-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While last season's 7-4 record was not what this team had planned on, they still won the District 4-7A crown but lost to Orange City University in the opening round of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they closed 5-2 over the last seven games, this team will pay no attention to the wins, dwelling on a regular season setback against Orlando Edgewater and University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As this program faces the 2025 season, there is a sense that they could once again win the district, but after that, is there enough to get them through the playoffs and knock off a program like Lake Mary or Sanford Seminole? Time will tell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a strong rising senior (2026) class that has an opportunity to be special. Here are some of them:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josh Bussey, DE, 5-11, 235 – 2.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17945557/Josh-Bussey?</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rio Guiseppi, OL/DL, 6'0, 255 – 2.7 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17760007/Rio-Guiseppi</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1793456' first='Jordan' last='Jackson'], DB, 6'1, 170 – 3.1 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/18365483/Jordan-Jackson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580895' first='Decorie' last='Johnson'], RB, 6'1, 185 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17676032/Decorie-Johnson</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin Labellman, K/P, 6'2, 180 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17759956/austin-labellman</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nick Lovre, LB, 5'10, 185 – 2.6 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17759916/Nick-Lovre</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ty'Jay Martin, DB, 5'8, 165 – 2.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19918857/TyJay-Martin</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Pearcy, OL/DL, 6'2, 200 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19297469/Gavin-Pearcy</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247513' first='Ayden' last='Pouncey'], DB, 6'3, 170 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17333824/Ayden-Pouncey</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sebastian Reeves, DE, 6'2, 195 – 3.3 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17728663/Sebastian-Reeves</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eshawn Sutton, WR/DB, 5'11, 180 – 3.0 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/17728667/EShawn-Sutton</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STACKED UNDERCLASS GIVES THE WILDCATS OPTIMISM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As good as the rising seniors will be, you may want to keep an eye on some of the younger players who bring plenty to the game, and this team will certainly beat counting on them in the spring and summer as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Robbie Blaylock, QB, 5'11, 165 – 3.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19549168/Robbie-Blalock</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Talyn Boe, DL, 6'2, 230 – 3.8 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19549148/Talyn-Boe</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Knud “K.J.” Davis, DL, 6-3, 260 – 2.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19697931/Knud-Davis</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Henry Degrace, WR, 5'10, 160 – 3.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19549137/Henry-Degrace</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tristan Gunn, WR, 5'10, 170 – 2.6 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19611333/Tristan-Gunn</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Max Lennon, DB, 5'10, 175 – 3.1 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19549150/Maximus-Lennon</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1200619' first='Smith' last='Lessard'], TE, 6'6, 225 – 3.9 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/19549134/Smith-Lessard</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Giacamo Sanfilippo, LB, 6'2, 190 – 3.4 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/20819268/Giacamo-SanFilippo</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zyeire Olinger, DE, 6'1, 200 – 2.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/23186352/Zyiere-Olinger</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1087096' first='Damari' last='Rolle'], DB, 5'11, 155 – 2.5 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/22962493/Damari-Rolle</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827415' first='Kenny' last='Williams'] V, OL/DL, 5'10, 255 – 3.4 GPA.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TAPE: <a>https://www.hudl.com/profile/23172496/Kenneth-Williams-V</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ORLANDO SENTINEL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Florida March Class of 2026 Updated Rankings. <a>https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/updated-2026-florida-rankings/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COACHES, PLAYERS: Do You Have A Subscription? Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! Floridakids1@aol.com.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->