Coach Lynch: Retirement Tribute

by Nick Bell

Recently, we learned that Coach Jim Lynch has decided to retire from his career as a teacher and football coach, so we decided to honor him with this special tribute.

Coach Lynch has been coaching since 1994, working mainly in North Florida. He played quarterback in high school, thus he specializes on the offensive side of the game. Coach Lynch first started at Orlando Christian Prep after he learned that his former high school coach, Coach Scroggins, was retiring, leaving an offensive coordinator vacancy. He first worked as a running backs coach for two years, before becoming the full-time offensive coordinator. He continued to run the "wing T" offense that has been used here at OCP since Coach D began. His favorite play to run while at OCP was “tiger rip” which has become a very famous play here -- responsible for dozens of scores in dozens of games.

During his 4+ years at OCP, Coach Lynch enjoyed his time molding students and athletes, helping to have a positive impact on their lives through both coaching and monitoring the FLVS lab. He says his biggest accomplishment while here was winning the state championship... in fact, this was one of the biggest accomplishments of his coaching career. Having coached since 1994, Coach Lynch clearly a seasoned veteran of the game of football. As such, he felt that it was time to let a new, hungrier coach have an opportunity at the helm. Winning the state championship allowed him to feel that he had accomplished all he needed to in coaching and was ready for his next chapter.

OCPs football players had a lot to say about Coach Lynch. Jacob Brommer commented, "Man, I love Coach Lynch. He’s one of my favorite coaches I've had in all my years of playing football. If it was my choice, he wouldn’t retire. I’m gonna miss him, but I’m also really excited to see who steps in to take his place.” Carlos Tavarez said, “I’m gonna miss the bald head!" (This was a nickname for Coach Lynch.) "He was great but I'm gonna join him soon in retirement. I’m gonna have to run a "tiger rip" just for him. See you later Lynch! Peace and love!”

Coach Lynch will now spend his days in sunny Port Orange, Florida, enjoying time with his wife while getting some rays at the pool and fishing in the Intracoastal right outside his backyard. The mark he left at OCP will impact many students for many years, especially this year's players, who he brought the best out! He definitely finished his last chapter of coaching on his own terms: on top as State Champions!

Avengers Endgame: Record Breaker

by Nick Bell

“We are in the endgame now” are probably words you've heard a lately, after Avengers: Infinity War left us with an incredible cliff hanger and many of our favorite heroes were snapped out of existence. How will this change? Well that's where the Avenger: Endgame comes in. The epic Marvel movie came out on April 26th and was an immediate hit: both with critics and the viewing public.

The film's first weekend sales were more than any other movie ever: grossing $357 million! Avengers: Endgame is already the second highest grossing movie of all time (global box office), behind only Avatar. Endgame, however, has only just begun its money-making: it reached $2 billion dollars in sales in only eleven days!!

Avengers: Endgame is so popular, the directors placed a two week ban on spoilers. This ban was recently lifted, so fans have taken the chance to speak out. This movie is being talked talked about everywhere, and the hype reached even more of a high after the recent release of the trailer for Spiderman: Homecoming. At this point, if you haven't seen - or at least heard major talk of - Endgame, you've been hiding under a rock! It will soon be the highest grossing movie ever by a long shot if it continues at the expected pace. 

Critics are raving about Endgame, and about how well the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been put together over the past decade. Twenty two movies have been made so far, capped off by Endgame, which begins "Phase 4" for the MCU films. “The amount of detail the writers took to build this whole timeline is astonishing” one critic said, and I agree! There are few film franchises that have been able to build something that even comes close to what the creative writers of Marvel Studios have put together - and they're still going strong!!

Where Are They Now? - The Class of '18 Revisited

by Aaron Bass

Many of us can remember last year's seniors -- the class of 2018 -- walking the halls here at Orlando Christian Prep, as they graduated just a little under a year ago. We thought it would be fun to follow-up with a few of them and see how they're getting along.

Kai Jones, graduated from OCP but decided to "re-class" and attend Brewster Academy for another year of high school sports and personal improvement. He has recently committed to attend the University of Texas. Ronaldo Segu has been playing basketball for the University of Buffalo, where he was able to play in the second round of this year's NCAA tournament. Rondo has been a stand out player for the Bulls this season, and he looks forward to continuing his success as a sophomore next year.

Amanda Olascoaga made the move to Virginia, where she is majoring in health sciences and surrounded by beautiful mountains at Liberty University. Parker Smith is down in beautiful West Palm Beach, where he is studying finance at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Parker is looking to become an accountant in the near future.

Jeriel Irizarry was able to secure a full scholarship to attend Rollins College here in Orlando. Jeriel turned down scholarships from over ten big colleges from across the country to be able to study close to home. A few of our other graduates, such as Micayla Davis and David Moreno, have also decided to stay local and attend classes at Valencia Community College.

As you can see, many of last year's graduates are continuing their education - in different ways and in different regions of the country! We are so proud of how they are learning and growing in their new environments. We pray that they continue to find success in their educations and careers as they seek to be the World Changers they've set out to be!

A Night to Remember: The OCP Prom

by Nick Bell

Recently, Orlando Christian Prep hosted the 2019 Prom for Juniors and Seniors. Many students attended and showed up in style! Everyone dressed their best whether in a suit, tux, or dress. Thirty-three students attended, all of which enjoyed a good meal from 4 Rivers Barbeque. Students said it was great food and an even greater time.

OCP did not have a prom last year, but many students called for one this year. With some more flexible rules and some excellent planning, we were able to see it happen. Mrs. Millett, Ms. Jordan, Mrs. O'Kane, and Mrs. Jacobson all went well out of their way to help set up and organize this special event for our students to enjoy.

Students such as Nick Bell, Riley Bowlds, Aaron Bass, and Jacob Brommer showed up in a white stretch Hummer, while soon-to-be Prom King and Queen Connor Edel and Briella Salisbury pulled up in a red stretch Charger. Eldan Lin and his date, Andrea Sierra-Castro, drove in a white G wagon. Mrs. Beverley Knight volunteered to capture the whole event with beautiful photos of the attendees. She also made some of her OCP-famous cupcakes for the event!

The only complaint of the night, which will hopefully be changed next year, were related to the music. OCP administration had approved a student-made playlist, but several last-minute changes were made by the DJ, and some students felt it was stale at times and not easy to dance to.

Overall, Prom was a big success, especially considering OCP did not even have a prom last year. Students will look to have a even bigger role in planning the Prom for this coming year. Students were very appreciative for the event and to all those who made it possible. We’d especially like to thank Mrs. Knight for taking so many incredible photos! Here are just a few for you to enjoy! Visit https://beverleyknightphotography.pixieset.com/ to book Mrs. Knight for your next photo experience.

 

Nassir Little Headed to NBA

by Aaron Bass

Last year, our boys basketball team won a second state championship in two years. A major reason fro the Warriors' success was former student Nassir Little!

Nassir attended Orlando Christian Prep for two years, graduating in 2018. Nassir had some big accomplishments during his time as a Warrior: he was selected to play among the best in the country in both the McDonald’s All American game and the Jordan Classic and was named MVP for both games. Fun fact: he and Lebron James are the only two player who have ever accomplished this!

After OCP, Nassir headed to the University of North Carolina. He chose UNC because he saw as a personal challenge to be able to contribute as a first-year player at a school with such a strong basketball reputation. UNC certainly afforded him the opportunity to develop and become a better player.

Nassir just finished his freshman year at UNC, and was a key player for the Tar Heels. His highest scoring game of the season came against Virginia Tech in January, when he put 23 points on the board. In March Madness his team were unlucky to go out after making it to the Sweet 16, with a tough loss to Auburn. Nassir was battling the flu that which, which added to the disappointment.

After the close of this year's NCAA tournament, Nassir has officially announced that he is going to be entering the 2019 NBA draft. This is big decision for Nassir, and an exciting one for us Warriors, too, as a lot of us remember him walking the halls here at OCP! Keep an eye on Nassir Little! We all wish him the best in his basketball career.

Orlando Magic Season Update

by Nick Bell

The NBA playoffs have begun, and our hometown team, the Orlando Magic, qualified for a spot this year - ending a 7 year playoff drought. This season, under new coach Steve Clifford, the Magic boasted a 42-40 record, which placed them in the seventh seed in the east. The Magic also had one of their players receive an all star nod this year. Nikola Vucevic was a first-time all star, and the first Magic player to receive this honor since Dwight Howard.

The Magic started the first round with a bang, defeating the Raptors in a close 104-101 win. DJ Austine scored 25 points, including a go-ahead 3 with just seconds to go. This game put social media into a frenzy as nobody expected a Magic win in game one. There was also much frenzy over the fact that Raptors' star point guard, Kyle Lowry, was held to zero points in the game.

The Magic would unfortunately go on to lose the next four games and be eliminated from this year's playoffs, but the fact that they made it there says a lot. This season was a 17-win improvement from last season where they only won 25 games. This improvement has put Steve Clifford into the coach of the year race. Though unlikely to win the award, it's great to see a Magic coach get some spotlight for the right reasons.

The Magic went into this series with all of their players having little to no playoff experience. This season will be a stepping stone for future Magic teams as they continue to try and build a contender for the eastern conference crown. Magic fans have a lot to be excited for, as the Magic have a young core of talent that will be around for years to come!

UCF Basketball Season Recap

by Aaron Bass

Orlando’s home college UCF, just completed an outstanding basketball season. Not only were they ranked in the top 25 in the country for the first time since 2011, but this was also the first time they qualified for the annual NCAA Championship "March Madness" Tournament. 

UCF had many personal player achievements, as well. Senior and center, Tacko Fall, was able to rack up over 1000 points in his career in college basketball. Another proud accomplishment for the Knights is that their very own Aubrey Dawkins will enter the 2019 NBA draft, and has said that UCF played a massive part into him making it so far. Dawkins had an amazing season and impressed against some big teams, including putting up 32 points against Duke!

The UCF Knights came up against some tough opponents this season, but stood up to the test. Houston was ranked No. 6 nationally when UCF upset them on the road, marking the Knights’ second-highest ranked win in school history.  

After this and some other great results, the Knights were able to qualify for the NCAA March Madness competition, seeded at No. 9 in their bracket. In the first round they were pitted against the No. 8 VCU Rams, and they came out on top with an impressive 73-58 win! In the next round they faced No. 1 seed (and the number one team in the country) the Duke Blue Devils! The Knights really took the game to Duke, as they battled all the way until the final second where they missed the win by only one point. Upsets in the game, such as Tacko Fall fouling out and a missed final lay-up, along with poor decisions by referees, made the difference between the win and the loss for the Knights.

In the end, UCF finished with their best record to-date: an astonishing 24 wins and only 9 defeats! We are all proud of our hometown college for their successful season, and we hope that they are able to do the same next year!

AAF Follow-Up: XFL is Back!

by Nick Bell

The Alliance of American Football (AAF) recently announced that they have suspended operations permanently. Among other reasons, this is partly due to the fact that the AAF failed to come to an agreement will the NFL Players Association, which would have allowed the AAF to use NFLPA practice squads and young players. Without agreement, it was feared the AAF could never become a proper developmental league. The AAF was short lived and is no more, but even amidst its fall, we see new beginnings on the horizon. 

The XFL, run by Vince McMahon of WWE fame, will resume after having a brief stint as a league in the early 2000s. The XFL will begin in 2020, with many former NFL and former college players planning to participate. The XFL will take the AAF's place as an off-NFL-season professional football league. Currently, eight teams are signed up to begin play in February of 2020. Orlando's closest XFL team will be Tampa Bay.

Indoor, or arena football is coming back, as well. The Arena Football League (AFL) is back up to six teams, after having contracted to only four in the previous year, and will begin its 2019 season late this month. The Orlando Predators are back after a year away from arena football. They have joined the National Arena League, a newer arena league, which also has six teams currently, and is set to begin soon. 

It is great to see so many new football leagues coming around, giving players more opportunities to play and fans more opportunities to watch. The future of future is bright, as at least one of these business ventures is bound to find success in this NFL-driven market. We hope you all can catch a game soon, and see what these leagues have to offer.

Spring Break 2019

by Aaron Bass

We're back from spring break, so we thought it would be fun to ask around and find out what everyone did with their time off. This year, some OCP students had an amazing spring break with many fun-filled adventures. 

Jacob Brommer made the long drive up to North Carolina with some friends to enjoy the different type of scenery, do some zip-lining, and explore the mountains. Jalen Carr was able to enjoy some of the beautiful views of Georgia and spend some quality time with his relatives. Briela Salisbury and Connor Edel travelled to New York for the week and explored sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Hudson River. The two described their visit as adventurous and fun. 

While we had students up in the cold state of New York, some stayed close to home and took in Florida’s sunny beaches. Willie and KJ made the drive down to beautiful Miami Beach and were able to get some beautiful beach weather -- after the horrible thunderstorms hit. (Unfortunately, during this year's spring break, the weather disappointed us here in Florida, as the first part of spring break was nothing but pouring rain and thunderstorms.) 

Some Warriors checked out action-packed Daytona Beach, where they were able to enjoy attractions such as Daytona Lagoon, Bike Week, and the Boardwalk and Pier. 

While some students may have traveled away for their spring break fun, others relaxed at home. But, all were thankful to have a week off of school to relax and enjoy. We hope you all enjoyed your week off, and pray you're all rested-up to finish the last quarter strong!

Alliance of American Football

by Nick Bell

A new football league has begun in our country, and with it, a new team in Orlando: the Orlando Apollos. The The Alliance of American Football (AAF) is led by some of the most respected football minds in the game, and its goal is high-quality professional football fueled by a dynamic alliance between players, fans, and the game. The AAF allows football fans to enjoy football during the NFL off-season so we never have to go without! It also allows young players who may not have made it in the NFL, or aspiring former college players, to have a second opportunity to play professional ball in a less competitive, yet still exciting league. 

The Alliance currently features eight teams: the Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express, Orlando Apollos, Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders, and the San Diego Fleet. The Alliance is geared toward a better fan experience, through such things as fewer commercials and putting fans closer to the action. For example, all AAF players wear mics at all times, which allows the fans to hear the action on the field as it’s happening.

Recently, the Orlando Apollos invited the OCP Warrior Football Team to be honored at an Alliance game for their success this season. The Apollos want to congratulate OCP on our State Championship season. The game, during which OCP will be highlighted, will be held on April 6 at Spectrum Stadium.

The sport of football is evolving, and the AAF is doing great things by giving young players more opportunities to make a name for themselves in hopes of one day making an NFL roster. We'd like to encourage our students to check out an Alliance game for themselves... especially the one on April 6!