Sports Spotlight - West Orange Times & Observer: Dylan Weidman

Dylan Weidman has been in the cross-country program all four years he has been at Ocoee High, and to highlight his senior year, he is a captain for the boys team. Weidman is a leader for the Knights before, after and during practices and competitions and has hopes of setting a new personal record this fall.

What are your hopes for the rest of your senior season?

My hopes are to set some new personal records and for the team to do really (well). My best time (so far) is 20:14 … my dream time would be a 19:00 — I think I can do that this year.

What’s your favorite course to run?

I’ve probably done the West Orange High course the most. West Orange is the closest, and we’ve run it so many times — we run districts there — and I’m most familiar with that course. That’s where I set my personal record.

How did you get started in the sport?

I started running a few 5Ks in sixth or seventh grade. My dad (Richard Weidman) got me into it, because he ran cross-country when he was in high school. His brother, my uncle, did it too. They got me into it.

How do you approach each race mentally?

The mental approach is to find someone to pace with. You learn really quickly as a freshman that you can go out too fast and end up killing yourself at the start. … So I try to keep a pace with someone and also look at the guy in front of me and try to catch him.

Has there been a past teammate on the team, since graduated, who left a big impression on you?

Cole Prium was a junior when I was a freshman and a senior when I was a sophomore. He gave me a lot of running tips and stuff, and he’s running for Florida Gulf Coast University now.

Do you intend to go to college?

Yes, I do want to go to college, but I’m undecided on what I’d like to study at the moment. ... I want to do something with sports, so I’ve thought about doing sports medicine or sports commentating.

What’s your favorite sport to watch on television?

My favorite sport, by far, is basketball. I like LeBron (James) — on and off the court, he’s just the best. What he does off the court is just amazing, and he’s one of the best to ever play on the court. I like greatness.

If you had to pick a superhero with whom to spend one day, whom would you choose?

That’s tough. I’d say Spider-Man. Tom Holland, he seems really cool, and I watched the new “Spider-Man,” and it was really good.