Sam’s spring football stops: Windermere High

Spring football is a special moment on the high school sports calendar because there’s just nothing else that’s quite like it. 

It’s a unique combination of the fanfare and pageantry of the fall’s Friday Night Lights and the hope that comes at the beginning of every new season. It either is a harbinger of your team’s upcoming dominance or of a long season ahead.

To celebrate this moment on the Florida high school sports calendar, Orange Observer Sports Editor Sam Albuquerque will be making the rounds during the 2024 spring football session to bring you all the best notes, tidbits and thoughts he picks up from visiting West Orange’s and Southwest Orange’s teams. 

The team featured in this edition of Sam’s spring football stops is Windermere High.

More from Sam's spring football stops: The First Academy | Foundation Academy | Ocoee High | Olympia High | West Orange High 

Windermere High

2023 record: 3-7

Spring game: at Lake Gibson at 7:30 p.m. on May 23

Coach: Riki Smith, third season.

Key returners, additions: OL/DL Noah Elkhander, ATH Bryce Speed and WR Anthony Klier-Enos

Following a program-best season in 2023 under coach Riki Smith — the first coach in program history to return for a third season — the Wolverines are starting to gain momentum as a program. 

And, with a new on-campus stadium slated to open this fall, 2024 could see Windermere turn the corner and establish itself as a force.

No. 1: Despite the 2023 starter returning, Windermere could see new a QB1.

As a junior, Bryce Speed utilized his versatility and athleticism to lead the Wolverines to a historic season as its starting quarterback. 

But as any good coach and program-builder would do, Smith wants to give Speed the best opportunity for his future. In this scenario, that means shifting the rising senior to different positions and not under center. 

“Bryce is such a good athlete; we’re going to try to move him around,” Smith said. “At the next level, he’s an athlete. So as a coach, I want to put him in the best situation possible to move on to play at the next level and that’s not at quarterback. It’s at slot receiver, corner or in the return game.”

The two QBs who seemed to be vying for the Wolverines’ starting QB spot were rising juniors Gabriel Gomes and Cody Owens, a transfer from Ohio. 

Although Smith expects the starter to change in 2024, he did reserve the right to put Speed back under center, if necessary.

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No. 2: Being an independent program is an exciting opportunity for the Wolverines.

When the FHSAA new football classifications came out in January and Orange County Public Schools decided to make Windermere football, along with seven other schools, an independent program, there was a lot of uncertainty about the 2024 season. 

Now, with its schedule sorted, Windermere views independence as an exciting opportunity for the young program on the rise. 

“(The players) received it well,” Smith said. 

“I just told them, as a coach and role model, ‘I have to be honest with you guys; I think us being an independent program allows our team to be more competitive.’ That’s just the truth. So, we’ll be independent for the next two years, and then we’ll revisit this conversation. But I just told the kids the truth: We have more of an opportunity to compete … and that’s really a blessing.”

No. 3: Windermere coach Riki Smith doesn’t hold back punches with his players.

Smith doesn’t mince words when speaking to his players — especially about where the program is currently at and the standard to which he holds the program. 

Following a warm-up period, Smith, in his charming and boisterous tone, stood in front of his players and spoke for 15 minutes straight about what he’s seen in a few practice sessions and the reality of where they stood in comparison to the powerhouse programs in Central Florida. In a way that balanced criticism with encouragement, Smith simply kept it real with his players and they seemed to respond well during the practice. 

As the program continues to grow under Smith, his ability to communicate with his players effectively will be crucial to the development of Wolverine football.

Sam Albuquerque is the Sports Editor for the Orange Observer. Please contact him with story ideas, results and statistics.

Email: [email protected] 

Twitter: @SamBAlbuquerque

Instagram: @OrangeObserverSam