Battle of the Groves 2.0: Wolverines and Hawks Second Annual Showdown

Horizon West's Two High Schools Will Go Head-to-Head on the Gridiron

Coach Smith Brings Stability to Windermere 

Coach Riki Smith is a longtime, Central Florida football man. As a student, he played football at Dr. Phillips High School before heading off to college at Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). He would reunite with his alma mater as their Running Backs Coach, where he would coach for sixteen seasons. During that time, Dr. Phillips reached the State Championship Game three times (2010, 2016, 2017). They won it all in 2017. 

During Smith’s tenure at Dr. Phillips High School, he coached some of the most talented football players in Florida. One thing that’s been consistent over the years is Coach Smith’s commitment to his players. When asked about his coaching philosophy, Coach Smith answered, “Discipline, accountability and love. I tell them all the time, I love you, so I’m going to discipline you and hold you accountable. That’s all I care about.”

When the Windermere Head Coach position opened up, Smith jumped on the opportunity to influence an entire sixty man roster. Coach Smith acknowledges that this season is a “rebuilding year” as the Wolverines look to establish a strong, consistent football culture at WHS. During Dr. Phillips decade of dominance, they had very little turnover on the coaching staff. Smith is determined to establish the same kind of family-oriented culture at Windermere. 

Horizon Rising

In just their second year, Horizon High School athletics has been off to a hot start. Recently, their men’s cross country team and girls volleyball team won District Championships. And in their first year with seniors on campus, the Hawks football team started their season 6-0. 

Head Coach Dennis Thomas is also no stranger to the Central Florida football scene. He previously served as head coach at Lyman (Seminole) and Celebration (Oceola) and brought that experience to build Horizon’s program in 2021. Coach Thomas says the winning start to the season has simply been a result of dedication and work ethic. “We work hard. We run the ball on offense. We bring speed on defense,” Thomas explained.

Horizon Athletic Director Scott Drabczyk vouched for the level of commitment Coach Thomas has brought to the program. “Dennis has done a great job building culture and identity in his program. This is a year-round team. They’re practicing and conditioning right after the season ends until the next season.” As a result of this success, Coach Thomas was recently named Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 11 Coach of the Year. 

Home Grown Talent 

One of the most interesting things about a young, growing community like Horizon West is talented people who call it home. Student athletes often gain prominence as local legends, through their accomplishments on the field while representing their program. 

In recent weeks, the Horizon Hawks kicker and punter, Daniel Case Melo Porto, has been identified as one of the top kicking prospects in the country. According to Kornblue Kicking, Porto is a Five Star recruit and the #3 overall ranked high school kicker in the country. He’s also a highly regarded goalkeeper on the soccer team. The Hawks also have some strong offensive weapons like Senior running back Trei Ginn and Sophomore running back Devon St. Clair. On the defensive side of the ball, Junior linebacker Bo Kenney has been a standout. 

Over at Windermere, the Wolverines Junior defensive end, Anthony Rosier, has made serious waves. Rosier has been offered a scholarship from the University of Charlotte. This marks the first Division 1 scholarship offer to a Windemere football player. He’s joined on the defensive line by another standout, Kyce Amer (Junior).  The Sophomore brothers, Theo and Enzo Fernandes are also making noise on both the offensive and defensive lines. 

The Early Years of a Local Tradition 

All the greatest rivalries start somewhere. And they generally begin with geographic proximity and shared community experiences. The Horizon West community is a collection of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have all settled in this cozy corner of the Orlando suburbs. In just a five year span, two high schools have been built and two athletic programs have enjoyed considerable success. 

On the gridiron, both the Wolverines and Hawks are looking to make their mark. This Friday, November 4th at 7:00pm, Horizon High will host the second annual Battle of the the Groves for bragging rights throughout the villages and to hoist the orange basket trophy. The Windermere Wolverines enter the game with a 2-7, but looking to prove themselves against their crosstown competitors, the Horizon Hawks go into the “Showdown on Seidel” with a 6-3 record, aiming to end the season strong.

This Friday, head down to Horizon High, cheer on your neighborhood team and become a part of one of our community’s growing traditions. I'll see you there!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR