Hawks vs Wolverines: A Local "Rivalry Love" Begins

Sports Traditions Emerge With Opening of Second Horizon West High School

Horizon High School Now Open 

Horizon High School opened its doors in August 2021, just four years after the opening of crosstown Windermere High School. The growth of the area has warranted the opening of the new school, which is located off Seidel Road near S.R. 429. Separated by a mere six miles, the zoning dividing line primarily falls along Reams and Fiquette Roads. Most of Lakeside Village and much of Bridgewater Village residents are zoned for Windermere High, while Town Center, Seidel area, Hickory Nut and Ovation fall within the Horizon High zone. 

As both schools are busy managing the beginning of the school year, their athletic programs are also preparing for their Fall seasons. Fall sports include bowling, golf, cheer, cross country, swimming, sideline cheer, girls’ volleyball and football. For more information on how to get involved in all fall, winter and spring sports at each school, visit the WHS Athletics and the HHS Athletics websites. 

High School Football in West Orange County

The most notorious high school sport on the Fall calendar is, of course, football. Football in the state of Florida is a serious matter. When you think about high school football, states like Texas, California and Ohio may come to mind first; however, Florida ranked as the number one state for blue-chip recruits in 2020 with 59 players (16.9% of total share).

On the west side of Orange County, schools like Dr. Phillips and Apopka have enjoyed a lot of success over the past decade or so. Locally in Horizon West, the Windermere Wolverines played their first official season in 2017, after opening as a relief school for West Orange High School (WOHS). Since seniors remained at WOHS for their final year, this meant the Wolverines’ first season did not include any senior players. While Windermere has gone through several coaches and have produced just a few wins in the last few seasons, building a program takes time. In an expanded playoff format in 2020, the 2-7 Wolverines defeated Freedom High School 49-35 in a play-in game. The Wolverines enter 2021 with some momentum and a new head coach (formerly the assistant coach) in Eric Olson. 

The Horizon West Hawks, like the Wolverines before them, will play their inaugural season without seniors. The Hawks welcome Head Coach Dennis Thomas, who previously served at Lyman (Longwood) and Celebration High Schools. Thomas has the opportunity to build his own program from the bottom up and formulate a long-term rivalry with the Windermere Wolverines.

Let the Local "Rivary Love" Begin!

As both programs prepare for the 2021 season, you can mark your calendar for Friday, November 5, when the Wolverines and Hawks meet for the first time on the gridiron. The inaugural “Horizon West Bowl” will take place at Deputy Scott Pine Park on Ficquette Road at 7 PM. 

All traditions begin somewhere. Sports rivalries are oftentimes the cornerstones of longstanding traditions. As a community, Horizon West has experienced exponential growth in recent years with new residents from all over the country and the world. Horizon High School’s opening helps give shape to the community and offers an opportunity for residents to enhance their local pride.

So, put on your navy and green or your orange and purple and join your neighbors in cheering on the Wolverines and Hawks this Fall! 

Windermere Wolverines 2021 Varsity Football Schedule