Best of sports 2016

The top sports stories of the year

By Observer Staff
| 9:00 a.m. December 29, 2016

Photo by: Sarah Wilson - Can the UCF Knights end their season on a high note? They'll look to do just that at their upcoming bowl game bid.

Winter Park - Maitland Observer
Sports

Winter Park Wildcats head to state final four: Feb. 25, 2016

The Wildcats’ deep run into the state tournament saw nail-biters and blowouts along the way. After narrowly escaping against Timber Creek in the regional semifinal, the more decisive win propelled the Wildcats into a showdown against Coral Springs in the state final four. The Wildcats have won three state championships since 2010. Read more about the Wildcats’ season at http://bit.ly/WildcatsFinalFour

Knights to face Arkansas State in Cure Bowl: Dec. 5, 2016

After a winless season, the Knights turned it around and ended up bowl-bound. UCF landed a spot in the AutoNation Cure Bowl against Arkansas State at the recently re-christened Camping World Stadium, formerly the Citrus Bowl, in Orlando on Dec. 17. Read more about the Knights’ comeback season at http://bit.ly/KnightsBowlBound

Winter Park Wildcats finally come home to Showalter: Nov. 10, 2016

After spending the majority of their season on the road, the Winter Park Wildcats’ newly renovated home field was ready for kickoff just in time for the team’s homecoming game on Oct. 28. It would take until Nov. 4 for the ’Cats to cement their first win on the revamped Showalter Field against Olympia. Read more about the Wildcats’ long-awaited homecoming at http://bit.ly/WPHShomecoming, and their first win on their new field at http://bit.ly/ShowalterWin

Twin sisters add fire to Rollins lacrosse: April 28, 2016

Tyler and Taylor Thomas are two senior members of the Rollins women’s lacrosse team, known nationally for its prowess as a potent program that this spring ranked No. 4 in the country in the NCAA Division II polls. The two of them have been playing organized sports with each other since they were both 3 years old, and have been in sync ever since. During the twins’ time at Rollins, the team has amassed a 37-15 record that includes two trips to the NCAA tournament and a final-four appearance in 2013, when the Tars lost in double overtime. Read more about the Thomas twins role at Rollins in our April 28 story at http://bit.ly/ThomasTwins