- May 20, 2026
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Since the beginning of this year, the Horizon High boys volleyball team has been destined for greatness.
The Hawks began as one of the most productive teams in Florida with a 12-0 record before it lost its first game to Lake Brantley 3-0, but that first loss didn’t derail the team. The Hawks continued on with their success by having fun together and claimed the district, then regional crowns.
For the second consecutive year, the Hawks were heading to the FHSAA 3A State Semifinal game.
The opponent: Lake Brantley.
But Horizon headed into the Final Four game with a new headspace, head coach Kristen Caleo said.
“We had a good game plan going in and just preparing as much as we could for it and had the right mindset,” she said. “We were just working so hard toward it and wanted it so bad, and so they were ready to go.”
The Hawks stepped onto Polk State College’s court to have fun, and the players did. In dominating fashion, Horizon swept Lake Brantley 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-20) and for the first time in school history made it to the 3A State Championship.
“We just had that momentum moving forward and we tried to prepare them like, ‘When you step out there, you’ve got this,’ and adrenaline was going and all the fans were just unbelievable,’” Caleo said of heading into the championship game.
However, the team met the buzzsaw that is Columbus in the championship game Saturday, May 16. The Hawks fell 3-0, but their state runner-up finish is a new milestone for the school.
“It was sadness of coming to an end, but the pretty cool thing was we got to play every game possible and make history for our school, so there were some pretty cool things mixed in with it, but you know it was the overall sadness of, ‘We’ve had such a good run, and it’s done,’” Caleo said.
Throughout the first set, the players were building their way up. None of them had ever played on a stage that large, and Caleo said they were focused on getting themselves comfortable, working through the nerves of the pressure and accepting that mistakes were OK. Once they realized they could do it, the dynamic shifted and they were able to relax and play their form of volleyball.
“Sometimes, you’re in panic mode and you’re (filled) with all the adrenaline, and trying to control it can get a little chaotic,” she said. “We got to settle in, just kind of breathe it out, and it was a pretty cool experience. They were nervous, but they were ready for it.”
The whole time the Hawks also had the backing of their student section, parents and school administration. Half of Polk State’s stands were decked out in purple and orange for both the championship and Final Four games. Horizon’s principal, Brian Sanchez Corona, helped bus students out to the games and fill the arena with cheers.
“It kind of (was) like a movie looking out at the crowd,” Caleo said. “The support that they’ve given our team is unbelievable and (also) the noise that they have helped bring the energy to our game. I know the boys appreciated and loved every second of it.”
When it got loud, the Hawks would look up and smile, soaking in every second of the dream it felt like to have the support. The joy it brought them was unmatched because the season truly was about having fun in order to play their best game.
Caleo said she and the staff were laughing all year from how much each player was a goofball. She said they all could be in a house doing different tasks, but when it was time to come together as a team they always were ready.
They also took the phrase, “there’s no I in team,” to heart.
Senior James Caleo led the team offensively the whole season with 3.8 kills per set on a .439 hitting percentage, but for him, it never was about his own statistics. Kristen Caleo said James would say, “We did this.”
“It’s been about the team this entire season, and actually, that’s what’s brought us our success, too,” Kristen Caleo said. “We have captains (who) are going up to the coin toss, but we don’t have any personalities that are very individual.”
The whole season, the players worked and breathed together and entrusted first-time head and volleyball coach Caleo and first-year high school assistant coach Jack Sarnowski.
Although Caleo had the official head coach title, she and Sarnowski worked together as co-head coaches. She focused on the behind-the-scenes work, while he actively was coaching them during games and focusing on all of the technical aspects.
“Coach Jack has been the most incredible addition to our team,” Caleo said. “I’m so thankful for that and the boys are, as well. He’s done an absolutely incredible job with these boys and they would do anything for him and they played so hard for him.”
Sarnowski was a decorated high school player as a four-year starter for Winter Springs and played four years at Kings University before playing for Long Island University as he earned his graduate degree. Although he was in his first year coaching high school volleyball, he has coached at Orlando Gold Volleyball Club for five years. Caleo said four of Horizon’s seniors played for Sarnowski in their first year of volleyball four years ago.
“It was surreal and crazy that he closed out their high school careers as well, so he was their first-ever coach and their last coach for high school so it was a pretty amazing and beautiful thing that we got to experience with them,” she said.
