Because it is never too late for a 2016 preview list. . .
Orlando had a very eventful 2015 season and we cannot fully predict what is going to come in the days and months ahead. The 2016 calendar year though is shaping up to be a very eventful one in Orlando too. Maybe not as eventful as the last year that saw a new team come into existence and the city continue to grow its sports profile both in the United States and internationally.
Orlando is becoming a great sports destination. And there will be some great moments upcoming this year and questions that need to be answered.
There will be plenty of players and figures who will impact the year in sports in Orlando. So here is a brief 85-person survey of who and what to watch in Orlando in 2016.
Why 85? Orlando was founded in 1885.
Read Part 1 for Nos. 61-85.
Read Part 2 for Nos. 36-60.
35. Darwin Ceren, Orlando City: The young midfielder was named the team MVP for the expansion year and showed tremendous growth as the season went on. Ceren provides great speed in the middle of the pitch. For Orlando City to continue growing though, Ceren will need to improve.
34. Dalvin Cook, Florida State: The highlight of Florida State’s two upcoming trips will be the man in Florida State’s backfield. Cook is one of the best players in the country and a likely Heisman frontrunner in 2016 after he put together a 1,691-yard season with 19 touchdowns.
33. Eric Baier, Orlando Solar Bears: With the Solar Bears trading away fan favorite Scott Tanski, Eric Baier steps into that mold. He was named the team captain and figures to be with the Solar Bears for the remainder of the season. He provides much needed stability to the Solar Bears as they deal with the constant call ups of being in the ECHL.
32. Triple H, WWE: Triple H is very much shaping the WWE in his image and Orlando is very much a big part of that. It starts with the decision to book Triple H into the Royal Rumble at Amway Center on Sunday where Triple H won the title. But it continues with how he continues to establish NXT and the WWE Performance Training Center at Full Sail University. The next generation of WWE superstars all come through Central Florida.
31. Joe Bendik, Orlando City: There was a ton of controversy when Orlando City cut ties with Tally Hall. So in steps Joe Bendik who will likely get the call in net for the opening game. He was the backup in Toronto last year and there will be a lot of pressure on him as he replaces the very popular Hall.
30. Jordan Spieth, PGA TOUR: It is still not 100 percent certain Jordan Spieth will play at this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in the run up to the Masters. But the PGA TOUR’s new it guy in Spieth is all the talk on tour. Orlando seeing him would be a great treat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c3o62mtPvQ
29. Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic: Elfrid Payton has proven himself pretty well as one of the best players on the Magic in just his second year. The point guard does not have much in the way of shots, but is so gifted at running the team and making the team go. For the Magic to make the Playoffs, it will have to trust the sophomore guard to lead.
28. Terry Rooney, UCF: The Knights baseball program has hit some hard times and the end of last season left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. After rising into the top 25, UCF went 10-14 in the American Athletic Conference and finished just 31-27. This is a bit of a reloading year for the Knights, but the pressure is certainly on for a program that should be in better shape.
27. Adrian Heath, Orlando City: Orlando City’s manager has a big task ahead of him. No matter how Orlando City spun it this offseason, there are changes going on in the front office and coaching staff and the team needs to start delivering some wins — and a Playoff appearance — or things could start getting hairy for Inchy.
26. Austin Bergner, Windermere Prep: There may be a Major League pitcher preparing for his senior of high school this year. Austin Bergner is ranked the No. 28 high school baseball prospect in the country by Baseball America. He has committed to North Carolina, but should tear up the Central Florida baseball scene first.
25. Rob Madore, Orlando Solar Bears: After the Solar Bears saw their goalkeeper from last year, Garrett Sparks, get called up to the Toronto Maple Leafs this year, there is the hope Rob Madore is on a similar trajectory. As the Solar Bears’ best goalie, he will be important if Orlando is going to make the playoffs. At least, as long as he is in Orlando and not spending time with the Marlies.
24. Kevin Molino, Orlando City: Kevin Molino is one of the few carryovers from the USL days in Orlando City’s history and so carries a special place for the franchise. But his future is up in the air after tearing his ACL last year. Orlando City needs his boost in the midfield as he connected well with Kaka and provided another critical attacking player.
23. Brek Shea, Orlando City: Brek Shea is probably still the most recognizable name for Orlando City outside of Kaka. His work on the national team should keep him a fan favorite. But he still seems to be without a position where he can truly thrive. With a lot of young players around him, Shea needs a big season to help them grow and his team succeed. . . and maybe have a future with the team.
22. Rob Hennigan, Orlando Magic: The Orlando Magic’s rebuild will hit a critical phase this summer as the team has experienced winning for the first time and clear holes in the team’s championship trajectory have emerged. He also has to manage Evan Fournier’s upcoming free agency while keeping flexibility for the other young players on the Magic.
21. Tom Sermanni, Orlando Pride: The first-year coach for the Orlando Pride brings a lot of experience as a national team coach to the table. He has had moderate success even in his short sting with the U.S. National Team. There may be a bit of a deficit as far as the team talent goes with the team selling the farm for Alex Morgan. Still there are always high expectations from the Orlando City tree.
20. Jenny Simpson, Olympic Runner: It being an Olympic year, there will be plenty of Olympic stories to come out of the Central Florida area as the team gets set to head to Rio de Janeiro. Simpson is a two-time Olympian already, making the semifinals of the 1500m in London. She should be hoping for a stronger showing this time around. She finished 11th in last year’s 1500m World Championships.
19. Tacko Fall, UCF: It is hard to miss UCF’s 7-foot-6 freshman center. Fall has become the attraction for UCF games. The raw center though is still learning how to play basketball and use his surprising athleticism to his advantage. It will be a long slog for him. But it is clear the kind of impact he can make.
18. Rob Keefe, Orlando Predators: Arena Football League seems on hard times around the league, but not in Orlando. The Predators have had back-to-back Playoff appearances, but hunger to get back to a championship level. Rob Keefe has established a unique identity to his team that still needs a little more push. But the Predators are always relevant with a physical, defensive-minded style.
17. Anthony Noreen, Orlando Solar Bears: The Orlando Solar Bears have a strange balance with their development of players for the Toronto Marlies and Maple Leafs and trying to win at the ECHL level. The Solar Bears’ young coach is shaping many identities including that of his team. The Solar Bears have some work to do to make their third straight ECHL Playoffs.
16. Justin Holman, UCF: It is not even certain at this point if Justin Holman will be the quarterback for UCF next year. A new offense will require new skills from him and he took major step backs his sophomore year even with an injury that knocked him out of the first part of the season. Holman for now is the leader and the guy UCF needs to catch on to have any kind of success.
15. Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando: Buddy Dyer has been the biggest cheerleader for the city of Orlando and specifically sports in Orlando. So it is always interesting to see what role he will play in promoting the city and helping bring major events to town. He will play a role in the continued building of the Orlando City soccer stadium as the city sells the land to the team. But who knows what else he has in store?
14. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State: If there was a question about which college owns what everyone still calls a college football town, Jimbo Fisher and Florida State will put that to rest in 2016. The Seminoles dominate Downtown Orlando on gamedays and the Seminoles will set up shop in Orlando for their spring game in April and the season opener against Ole Miss on Labor Day in the inaugural Orlando Kickoff Game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O57xMEA6ZvY
13. Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic: Ask most people about the Orlando Magic and Victor Oladipo will probably the first name or image to come to mind. He was pushed as the franchise’s face and burgeoning young star. Instead he has struggled, failing to take the step forward. The Magic will have a decision to make with the former No. 2 overall pick in the next year and a half. The 2016 calendar year could determine his place with the Magic and in his career.
12. Dana White, UFC: At this point, everyone in Orlando is waiting on baited breath to see what UFC does next in Orlando. A second consecutive successful network television event in the Amway Center has some talking that a pay per view is next for Orlando and the Amway Center as the market has proven itself to be a good UFC market. What is next is completely up to the UFC’s guru.
11. Scott Skiles, Orlando Magic: One of the great feel-good stories of 2015 could quickly turn into one of the more frustrating ones of 2016. Such is the life of a coach. Scott Skiles has the Orlando Magic in position to compete for the Playoffs in 2016 and he will continue to build the team up in 2017. The future of the Magic is squarely on his shoulders to lead and guide.
Check back later tomorrow for the top 10 of our list…
