"This is the feeling that I've been trying to experience for six weeks. And how that locker room is acting right now, that's what you want. That’s what it’s about"

- Terrell Buckley, Head Coach

Orlando Guardians

Around The Horn.

• The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) opened nominations and announced the date for the 2023 SPORTYS awards. With Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute returning as the presenting sponsor, the 2023 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions will air on WKMG-TV News 6 on Saturday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m. EST. 
• Terrell Buckley led Orlando Guardians’ first win of the season, a 37-36 upset of the D.C. Defenders Saturday night at Camping World Stadium. For Buckley, whose accomplishments include a successful college career at Florida State that led to a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame and an NFL career capped with a Super Bowl win with the 2001 New England Patriots.
• UCF offensive line coach Herb Hand knows what it takes to compete in the Big 12 Conference. The recently promoted co-offensive coordinator held the same position at the University of Texas for three years in the Power Five league that the Knights are set to officially join this summer.
• The Orlando Solar Bears have agreed to terms with forward Alex Frye and goaltender Drennen Atherton, Solar Bears Head Coach and General Manager Matt Carkner announced
• Water polo playoffs continue with regional semifinal games and West Orange, Winter Park and Seminole are the three area teams that have both their girls and boy steams still alive. West Orange’s girls are ranked No. 1 in the state by the FHSAA and its boys team is also rated No. 1 in Central Florida.
• Six weeks into the high school track and field season, still with a long way to go, a number of Orlando area state championship contenders are making their marks. Girls jumpers have been especially strong. In the high jump Harmony senior Drea Thompson ranks No. 1 in Class 4A with a 5-foot-7 clearance and Edgewater junior Amaya Bien-Aime, a 2022 state runner-up, is No. 1 in 3A.
• Dr. Phillips freshman phenom Nakira Hudson won the Florida Relays girls 400-meter dash championship with a historic performance last weekend. She covered the lap in 54.39 seconds at Percy Beard Track to edge Montverde Academy junior Alivia Williams (54.40).
• This year’s record-breaking women’s NCAA Tournament featured breakout stars, upsets and capped off with Coach Kim Mulkey leading LSU to its first basketball championship.
• The team from Storrs, Connecticut, topped off one of the most impressive March Madness runs in history Monday night, clamping down early, then breaking things open late to bring home its fifth national title with a 76-59 victory over San Diego State.

In The News.

• Walt Disney World has entered the Grid. Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster officially opened last Tuesday morning at Magic Kingdom. Slots for opening-day rides were gone in mere seconds at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
• Visit Orlando and the Orlando Economic Partnership will unveil a new mural in downtown Orlando on April 7 at 10:30 a.m. to kick off this year’s #407Day programming. The mural, which was designed by local creator Clark Orr and painted by muralist Kristi Burke, is part of the new “Unbelievably Real” brand initiative. 
• This past weekend, MegaCon Orlando returned for four days of nerdtastic programming. MegaCon is Southeast’s most popular comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event and features four days of celebrity encounters, fan-favorite cosplayers, and after-hours programming in the Orange County Convention Center.
• LYNX will be extending one of its free Lymmo routes into the Sodo Main Street following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Lime Line will now run from the North Quarter to LYNX Central Station and then continue southward to the Beardall Senior Center and Lake Lucerne neighborhood with stops at Division Avenue, Anderson Street, Delaney Avenue, Gore Street, Orange Avenue, South Street, and Garland Avenue.
• The 32-story office and residential tower is a redevelopment of the former Ballroom at Church Street built in 1994 and which has stood vacant for years. The demolition will not involve massive debris destined for a landfill. It’s a project that takes recycling to a higher level with most of the elements removed being donated for reuse, according to LPC’s Florida Regional Director Shayna Hansen.
• The Space Coast saw a record number of launches from the two facilities with 57 in 2022. Space Launch Delta 45 commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy said in January that there could be between 86 and 92 potential launches in 2023.

Stay Engaged.

• Looking for a fun-filled evening to celebrate 407 Day (Friday, April 7)? Look no further than the 407 Day Game Night at Orlando's signature park. This free event at Lake Eola Park on the East Lawn will be an evening of games, food, and fun for everyone!
• Orlando Story Club is a live storytelling competition that takes place at CityArts Orlando. All regular shows begin at 7:00 p.m. Anyone with a story that fits with that night's theme can enter by putting their name in the story hat. Ten names are drawn at random. Each storyteller is given 5 minutes to impress the audience, and the top 3 tellers take home prizes.
• Movies at the Mennello are back! In April, they’ll be screening The Art of Making It. From the producer of the Emmy-nominated The Price of Everything, a film about who gets seen and who gets left behind in today’s seductive, secretive and unregulated art world.
• What is Artificial Intelligence? Experts in ethics, visual art, industry, and computer science will help you better understand this quickly-evolving technology and how it impacts the creative process. This event is part of UCF Celebrates the Arts 2023. On April 10. UCF is hosting a large-scale celebration of creativity at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
• Orlando Science Center again is prepping for its Science of Wine fundraiser, which is set for April 22. Tickets are now on sale for the 11th annual event. Festivities for the evening include samplings of 150 wines from around the world and food from Central Florida. In addition, there will be sessions about pairing wine with cheeses presented by Florida Diary Farmers and a silent auction with items such as flights and hotel stays. 
• On Wednesday, April 26 at 11am the Women United Luncheon draws supporters from across the tri-county area to connect, lead and inspire! This will take place in Orlando and attendance cost is $95. 
• Florida Residents can save up to $65 on select multi-day tickets at Universal Orlando theme parks when buying online. Click here for current offers.
• Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel, Senior Vice President Brent Nelson, and Senior Director Shalisa Griffin attended the Seminole County Chamber State of the County Luncheon.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel 'swung' by the LIV Golf tournament at Orange County National Golf Club last weekend, pictured here with Rich McCarthy.

GO Sports Executive VP Jennifer Lastik attended the Orlando Pride's 2023 Home Opener, pictured here with Kay Rawlins (Orlando City Foundation).

GO Sports Senior Director Kyle Sturley presented to students in UCF's Event & Facility Management class this week, pictured here with Tyler Weyant and Jessica Beers from Kissimmee Sports and Director of the Undergraduate Sports Business Program at UCF, Scott Bukstein.

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel attended the Disney Community event and unveiling of the new TRON ride along with GO Sports Board Member Jay Galbraith and his wife Carrie.

GO Sports Senior Vice President Michael Kalinich and Board Member Scott Breault also attended the LIV Golf Tournament this weekend.

Congratulations to GO Sports Board Member Latria Graham (GLB Media) who was honored as one of Orlando Business Journal's 'Women Who Mean Business' honorees for 2023. Graham is pictured with GO Sports friend and partner Kelly Cohen (The Southern Group).

GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel and Board Member Jesse Martinez (The Alfond Inn), pictured here with Michael Hanley and Phil Mickelson, attended a reception prior to the LIV Golf Tournament last weekend.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen & his wife Jill attended the Orlando Philharmonic's Classical Mystery Tour tribute to the Beatles, part of 'The Springs 2023' series.

GO Sports CFO Gary Cohen attended a luncheon hosted by The Lifeboat Project. He is pictured with Robert Agrusa (CFHLA), Angela Jackson (Heartland Haven Foundation), Tim McKinney (United Global Outreach), and Cohen's wife Jill, who is CEO of The Lifeboat Project.

New Corporate Partner.



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Fun & Games.



• Game Highlights: March Madness San Diego ST vs. UConn
• The best local April Fool's jokes from around Orlando