Each week Orlando Sports Central posts its list of top performers with ties to the Central Florida area. This week AJ Turman and Skyler Skersick from Boone High School join UCF soccer coach Amanda Cromwell and UCF football player Bruce Miller on the Top-5 list alongside Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Rollins College.

– To nominate athletic performances for inclusion each Wednesday to the Top-5 list of Orlando Sports Central Standouts, send over an email to JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

AJ Turman of Boone (Photo by Chris Schubert)

1.) AJ Turman and Skyler Skersick – Boone Braves – Both had huge nights from the opposite sides of the ball last Friday for the Braves as they went on the road and kept their postseason hopes alive with a huge 48-6 win over Oak Ridge. Turman averaged 15 yards per carry out of the backfield while tallying up 210 yards on 14 carries and scoring four touchdowns. Skersick sacked former teammate Baylin Trujillo six times, including three straight times late in the second quarter. He also managed to block a punt in the process.

2.) Amanda Crowell – UCF Knights – While leading the UCF women’s soccer team into the top-10 Cromwell coached her squad to a regular-season Conference USA title. On Tuesday she was named 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year for her efforts. Joining her on the all-C-USA postseason list were UCF senior Becca Thomas (Midfielder of the Year) and All-C-USA First Team members Courtney Whidden, Nikki Moore and Aline Reis. “The coach of the year award is really about our whole staff and I’m honored that we were recognized,” said Cromwell. “Donna Fishter and Colby Hale deserve so much recognition as their impact as coaches and leaders has been tremendous and they push me to be a better coach every day.” This was the first conference coaching honor for Cromwell despite being one of the most successful coaches in UCF sports history. In over 11 seasons her teams have gone a combined 156-66-15.

3.) Bruce Miller – UCF Knights – The junior defensive end was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his contributions in Sunday night’s come-from-behind 21-20 win over Marshall on ESPN. Miller tallied a team-high 10 tackles, including three for a loss and 2.5 sacks. The key play though came when he stripped the ball from Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson with 2:12 to play. That gave UCF (5-3, 3-2 C-USA) one more possession, which led to the game-winning touchdown pass from Brett Hodges to Rocky Ross. Miller now leads C-USA in both sacks (9) and tackles-for-loss (11.5). Teammate Jarvis Geathers in second in C-USA sacks with sevens and third in tackles-for-loss with 9.5 in all.

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (Photo by J.C. Carnahan)

4.) Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic – Howard was named the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the eighth time in his career by helping the Magic start the season 3-0. He averaged 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over that stretch in wins over Philadelphia, New Jersey and Toronto. The 6-11 center posted double-doubles in all three games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on the road against the Nets. That followed a 21-point, 15-rebound outing in the season opener and was preceded by a 24-point, 11-rebound effort against the Raptors.

5.) Men’s and Women’s soccer – Rollins Tars – The men’s team claimed a share of the 2009 Sunshine State Conference Championship along with Tampa and set a new school record for wins in a season by going 16-1-1 overall and 7-1 in the SSC. The 16 wins eclipses the 15 wins previously earned back in 1994. The title is the third for Rollins and head coach Keith Buckley since 2004. The women’s team, ranked No. 8 in D-II with a 13-1-2 overall mark and 7-0-1 conference record, wrapped up their second-straight Sunshine State Conference regular season championship and are hosting the conference tournament semifinals and championship match this weekend starting Nov. 6.

More ––

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/28/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/21/09

Orlando Sports Central Standouts – 10/14/09