– Gold for Williams –

Serving as an assistant coach in her first appearance working with USA Basketball, Williams helped lead the USA Women’s U-18 National Team to a 5-0 record at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

On Sunday, the U.S. team scored a huge 81-38 win over Brazil in the gold-medal game of the FIBA America U-18 Championship. Six players scored at least nine points in the game en route to the title.

Williams, the 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year, coached alongside Florida State’s Sue Semrau and head coach Jennifer Rizzoti out of Hartford. Williams enters her fourth season with the Knights later this year when UCF opens the 2010-11 season at the Women’s National Invitational Tournament for the first time in program history.

– Sixth for James –

After recently wrapping up her track and field career as a UCF Knight this past season, James posted a time of 13.25 seconds on Saturday in the 100-meter hurdles finals of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

That effort was good for sixth place behind professionals Lolo Jones (12.69), Kellie Wells (12.84), Damu Cherry (12.86) Ginnie Powell (12.90) and Tiffany Ofili (13.04) despite running into a stiff wind of 2.1 meters per second. James, who holds the UCF school record in the event, qualified sixth for the finals in 13.24 seconds.

Former college teammate Jackie Coward competed against James in the same semifinal heat and missed qualifying for the finals with a time of 13.50. Two weeks ago Coward finished her sophomore season as an outdoor All-American at the NCAA Track & Field Championships.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Welcome to this edition of Orlando Sports Central Highlights…

– Orlando Magic Get New Look –

Fans will either grow to love it or hate it. Either way, the Orlando Magic will sport at bit of a new look this fall when they open the new Amway Center.

From the Magic: The new logo incorporates the Magic’s current jersey wordmark, giving a more integrated look.  It also continues the team’s colors with the Magic blue, Magic black and Magic silver.  The updated look includes the team’s current secondary logo with the iconic star ball for a smooth transition from old to new, building on the heritage and history of the Magic from its birth in 1989.

“This new logo signifies the beginning of a new era of excellence for the Orlando Magic and our fans,” said Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins. “We are excited about where our team is and the direction we are headed as we build on the legend already created and look forward to what the future holds.”

– UCF’s Culpepper Back In Action –

If all goes well between now and then, former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be back in the Florida Citrus Bowl on Thursday, Oct. 21 with his new football team, the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. The Mountain Lions will be in Orlando as visitors of the Florida Tuskers.

The 1998 All-American and Sammy Baugh Trophy recipient has reunited with two of his former coaches. Culpepper’s first NFL head coach, Dennis Green, is entering his second season, as is offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, who coached him as a Golden Knight.

Green selected Culpepper with the 11th pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. After three trips to the Pro Bowl while with the Minnesota Vikings, he later wound up floating between the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.

Following 95 career NFL starts with 23,208 passing yards, 146 touchdowns and 101 interceptions, his desire to continue playing the game of football prompted the reunion.

“When the opportunity came for me to sign with the UFL and play for coach Green in Sacramento I could not resist,” said Culpepper.

He’s also looking forward to teaming back up with Kruczek, whose offense helped Culpepper become just the third player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 in a career. As a Knight, Culpepper passed for 11,412 career yards with 84 touchdowns.

After being named the starter in Minnesota in 2000, he led the Vikings to a 7-0 mark during a season that ended in an NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants, who were coached by Las Vegas Locos Head Coach Jim Fassel.

– UCF’s Coward An Outdoor All-American –

Of the three UCF track and field athletes competing at nationals this past weekend, it was sophomore Jackie Coward who came away with the program’s best-ever showing.

Coward became the first Knight to earn NCAA Outdoor All-American honors when she qualified fourth for the 100-meter hurdles at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. After clocking in at 13.04 seconds to qualify, she ran that same time in the finals for fifth place overall. Virginia Tech’s Queen Quedith Harrison won the title at 12.67.

By advancing to the championship stage, Coward became a two-time All-American. She previously advanced to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Sophomore Sheila Paul (100-meter dash) and freshman Sonnisha Williams (long jump) also competed on the campus of the University of Oregon but did not advance to championship contention.

– Winter Park FHSAA All-Sports Champs –

Continuing its tradition of winning, the boys and girls athletic programs at Winter Park High School swept the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Awards for the 2009-10 school year.

The Wildcats, with 1,173 total points, turned in an impressive margin of victory over Dr. Phillips (836.5) in the overall standings.

More details on standings for all classifications are available at the FHSAA site.

– Orlando Magic Youth Basketball Camps –

The Orlando Magic is hosting youth basketball camps throughout Central Florida this summer designed for boys and girls of all skill levels ages 7-16. While many camp dates are already sold out, limited space is still available for a number of others.

Each camp session offers instruction provided by the National Basketball Academy and other top area coaches offering personalized attention, drills, skill development, live games and an individual player evaluation.

All participants receive an official camp T-shirt and headband, a full-size Magic basketball, a ticket to a 2010-11 Orlando Magic home game in the new Amway Center, daily giveaways, prizes, awards and other trivia, contests and games. Guest appearances by Magic players are subject to availability.

–– Remaining Dates/Locations –

– June 21-25 at Lake Mary Preparatory School – 650 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary 32746

– June 21-25 at 24 Hour Fitness – 15 West Crystal Lake Dr., Orlando 32806

– June 28-July 2 at Orlando Sports Center (Vince Carter’s Orlando Magic Basketball Camp) – 6700 Kingspointe Parkway, Orlando 32819

– July 5-9 at The First Academy – 2667 Bruton Blvd., Orlando 32805

– July 5-9 at Celebration School K-8 – 1809 Celebration Blvd., Celebration 34747

– July 5-9 at Warner University (Jason Williams’ 2010 Overnight Basketball Camp) – 13895 Highway 27, Lake Wales 33859

– July 12-16 at Willow Creek Church – 4725 East Lake Drive, Winter Springs 32708

– July 12-16 at Lake Mary Preparatory School – 650 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary 32746

– July 19-23 at Pro-Health and Fitness Center – 8705 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne 32940

– August 2-6 at Orlando Christian Prep – 500 South Semoran Blvd., Orlando 32807

– August 2-6 at Lyman High School – 865 S. Ronald Regan Blvd., Longwood 32750

– August 9-13 at Magic Practice Court – RDV Sportsplex at 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd, Orlando 32810

– August 9-13 at Bolles Middle School – 7400 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville 32217

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

– NCAA Track and Field Championships –

UCF sent a school-record 11 student-athletes to the NCAA East Championships and came away with three who qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, beginning Wednesday in Eugene, Ore.

Sophomores Jackie Coward and Sheila Paul, and freshman Sonnisha Williams will be competing at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon from June 9-12.

Jackie Coward

Paul is scheduled to run in one of three semifinal heats of the 100-meter dash on Wednesday at 6 p.m., with the finals scheduled for Friday at 5:32 p.m. Coward competes in one of three semifinal heats of the 100-meter hurdles on Thursday night at 5:55 p.m., with the finals scheduled for Saturday at 11:09 a.m. Williams competes in the trials and finals of the long jump on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m.

At stake are All-American accolades (finishing among the top-eight in each respective event), which would be the first for UCF in outdoor competition. The Knights have previously had four NCAA Indoor All-Americans, including Coward in 2009.

Coward is ranked seventh nationally in the 100mH with a season-best time of 12.99. She is seeded No. 11 after clocking in at 13.11 at the east championships. Paul recently ran a personal-best 11.36 and is ranked No. 16 overall entering the 100m. She is seeded No. 22 based on her time of 11.54 in the east championship finals. Williams is ranked No. 20 nationally in the long jump, No. 2 among freshman, after measuring in at a school-record jump of 20-6.25/6.25m at the east championships. She is seeded No. 18 at the event.

– Former Goalkeeper Makes Pro Soccer Debut –

Last month former UCF men’s soccer goalkeeper Sean Johnson made his professional debut for Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, playing all 90 minutes in a 1-0 exhibition loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the opener of the Chicago Sister Cities International Cup at Toyota Park in Chicago.

Johnson, the 51st pick of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, made three saves in the game as Clement Chantome got a shot by him in the 14th minute. A two-year starter for UCF in 2007 and 2008, Johnson became the first UCF player to be drafted by an MLS team.

“I take full responsibility,” said Johnson of the goal against. “I was in good position, the ball hit a little divot and I should’ve gotten a little bit of a better push forward and parried it away to be safe. At the end of the day, my defense knows I’ll take the goal on me.”

In 2009, Johnson passed on playing for UCF after he was selected to play with the United States U-20 National Team. He participated in the U-20 World Cup this past fall.

Aside from the outcome of his professional debut, he was just happy to get some playing time.

“It was a good opportunity,” Johnson said. “I think you learn from playing and this being my first game I think I did alright.”

– Baseball Team Nabs Five C-USA Honors –

Among the five Conference USA award winners on UCF’s baseball team, Olympia alum Chris Taladay came away with perhaps the top honor.

The third baseman was recently voted as the 2010 C-USA Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Knight to claim a C-USA individual postseason award since the Knights joined the league in 2006.

Other award winners included senior outfielders Chris Duffy and Shane Brown, who were both first team selections. Taladay joined shortstop Darnell Sweeney and relief pitcher Joe Rogers on the All-Freshman Team. All three were also named Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball.

Taladay is UCF’s first conference freshman of the year since Dee Brown was tabbed the top frosh in 2002, when the Knights competed in the Atlantic Sun.

In 2010, he ranked in the top-five of all C-USA freshmen in batting average (.352), at-bats (210), runs (49), hits (74), doubles (19), homers (eight), RBI (47), total bases (117), slugging (.557), OPS (.960) and HBP (10) while leading all freshmen in doubles, total bases, slugging and OPS.

Duffy finished with a .447 batting average, the highest in both UCF and C-USA history. He also led the league with an .850 slugging percentage, 81 RBI and 175 total bases. His 21 home runs set a UCF single-season record and his 43 all-time homers, the last of which came on a grand slam in his last at-bat, ties Bobby Kiser for the school’s career mark.

Brown ranked third in the league with a .428 batting average, which also was the fourth highest in C-USA history. His .541 on-base percentage and 22 HBP topped the conference. He sits in the top-10 in slugging (.692), runs (58), hits (89), doubles (25), total bases (144) and walks (34). In four seasons, Brown hit .363 in his career, which stands as the sixth-best batting average in UCF history.

Duffy and Brown were also named Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-Americans as Duffy was awarded a spot on the second team and Brown got a spot on the third team.

The last time a Knight was selected as an All-American was in 2004 when pitchers Matt Fox and Kyle Bono received the accolade. UCF has now had nine All-Americans since it turned Division I in 1985. That list includes Tim Barker in 1985, Chad Mottola in 1992 and Justin Pope, Jason Arnold and Jeremy Kurella in 2001.

Sweeney was the only Knight to start all 55 games this season, finishing 2010 with a .358 batting average, the highest of all freshmen in the league. The shortstop also collected 51 runs, 38 RBI, 14 doubles, a triple, two triples and a UCF-high 17 stolen bases.

Rogers posted a 4-2 record with a 4.50 ERA, appearing in 23 games with three starts. He converted eight save opportunities, which are tied for the third-most saves ever by a Knight. His 43 strikeouts ranked third on the UCF pitching staff.

UCF closed out its season with a 33-22 overall record and a 10-14 mark in Conference USA, which goes down as the most C-USA victories by a UCF squad since joining the league in 2006.

– Softball Team Comes Away With Six C-USA Picks –

A program-record six student-athletes earned All-Conference USA softball honors, including three selections to the league’s first team.

Tiffany Lane, Natalie Land and Ashleigh Cole were the first team picks while Hillary Barrow and Abby McClain made the second team. Marissa Menendez was named to the all-freshman team.

Lane earned a spot on the first team for the second-consecutive year after setting the C-USA record with 21 career triples. She ranked sixth nationally in 2010 with six triples and led the Knights during the regular season in triples, total bases (68) and slugging percentage (.479), while ranking second in batting average (.310), runs scored (25), hits (44), doubles (9), RBI (18) and stolen bases (12).

Land, who was named to the all-freshman team in 2009, put together an impressive sophomore season. The second baseman paced the Knights in batting average (.317), runs scored (29), hits (46), sacrifice hits (15) and stolen bases (17), and sits among the top-10 in C-USA in five different categories.

Cole put together the best season of her career in the circle in 2010. She ended the regular season with a 21-12 record, making her only the fourth pitcher in program history to tally 20 or more wins in a season. She also had a 1.53 ERA, five shutouts and 149 strikeouts in 224.2 innings pitched. Cole ranks in the league’s top-10 in eight different pitching categories.

Cole also earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Mideast Region Second Team, becoming the seventh player in program history to be named to an all-region squad.

McClain repeated as a second team selection after being voted to the squad last season. The junior started all 53 games behind the plate for UCF, catching 14 runners stealing and picking off one on the base paths. Offensively, she led UCF in on-base percentage (.399), walks (22) and times hit by pitch (6), while ranking third in batting average (.291), runs (25), hits (43), doubles (7) and home runs (2).

Barrow, one of the Knights’ five seniors, averaged a team-best 0.69 RBI per game as UCF’s No. 3 batter. The third baseman posted a team-high 36 RBI while also leading the squad in runs scored (29), doubles (10), home runs (5) and assists (122). Barrow hit her first career grand slam against Cornell at the UCF Softball Complex, while pacing UCF with eight multiple-RBI games.

Menendez batted .252 on the season with 38 hits, four doubles, three triples and one home run. She was the only freshman on the Knights’ roster to start all 53 regular-season contests, including 24 at first base, 15 as the designated player and 14 at second base. The rookie posted three-game winning RBI, including game-winners against both No. 16 Tennessee and No. 9 Alabama.

The Knights finished the regular season with a 33-20 overall record and a 16-7 league mark.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

The formula to win a conference championship in any sport includes peaking at the right time and an entire team effort. In track and field, it is not necessarily the type of teamwork needed in basketball and football, which require execution of plays, screens and passes. In track and field, every member of a team needs to do their part as an individual, perform at their best, and, to win a team championship, maximize every opportunity to score points. It is the sum of these parts – the throwers, jumpers, runners and hurdlers – that lead to championship titles.

Smith Gilbert

For head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert and the UCF track and field team, the way those parts came together at the UCF Track and Field Complex was a beautiful thing to watch unfold as the Knights won the program’s first Conference USA title with a furious comeback.

Those athletes with great expectations were even better than advertised. Sophomore Jackie Coward dominated the 100-meter hurdles as expected and scored over 20 points alone, second to only Olympic bronze medalist Blessing Okagbare of UTEP as the event’s top scorer. Senior LaKendra Thames, out of Winter Garden, was seeded second in both the shot put and discus, and delivered just that with school-record performances in both events.

Coward

While Coward and Thames deserve the stardom and praise for their efforts, it was the effort of the remainder of the Knights’ roster that was the difference between UCF holding the championship trophy or finishing as the runner-up for the second-straight season.

During the four-day event, UCF had 32 separate season-best performances and 22 personal-best efforts. In a championship with 21 events, those numbers are staggering and certainly indicate that the UCF coaching staff had its team peaking at the right time.

In a championship as close as it was on Sunday, with UCF defeating UTEP by a mere five points, the additional point here and point there are the difference between winning and losing. For the Knights, the additional points were coming from everywhere.

The Knights scored more points than they were expected to, based on seed, in 10 of the 21 events, with the team seeing a net loss in only two events. All told, UCF had an increase of 28.5 points over their expected seed-based point total. Take those points away, and instead of holding the trophy, the Knights would have finished the competition in a distant third-place.

The most impressive of those performances came from sophomore Aisha-Maree Frazier, who as the eighth-seed came from lane one to shock Coward and win the 400-meter hurdles. Frazier’s performance gave UCF seven more points than expected based on seeding alone, the difference between winning and losing the team title.

Then there was freshman Sonnisha Williams, out of Jacksonville, who scored 7.5 more points than she was expected to by finishing in second and tied for fifth in the long jump and high jump, respectively. Her long jump mark of 20-6.25/6.25m would have shattered the school record had it not been wind-aided.

Add junior newcomer Tomika Story, out of Orange Park, to the list. Story was seeded eighth in the triple jump, but used a personal-best mark of 40-9.0/12.42m to finish fourth in the event and score five crucial points.

And Tallahassee’s Jacquelyn Gilchrist to the list, who was not expected to score a single point in the long jump, but her personal-best jump of 19-9.75/6.04m notched a sixth-place finish and three points.

Add it all up and UCF had won its first C-USA Track and Field Championship by late Sunday night, a testament to the talented and deep team that head coach Smith Gilbert has put together in just three years on the job.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

On Thursday the Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin at UCF as the Knights look to improve on a runners-up finish to Rice in 2009.

Twenty teams and over 600 student-athletes will meet at the UCF Track & Field Complex for the event, which takes place May 13-16 as is being held in Orlando for the first time since UCF joined C-USA.

The event will get underway Thursday at 2 p.m. with the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon. Those two events will conclude on Friday, when champions will also be crowned in the men’s and women’s hammer throw and men’s and women’s 10,000-meter runs.

A full slate of track and field events will be on the docket for both Saturday and Sunday. Field events will begin each day at 1 p.m. while track events commence at 6 p.m.

In 2009, Houston claimed the title of the men’s championship, finishing nearly 50 points ahead of second-place UTEP. On the women’s side, UCF gave Rice a strong challenge and finished second, but the Knights could not prevent the Owls from winning their third-straight outdoor title.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for youth each day while all-session tickets cost $25 for adults and $10 for youths.

Many Knights have their eyes set on claiming individual event titles at this year’s meet after UCF garnered two last season.

–– All Eyes On Me ––

– Sophomore Jackie Coward enters the C-USA Championship as the top-seeded athlete in both the 100- and 400-meter hurdles. She won the 400mH in 2009 and is nearly three seconds faster than any of her competition this weekend with a mark of 59.11. In the 100mH, Coward’s time of 13.49 at seeding is nearly a half-second ahead of the next competitor.

– Joining Coward in the 100-meter hurdles will be teammate Tiki James, who has not competed in the event this season due to injury, but is the school record holder (13.03) and is slated to compete in Saturday’s preliminaries at 6:45 p.m.

– Junior Micaela Wimberly, who is seeded fourth, will also be in the 100-meter hurdles mix after finishing third a season ago. Aisha-Maree Frazier is seeded fifth (1:02.59) in the 400mH, with those prelims slated for Saturday at 8:35 p.m.

– Senior LaKendra Thames, out of Winter Garden, will look for an upset win in two events – the shot put and discus. Thames enters as the second seed behind SMU’s Simone du Toit, the top seed and defending champion in both events. Thames has improved throughout the season though, posting a personal best in the discus (166-6/50.75m) last Thursday. The finals of the women’s discus are set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. while the shot put finals will take place Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

– Juniors Carley Dart and Sarasota’s Ocean Cohen will both be among the top seeds in their respective running events. Dart, one of the most improved Knights in 2010, enters the 800-meter competition as the third seed (2:08.92) while Cohen is seeded fourth (36:20.88) in the 10,000-meter run. The 10,000-meter run is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on Friday while the prelims of the 800-meter run are slated for 8:05 p.m. Saturday.

– Lauderdale Lakes native Sheila Paul is in the mix in both the 100- and 200-meter dash, as the sophomore is seeded fifth and seventh respectively in the events. The 100m prelims are Saturday at 7:40 p.m. with the 200m prelims beginning at 9 p.m.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Aisha-Maree Frazier

Another school record fell on Saturday as UCF’s 4×400 meter relay team clocked in with a time of 3:43.38 at the Tyson Invite at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.

Sheila Paul

Competing at the same venue where the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held in March, sophomore Jackie Coward ran the second leg of the 4×400 relay in 55.30 seconds in leading the way to the record-setting performance.

She joined junior Champelle Brown, sophomore Aisha-Maree Frazier, and sophomore Sheila Paul in besting the previous indoor mark of 3:46.28 set in 2009.

Frazier and Paul were also a part of that relay team a year ago, along with Lizzie Harris and Shantile Blackburn.

The Knights indoor track and field team will be in Houston next weekend, Feb. 26-27, to compete in the Conference USA Indoor Championships.

– Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com –

LaKendra Thames

Thames shattered the school record in the weight throw on Friday – previously set by Tiffany Roebuck when she went for 57-9 in 2006 – with a heave of 61-5 to take over the top spot.

She then set a new standard in the shot put (48-10.75) on Saturday to move past the old mark set by Kelsey Poljansek (47-10.5) in 2009.

The Winter Garden native also owns the outdoor school record in shot put (49-6.50) and the UCF freshman records in each of the shot put, discus and weight throw events.

Thames was a four-year letterwinner in track and field and weightlifting at West Orange High School, where she owns the school records in shot put and discus and won the state discus title as a junior.

Tiki James

Teammates Jackie Coward (8.27) and Micaela Wimberly (8.29) each set NCAA provisional qualifying marks in the 60-meter hurdles at the same event this past weekend.

James earned weekly conference recognition in her first race of the season at the Kentucky Invitational, where the senior was the first to post an NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 8.22 in the 60-meter hurdles to finish fourth overall. While in Kentucky, she capped off the weekend by competing in the 200-meter dash and finishing 24th overall with a time of 25.25.

James previously won the weekly conference honor at the start of the season a year ago, before going on to set indoor school records in the 55- and 60-meter hurdles.

Last season, in her first year at UCF, James earned NCAA Indoor All-American honors while competing in the 60-meter hurdles and finishing fifth in the nation.

Before competing collegiately at both Tennessee and Miami (and redshirting in 2008), James was a three-time Florida state champion and the state record holder in the 100-meter hurdles out of Miami Northwestern High School.

UCF returns to Kentucky this weekend to compete in the Rod McGravy Invitational from Jan. 29-30.