Prior to 2021, Celebration High had just one winning season its 18-year history (7-4 in 2015). Things changed this year.
The Storm, behind the direction of first-year coach Rich Pringle and the outstanding play of Oniel Senatus, matched that thanks to a 33-0 bowl game win over Freedom.
So the Storm snagged a pair of new county awards.
Coach of the Year — Rich Pringle
Pringle arrived on campus declaring the beginning of a new era for Storm football — despite being placed in one of toughest districts in the state. He refused to back-out and classify as independents to make an easier schedule but be ineligible for the postseason.
“From the beginning, I wanted to instill in these kids the need to compete,” Pringle said in the preseason. “What’s the point of going 10-0 if you can’t play for a championship?”
Pringle, the former Lake Gibson defensive coordinator, and his new approach and attitude paid immediate dividends. In his first season the Storm tied that 2015 7-4 record.
Three losses came to Dr. Phillips, Osceola and West Orange, teams that finished year ranked in the Top 10 in the region. Other than the Osceola game, the Storm went 3-0 against county teams and won the bowl game.
“We interviewed three quality candidates before we decided on Coach Pringle,” CHS Athletic Director Rick Tribit said. “The longer we talked to Rich, the more it became apparent that he shared the same vision we did. We wanted to find a coach who was not afraid to compete and he certainly did a great job in starting to change the culture of Storm football.”
Two-way Player of the Year — Oniel Senatus
One of Pringle’s first impressions on campus — he had a rising star in running back Senatus.
Pringle’s got good instincts.
The junior running back put together, by far, the most impressive offensive season in school history, breaking CHS records for rushing yards (1,826) and touchdowns (23). He also finished second on the team in receptions (31), receiving yards (317) and tied for the lead in receiving TDs (3). Add in 284 return yards and Senatus averaged more than 200 all-purpose yards per game.
Senatus showed amazing consistency, rushing for more than 100 yards in eight of 11 games. His top games included 314 yards and seven touchdowns against Lake Region, 255 yards against Poinciana, 208 yards against Windermere and 277 against Gateway. He even managed close to a combined 100 yards rushing (32 carries – 91 yards) against Osceola and West Orange – two of the best rushing defenses in the state.
He averaged almost 10 yards a carry and is now the career rushing leader at Celebration at 2,685 yards with a season to go.
“We felt all along he was a great player, we just needed to put him in a position to show that he was,” Pringle said.
Despite those gaudy numbers, Senatus’ contributions did not end on offense. He was a starting defensive back where he made 51 tackles, knocked down six passes, caused one fumble and recovered another.
“Some worried that because he had to play defense too, he would get worn out, but this was a kid that never wanted to come off the field,” Tribit noted. “Truth be known, he was probably our best defensive back as well as our best offensive player. He had a sensational year.”
Freshman of the Year — Taevion Swint (Osceola)
Rated one of the top eighth-grade prospects in the state in the spring, this is little surprise. What is surprising is the impact the young player had on a loaded veteran team that already had explosive players at running back and the slot.
Swint put together an impressive season, freshman or otherwise, for the 9-3 Kowboys, accounting for 1,125 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those totals included 612 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns on the ground and 16 receptions for 189 yards and two more scores. He piled those numbers up on just 101 touches, averaging eight yards per touch.
“Our offense is a lot to learn for a freshman, so we brought him along slowly,” OHS Coach Eric Pinellas said. “As Taevion started to get a feel for what we were doing, he just got better and better and by the end of the season he was an integral part of our offense. Obviously the prospect of having him for three more years is exciting.”
Also considered for the award was Harmony linebacker Dalten Phalen, who finished his freshman season with 71 tackles, three quarterback sacks and nine tackles-for-loss.
Next week: the News-Gazette All-County offense and defense and Players of the Year.
