Sam Albuquerque

Orlando

High School Sports Reporter at The Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, SC)

Sports editor for the @OrangeObserver, @OrangeSportsOMG. Contact: [email protected] Formerly: @GoUpstate | @ESPNOrlando | @WDBONews

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Articles

Sam’s 2025 spring football stops: Legacy Charter Eagles

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

The fourth and final week of the 2025 spring high school football session is here, and West Orange and Southwest Orange teams have squeezed every ounce they could out of their allotted spring practices, scrimmages and exhibition games as they now await the start of fall camp.
Sam’s 2025 spring football stops: Dr. Phillips High Panthers

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

The fourth and final week of the 2025 spring high school football session is here, and West Orange and Southwest Orange teams have squeezed every ounce they could out of their allotted spring practices, scrimmages and exhibition games as they now await the start of fall camp.
Sam’s 2025 spring football stops: Central Florida Christian Eagles

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

The fourth and final week of the 2025 spring high school football session is here, and West Orange and Southwest Orange teams have squeezed every ounce they could out of their allotted spring practices, scrimmages and exhibition games as they now await the start of fall camp.
Athlete of the Week: Lee Peters, Foundation Academy

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

Since Foundation Academy’s Lee Peters was an eighth-grader she has been competing for podiums and medals, claiming the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash and silvers in both the 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay at the 2022 Class 1A, District 7 meet. Fast-forward to 2025, and Peters has elevated from a young up-and-comer competing for medals at different Central Florida meets to to becoming the fastest female short-distance runner across Florida in Class 1A.
Windermere-based NXT GEN flag football team qualifies for Junior Olympics in Houston

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

At its core, sports always should be a meritocracy. Those who dedicate the time, put in the work and reach the pinnacle of their respective craft should be the ones who earn the opportunities to compete at the highest levels. This baseline truth — that if you work hard and develop your talents, you will earn the opportunity to be successful — is one of the biggest lessons that can be learned by youth athletes and one of the biggest motivations for parents to place children in youth sports.
Horizon boys volleyball wins Class 6A, Region 2 Championship

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

In a five-set match against Freedom High, the Horizon Hawks boys volleyball team won the Class 6A, Region 2 Championship, 3-2, to claim the program’s first regional title. This historic championship win was a breakthrough for the Hawks; Horizon reached the regional championship game in both 2023 and 2024.
Former Dr. Phillips flag football star wins NAIA Women’s Flag Football Championship

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

By Sam Albuquerque | 12:33 p.m. May 21, 2025 Share Former Dr. Phillips High flag football star and current Ottawa University quarterback Olivia Cadiz won the NAIA Women’s Flag Football Championship, 34-20, over Keiser University. This is the Lady Braves’ fifth consecutive national title. They finish the season a perfect 23-0.
Foundation Academy names new track-and-field head coach

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

Foundation Academy has announced Devin Bennett as its new track-and-field head coach. Bennett, a native of New York, set multiple school records in his running days. He placed fifth in the 2010 New York Indoor State Track-and-Field Championships. Bennett went on to run cross country at the Division I level for Siena College and then at the D-II level at New Hampshire University.
West Orange gets spring football win over Oakleaf

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

By Sam Albuquerque | 12:18 p.m. May 21, 2025 Share The West Orange football team topped visitors from Jacksonville, Oakleaf High, 34-29, in a thrilling spring game Thursday, May 15, at Raymond Screws Field. After falling behind by two touchdowns in the first half, 21-7, the Warriors fought their way back into the game thanks to four second-half touchdowns by rising sophomore quarterback A.J. Chung.
PHOTOS: Horizon High senior walkout 2025

2 weeks ago | orangeobserver.com | Sam Albuquerque

Horizon High School’s Class of 2025 said its goodbyes to the campus, teachers, coaches and underclassmen friends during the school’s annual senior walkout celebration. Flanked by fellow students, teachers and administrators, Hawks seniors were greeted by the school’s drumline and cheerleaders and an array of signs congratulating their accomplishment and saying goodbye.