Vinnie Portell

3 days ago | yourobserver.com | Vinnie Portell

The traditional high school experience isn’t suited for everyone, and it certainly doesn’t have to be the only option. That’s what brought Lakewood Ranch resident Mark Prisco Jr., a rising ninth-grader, to a crossroads. He moved from Boston to Lakewood Ranch with his family in August. He said he has thrived better as a student in smaller environments.

4 days ago | yourobserver.com | Vinnie Portell

By the time Brian Battie made it to Auburn University, he had learned how to overcome his limitations as a football player. Navigating through the limitations life brought him after football has been a much tougher challenge. Battie and his brother, Tommie Battie IV, were shot at the Tallywood Centre Plaza in Sarasota on May 18, 2024. Tommie died that night and Brian was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The Battie family has spent the past year trying to recover.

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Vinnie Portell

Kymistrii Young had never played an organized sport until his freshman year at Parrish Community High School. Now, the rising senior wide receiver at Cardinal Mooney Catholic is preparing to base his future around football after committing to play for Purdue University on June 1. Young chose the Boilermakers over scholarship offers from 23 other Division-I programs including Miami, Florida State, Penn State and Michigan State.

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Vinnie Portell

Ryan Neuzil has spent much of his life in the shadows, but it’s starting to become difficult for him to stay away from the spotlight. The former Braden River High football player, who struggled for snaps at one point in Pop Warner, inked a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons May 28. Neuzil’s hard-earned contract provides newfound financial security as the 27-year-old is looking to buy a house with his fiancee, Allie Tillman. But it also represents some long overdue validation.

1 week ago | yourobserver.com | Vinnie Portell

David Melnychuk just graduated from Riverview last month, but he's already competing against some of the best swimmers in the nation. Melnychuk, who is going to swim for the University of North Carolina, went to the USA Swimming National Championships from June 3 through 7 in Indianapolis. He placed 12th out of 32 competitors in the 200-meter long course backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:59.53. When and why did you start swimming? I started swimming when I was 10.