Champions, Coaches, Schools, and Scholars Recognized During 2025-26 OBC Athletic Awards Night

By: J. Daniel Pearson

For the fourth time in five years and the 13^th time since opening in 2004, Harmony High School sits on top the Orange Belt Conference as the county’s top overall athletic program.

The Longhorns were officially named recipients of the OBC All-Sports Award on Thursday night at the annual OBC Honors Dinner held at Heritage Park. With points being awarded on a 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis based on OBC Championship finishes in 24 sports, the Longhorns edged out arch-rival St. Cloud, 152.5-151.5.

Harmony had a tremendous year in athletics, capturing OBC Team Championships in baseball, flag football, boys’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ wrestling, girls’ soccer, girls’ cross country, and boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving. Harmony also picked up second place points in boys and girls weightlifting, boys and girls golf, girls basketball and competitive cheer.

Although every point mattered, it was the last scored sports event of season – boy’s volleyball – that made the difference. Ryan Kadings’ team won their first ever OBC Championship and those eight points put them over the top.

Individually, Osceola volleyball standout Cate Palmi and St. Cloud football star Bryce Williams were named the OBC Athletes of the Year.” Palmi had a sensational senior season with 478 kills, a .371 hitting percentage, 283 digs and 76 aces in leading the Lady Kowboys to a 26-5 record and a Final Four appearance in the FHSAA Class 7A state tournament.

“I’m really humbled and honored to receive this award,” Palmi said. “There are so many great teams and athletes in this county that were equally deserving. More than any honors or accolades, I will remember the friendships I developed.”

Williams was a standout on all facets of the game. He led the area and was third in the state with nine interceptions; while also catching 50 passes for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the first athlete in county history to be voted first team All-OBC on both defense, offense and special teams, where he earned the nod as the county’s top punter.

“Blessed and honored to be selected,” Williams noted. “Being voted all-county in my sport was special but to be named athlete of the year for all sports is a pretty cool honor.”

Both Palmi and Williams graduated early and are currently enrolled as Division-1 scholarship athletes at South Florida and East Tennessee State respectively.

As always, Academic Achievement plays a key role in the OBC honors banquet. Celebration’s Chris Vazquez and Zane Zelmanski were selected the OBC female and male Academic Athletes of the Year.

Vazquez, who participated in swimming and tennis, ranked second in her class of more than 600, with a perfect 4.00 GPA (4.7288 weighted); while Zelmanski participated in football, wrestling and lacrosse while compiling a 3.9091 GPA (4.5182 weighted) and completed 14 Advance Placement courses.

Tohopekaliga Swim and Dive (3.810) and Harmony Swim and Dive (3.698) were the top female and male academic teams in the county; while St. Cloud was the top Academic GPA Champion for a second straight year and fourth time in the last six years. Bulldogs athletes in all sports combined for an outstanding 3.417 GPA.

Emphasizing the importance of athletics in academics, County Athletic Director Ryan Adams proudly pointed out that athletes had a cumulative GPA of 3.24 this year – way above the cumulative for non-athletes.

Each school picked a Coach of the Year for the 2025-26 school year. Honored were Rebecca Camis (Celebration – girls’ soccer), Justin Marino (Gateway-girls basketball), Ryan Kading (Harmony-Volleyball), Mike Short (St. Cloud – Football), Steve Mason (Osceola -boys basketball), Maya Mariner (Poinciana-girls volleyball), Don Toney (Tohopekaliga – boys soccer) and Steve Ross (Liberty-boys basketball).

From that group, Kading was selected as recipient of the M. Dean Cherry Memorial Coach

of the Year. Kading coaches both the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams; as well as girls’ beach volleyball. In 2025-26, he led the boys’ team to a 21-4 record and its first ever OBC and District championships; as well as the Longhorn’s first-ever win in the FHSAA State Championship Tournament.

“Absolutely honored especially knowing that it is voted on by our peers,” Kading said. “I de believe however that it represents the work of all the county coaches at all the schools. I like to think we are all making a positive difference in the lives of student-athletes.”

“Beyond the wins and championships, Ryan’s greatest strength lies within his character and to help shape and develop his athletes into role models,” Harmony AD Joey James said in his nomination form for Kading.

St. Cloud Athletics Director Bryan Smart took over that position a little more than three years ago and for the third year in a row, he has been selected OBC Athletic Director of the Year.

A top-notch administrator, Smart oversaw multiple successes this year among his programs, a second place finish in the OBC All-Sports race by the narrowest of margins, a district football championship, both golf teams placing at the state championship, six weight lifters earn all-state designation, three track athletes reaching the podium in the 4A State Championships, and his school earn the country’s top cumulative GPA for a second year in a row.

“Its special but the truth is I learned so much from other ADs long before I started doing it. Travis (Gateway AD Travis James), Rick (former Osceola AD Rick Tribit), Dan (former Harmony AD Dan Kerr). Those are the guys I really learned from,” Smart said. “Thankful for the honor but is has more to do with the great coaches and student athletes we have at St. Cloud than anything I have done.”

Named after the legendary educator, coach and athletic administrator at St. Cloud and Harmony, the Mike Fields Distinguished Leadership Award goes to the county coach that most closely mirrors the sportsmanship, leadership, academic performance and community service aspects that Coach Fields represented.

The 2025-26 Fields Leadership Award goes to St. Cloud Cheer Coach Christina Kading. In nominating Kading, Athletics Director Smart said in part “Her ability to inspire and motivate her athletes is evident in every aspect of her program. She has built a culture rooted in trust, respect, and accountability, where athletes feel supported not only as competitors, but as individuals.”

Bryanna Garrett was selected as the Athletic Trainer of the Year; while Celebration High won the Advent Health Community Service Award. Among the Celebration Marathon, its reading to elementary students program, and several other initiatives, Celebration Storm student-athletes volunteered almost 8,000 hours of time to charities and institutions in the 2025-26 school year.

2025-26 Orange Belt Conference Honors

All-Sports Award: Harmony

Academic Excellence Award: St. Cloud

Advent Health Community Service Award: Celebration

M. Dean Cherry Coach of the Year: Ryan Kading, Harmony

Mike Fields Leadership Award: Christina Kading, St. Cloud

Male Athlete of the Year: Bryce Williams, St. Cloud

Female Athlete of the Year: Cate Palmi, Osceola

Male Scholar Athlete of the Year: Zane Zelmanski, Celebration

Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Chris Vazquez, Celebration

Top Academic Male Team: Harmony Swim and Dive

Top Academic Female Team: Tohopekaliga Swim and Dive