Perhaps no one understands his role on a football team better than Tohopekaliga wide receiver AJ Wise.

The diminutive 5-9 receiver came up big again on Thursday night in helping the Tigers to a fourth straight win, 34-8 over Harmony.  He caught a team-high 10 passes for 138 yards and two scores; while gaining 88 yards on two returns to account for 224 all-purpose yards in the victory.

That performance earns Wise the Osceola Air Player of the Week honors.

“We have a really inexperienced team and we are starting a lot of young players,”  Wise said. “I feel it is my duty to lead by example and to help them when they make mistakes. “

The senior continues to make big play after big play this season, helping his young team to a 4-1 record – its best start since winning its first five games in 2023.  His game against Harmony pushed Wise’s season totals to 29 receptions for 425 yards and eight touchdowns – all team bests.

“AJ’s awesome and we thought he should have been first-team All-OBC last year when he led the county in receiving yards.” Coach Anthony Paradiso says. “He’ll still get his accolades but the thing about him is he understands it’s not about individual stats, it is about the team.  His play on the field always gives us a spark, but it is his leadership and who he is as person that means the most to us. He just means so much to our program.”

A second-year starter, Wise has now amassed 1496 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in just 16 games.

Osceola Air Partners with Positively Osceola to Celebrate Local Student-Athletes

Positively Osceola is proud to welcome Osceola Air as the community partner of Positively Osceola’s Osceola Air Player of the Week, helping recognize outstanding high school football student-athletes from across Osceola County throughout the season.

A 100% locally owned and operated company, Osceola Air has deep roots in the community it serves. Founded by lifelong Osceola County resident Zak McMorrow launched in 2014, the St. Cloud-based company has grown from a small local HVAC business into a full-service home comfort company providing air conditioning, heating, plumbing, drain and indoor air quality services throughout Osceola County and surrounding Central Florida communities. Giving back to the communities it serves is also one of Osceola Air’s core values.

OSCEOLA AIR PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Week 1:  Jaden Taylor, St. Cloud

Week 2: Nydrell Thigpen, Gateway

Week 3:  Jason Lewis, Osceola

Week 4: Iran Gonzalez, St. Cloud

Week 5: Dylan Dingle, Gateway

Week 6:  AJ Wise, Tohopekaliga