Miss Water Polo award winner Jordan Agliano is Orlando area player of the year

Lake Nona girls water polo standout Jordan Agliano and her coach, Alex Bennett, are adding major individual honors to their state championship status.

Agliano, a junior who led the Lions to a perfect 18-0 championship season, was named state player of the year and Bennett was named coach of the year by Florida Dairy Farmers in voting by a statewide panel of water polo coaches.

Longtime Dr. Phillips coach Leo Ramirez (273-88 in 16 seasons) was selected as boys coach of the year to give Orlando three of the four major postseason awards.

Agliano led Lake Nona to the school’s first state championship in any sport. She is just the second area girls to win the Florida Miss Volleyball award. Winter Park’s Jessica Gangle was the 2019 state player of the year.

Lake Nona joined Olympia’s 2017 title team as the only girls water polo state champions from outside South Florida and Bennett became the first coach to lead two different schools to FHSAA championships. He won three girls’ state titles (2005-07) and a boys’ title (2007) at Miami Gulliver Prep before taking over the Lake Nona program 12 years ago.

Here is our list of the top players in the area for the 2021 season.

Girls water polo Player of the Year

Jordan Agliano, Lake Nona, Jr.

Buzz: She scored 83 goals, had 43 assists and added 71 steals to lead the Titans to the state title. Agliano claims this honor for the second time, having been named player of the year as a sophomore in 2019 before the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

SentinelVarsity standouts

Abby Culbertson, Seminole, Sr.

Buzz: ‘Noles standout scored 82 goals, including four in 12-9 state semifinal loss to Lake Nona.

Chloe DeAvila, Boone, Sr.

Buzz: Set school record for steals with 131 and had 60 goals scored for the season.

Isa Galbis, Sr., Olympia

Buzz: Team leader for Titans in goals (55) and assists (35) and added 35 steals and 25 drawn ejections.

Krystyna Jolley, Olympia, Sr.

Buzz: Standout goalkeeper had a 75% shot blocking percentage and was 60% on penalty shots.

Melisa Sakalas, Lake Nona, Jr.

Buzz: Second stellar goalie had 106 saves, including 19 in state final, 17 in quarterfinal and 15 vs. Olympia.

Emily Scheerer, Lake Nona, Soph.

Buzz: 46 goals, 21 assists, 35 steals for state champs. Scored 4 times in state final victory.

Sentinel Super Six team rankings

1. Lake Nona (18-0): First state team title in school history and did it in grand style.

2. Olympia (15-2): Titans only losses were to Lake Nona by scores of 11-8 and 15-12.

3. Boone (13-2): Braves only defeats were also to Lake Nona by scores of 16-7 and 13-5.

4. Seminole (12-7): ‘Noles gave Lake Nona a still challenge in 12-9 state semifinal loss in Miami.

5. Lake Brantley (11-5): District 2 champs lost only to top four teams, including Seminole in region play.

6. Winter Park (11-6): district champ Wildcats also lost only to the top four teams on this list.

This report was first published at OrlandoSentinel.com. Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.