By Kyle Coppola
East Ridge High Cole Rylski Named Our Student Athlete of the Week
In a stunning display of skill and leadership, senior standout Cole Rylski of East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, has been named the Student Athlete of the Week after his remarkable performance in his second to last regular season home game of his career.
Rylski’s exceptional contributions on the field led his team to a resounding 35-7 victory against their cross-town rivals, South Lake High School. The win not only cemented East Ridge’s dominance but also allowed them to secure the 20th-anniversary rivalry trophy.
(Cole Rylski who plays quarterback for East Ridge High is presented with the rivalry trophy after a 35-7 win against cross town rival South Lake High.)
The quarterback displayed unparalleled finesse, going 10-17 in passing, amassing an impressive 193 yards, and landing two touchdown passes. He didn’t stop there; Rylski also proved his mettle on the ground with 10 rushes, accumulating 43 yards, and punching in another touchdown. His trifecta of touchdowns was pivotal in East Ridge’s victory.
Throughout this season, Rylski has been a force to be reckoned with, accruing nearly 1,100 yards of total offense and tallying 10 total touchdowns. A true team leader, he has demonstrated exceptional decision-making, boasting a remarkable 18 yards per throw.
(Cole Rylski has been fun to watch the past few years. He now enters what could possibly be the final game of his high school career this Friday night at home against Tavares.)
Rylski’s performance didn’t only benefit his personal stats. His fellow senior teammates, Justin Saunders, Anthony Stoneburg, and Devin Dingman, who have all been instrumental in East Ridge’s offensive efforts this year, have thrived due to Rylski’s exceptional play.
Comparisons to his previous season are undeniable, with Rylski delivering an even more exceptional performance this year. Coach Donnie Burchfield has been effusive in his praise of Rylski, recognizing him as one of his favorite players for the past few years among many others.
(Rylski dropps back to pass. He has over 1,000 yards of offense this season.)
The significance of ending his second to last home game with a victory was not lost on Rylski, and it marked a poignant moment in his high school career. Rylski has the opportunity to send East Ridge High out with a winning record which would be the first time in over 4 years. “When I came out of retirement last January, Cole stepped in when Jackson Hughes and Michael Tovine transferred. He came up to me and said coach, I want to do whatever it takes to help our team win.” said coach Burchfield.
Looking ahead, Rylski is gearing up for the basketball season, where he aims to make an impact and lead the Knights to a more successful campaign than the previous year. With his impressive skills and leadership on and off the field, there’s no doubt that Rylski’s legacy will continue to shine in whatever sport he undertakes. His remarkable accomplishments make him a worthy recipient of the Student Athlete of the Week accolade.
Photo Credit – Portraits By Paisley
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
