2015 proved to be a banner year for Orlando in sports throughout the city. Five individual performers stood out among the rest for what they did.
Orlando welcomed some new heroes to the city in 2015. Kaka brought with him international recognition and gravitas as he dazzled the fans at Orlando City during its inaugural year.
He was certainly an impact newcomer for the city and for the Lions in their first year in MLS.
But he certainly was not the only great player in Orlando this year.
Some of them have come and gone as new seasons have kicked off. But with 2015 now over in Orlando sports, we want to take a look back at the best athletes in Orlando from the past year.
5. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Nikola Vucevic has been the most consistent and dependable Orlando Magic player in 2015. On the cusp of being an NBA All-Star, Vucevic established himself among the top centers in the league, even while playing for a losing team. His last month with the Magic as they have ascended into a winning and potential playoff team has proven that more and more.
Vucevic, who was part of the Dwight Howard Trade in 2012, is argubably a better player then Howard in 2015. Carson Ingle makes the case in his story for Orlando Magic Daily. You can listen to Ingle and I discussed if Nikola Vucevic is better then Dwight Howard from SportstalkFlorida Insiders Show on 1080am Orlando from Nov. 21.
4. Garret Sparks, Orlando Solar Bears
Garrett Sparks led the Orlando Solar Bears to the ECHL Hockey Playoffs in 2015. During the 2015 season, Sparks recorded a 21-7-2 record with 2.34 goals against average and five shutouts. It was clear he was going to do great things as he climbed the minor league ladder to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Maybe no one saw it coming so soon. Currently, Sparks has moved on from the Solar Bears and is playing in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
3. Cyle Larin, Orlando City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQpLWu3OkdA&w=560&h=315
What a year for Cyle Larin, who led Orlando City with a MLS rookie reocrd 17 goals including four game-winning goals for Orlando City.
At times Larin was the only offensive threat Orlando City seemed to have. For it to come from a 19-year-old who went with the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft and graduated from Connecticut just a year ago was even more astonishing.
Larin would win MLS 2015 Rookie of the Year. Like there was any other choice.
T-2. Mackenzie Audas- UCF Softball Pitcher
Mackenzie Audas broke most of the major UCF softball pitching records in 2015, including most wins, no hitters, and strikeouts in a career.
Audas in her senior season went 24-1 with 0.95 ERA, which was second best in the country behind only her teammate Shelby Turnier.
Audas and Turnier helped lead UCF to the American Conference regular season championship for the second consecutive season. Audas became first ever Acamedic All-American.
T-2- Shelby Turnier, UCF Pitcher
Junior Shelby Turnier led the Knights to the American Conference Tournament Championship with seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Tulsa.
Turnier led the Knights with 25 wins and was No. 1 in the country in ERA with 0.88, which also set school season record. Turnier was a first team All-American. She also edged her teammate Audas for American pitcher of the Year.
The “Shake and Bake” combo of Turnier and Audas helped UCF to a school-record 50 wins and only nine losses, winning the American regular season and tournament titles.
The Knights finished 16th in the final college softball poll. Turnier was a top 10 Finalist for College Softball Player of the Year.
Turnier and Audas transcended UCF Softball as together they help bring interest to the program from Fans that had not followed the sport prior to 2015.
1- Kaka- Orlando City
There has only been three players since 2007 who have won the FIFA Soccer Player of the Year. Lionel Messi (2009-2012), Christian Ronaldo (2008, 2013-2014) and Kaka (2007).
Many people questioned when Kaka decided to play for Orlando City in the MLS if he had anything left as an elite player. Kaka showed in 2015 he was closer to his 2007 FIFA Player of the Year form then being washed up and retiring in the United States.
Kaka had nine goals and seven assists and was named an MLS All-Star in his first season in the league, winning the MVP in the All-Star Game for good measure.
Kaka’s impact with Orlando City goes beyond the pitch as he helped bring credibility to an expansion Orlando City franchise world wide as well as bring the casual and non-soccer fan in Orlando to see Orlando City Soccer in 2015.
