Winning SUITS Them
by Kevin Fritz
Maybe it’s the suits.
For the past five years, Dr. Scott Leman – head volleyball coach and athletic director at Lake Howell High School – has become known as the guy on the sidelines in the fancy suits. His team has also become known as back-to-back state champions.
“I started wearing the suits for special games like senior night,” says Coach Leman, a 2002 Lake Howell alum who played volleyball as a student. “Then I started wearing them for every game. The kids love it. And it’s about having a little fun because that’s what sports are all about.”
During that five-year time frame, the Silverhawks boys’ volleyball team has amassed a record of 127 wins and 19 losses, recently capped off by its first-ever back-to-back state championship.
Led by Coach Leman (wearing a shiny mother-of-pearl suit), Lake Howell defeated top-seeded Miami’s Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in three sets: 27-25, 26-24, and 31-29 at the FHSAA Class 2A State Championships hosted by Polk State College in May. Each game is played to 25 points, although the victor must win by two.
“Every single game went back and forth and went to extra points,” says Coach Leman, whose assistant coaches were Henry Shehu and Manny Castro. “In the third set, we were losing by five points late in the game, but we pulled it off.”
In 2025, Lake Howell defeated Ronald W. Reagan/Doral Senior High School for the state title.
“Last year, we knew from the start that we were going to win,” says Coach Leman, “but this year the kids had to work their butts off.”
Setting Up for a Three-peat
With two state titles under their belts, the Silverhawks hope history continues to repeat itself.
“We’re talking about a three-peat because we have a lot of good talent coming in,” says Scott, who is entering his 22nd year as head coach.
Still, the team will be losing some of their star players, including Xavier Borges, who graduated in May and will now play collegiate volleyball for Kentucky State University. Xavier played at Lake Howell throughout his high school career and says team bonding led to their back-to-back championships.
“I think the reasons we were successful were our team chemistry and the amount of intensity we came with to each game,” says Xavier. “Last year may have been an easier path to the championship, but this year we were really good. We had the best set of middle blockers in the state. We also have an amazing coaching staff.”
In all, the squad will lose 10 seniors from this year’s 15-member team. In addition, the FHSAA placed Lake Howell in Class 3A for next year, where the competition is even stronger.
“We will need to put up a fight,” says Coach Leman. “It will be another tough battle. But, if we don’t win states again, I will still be proud of them.”
The Silverhawks will also be without Jayden Rivera, who is headed to Ana G. Mendez University in Puerto Rico to play collegiate volleyball.
“We did have a strong team bond,” says Jayden, who also played at Lake Howell for four years. “We became a family, more than just teammates. And Coach is a great motivator. He really pushed us.”
And their coach’s flashy suits?
“I love it,” says Jayden with a laugh. “The whole team loves it.”
Adds Xavier, “The suits are the best part.”