Tommie Butts has his Lady Mustangs racing towards success

Feb 1, 2014

By: Herb Thomas


Wekiva, a program that had usually been mediocre or not very good at all had never been relevant in its seven years of existence, despite having there best year of 17-10 in 2009-10, that meant nothing because they still could never reach the playoffs. The next two seasons that followed finished 11-9 & 9-13. The program was in need of change and new leadership. 


In comes Tommie Butts a man with a reputation for his winning ways, who had taken over a program in Pompano Beach, Blanche Ely High school, that was 2-18, he turned the school into a powerhouse finished his coaching career there 81-20-1. 

Butts moved to Orlando 2011 went to Dr Phillips and was an assistant coach on that team where his cousin Anthony Jones is the head coach and they went on to win a state championship that year. 

Butts decided it was time for a new challenge and decided Wekiva was the place for him. Again this was a school that was not used to winning ways, and losing had become acceptable and Butts biggest challenge was having the kids buy in to his system and change the mindset of the program and one of his better players was out for the majority of the season due to a torn ACL.

Though they finished the season 7-20 you could tell the change was coming, they won 4 of there last 5 games and almost upset the number one seed in the district playoff wound up losing by 67-64. Wekiva had put people on notice that something special was about to happen, despite only having one scorer coming back sharp shooter unsigned rising senior Katie Atkins. 

Butts was determined to make something happen but didn't know how, but he was gonna make a way. Then to his surprise three transfers came in two from Dr Phillips and one from Ocoee, rising sophomore Kyla Allison, rising junior Ciara Cumbie and rising junior Yolizma Cupidan, to go along with Atkins and some of the talented freshman that came to the school as well Tyra Graham, Ariel Colon and that's when the transformation of the program really took off. 

They were battle tested throughout the whole season, didn't run from any competition and though they didn't win against all the major teams they played it definitely prepared them for the playoffs.

 This team is under the radar which is a good thing, he knows there is still plenty of work to be done but he has them going in the right direction. There having there best season ever finished 19-6 regular season and have also won there first ever district title and are poised for a deep playoff run starting with defending 7A champion Buchholtz at home Thursday Feb 6, 2014, at 7pm regional tournament quarterfinals stay tuned...


 

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