Following two losing seasons, the Wiregrass Ranch High hockey team capped a turnaround with a playoff berth following an 8-12-2 record in the regular season. The Bulls, who train at AdventHealth Center Ice, were eliminated after a 6-1 loss to Newsome in the first round. Keying that resurgence for the Bulls, who won just five games last season, were two senior standouts — winger Daylan Campbell and defenseman Tyler Cook.

“Daylan definitely made a lot of impact this season and Cook kept a positive attitude and tried to keep the players together,” coach J. Powers said. “Campbell is 100 percent an amazing hockey player, definitely a highly skilled player.” Campbell, who transferred from Columbus, Ohio, played two seasons for the Bulls. This year he led Wiregrass Ranch with 16 goals and 23 points.

Campbell, whose brother Jordan plays hockey for the University of Akron, plans to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduation. As an assistant captain he said he will remember this season “just watching everyone grow together.”

That united spirit resonates with Cook as well. A four-year player he recalls the Bulls advancing to the second round of the playoffs his freshman year. Wiregrass Ranch struggled over the next two seasons, but this year bounced back.

“This year was a huge difference,” said Cook, the team captain who finished with three goals and five points. “There was a lot of motivation toward winning.”

Other key contributions came from Joshua Bain, Daniel Petukhov and Sebastian Powers.