WINTER PARK, Fla. — Boys volleyball in Central Florida is loaded with talented programs, several of which could win a state title. Lake Howell High School is one of those teams and is led by junior outside hitter Tyler Windt.

The goal is to get to raise the trophy at the end of the season.

"I want to win a state championship, I think we can win it if we put our full effort into it," Windt said.

He has only been competing in volleyball the past four years, since he was in eighth grade. But since he stepped on the court, he has loved every minute.

An older sibling helped him get into the sport.

"My brother, he started playing in eighth grade and got me to play when I went into eighth grade," he said.

Last year, Windt led the team in kills, serving aces and hitting percentage for a team that won 27 games. Being able to do it all is one of his strengths.

"I’m very versatile because I’m an outside (hitter)," Windt said. "Outsides have to pass, hit, block — everything."

That versatility led to a commitment in late October to play for Ball State University in Indiana. He committed early because the stress of the recruiting process was a lot for him to handle.

"I really like that school and it was between that and another one, and I wanted it to be done early so I wouldn’t stress about it," he said.

Since he knows where is going to play in college, he said he can focus all his energy on winning the school’s first state championship in boys volleyball. 

The Silverhawks also have other players who will play at the next level. But Windt knows the run toward a state title won’t be easy.

"When it comes to the state tournament, that is when it gets hard," Windt said. "There is added pressure, and you actually have to perform (well) if you want to do something good."

The boys volleyball state championships will be held at Polk State College in Winter Haven on May 17-18.