The athletics at Lake Highland are excellent, thanks to the continued efforts of the administration, coaches, and student-athletes. Last year, we said goodbye to former Associate Athletic Director Mr. Mike Grenci. However, this summer, LHP welcomed a newly hired Assistant Athletic Director, Mr. James Scrubbs, to take his place. Mr. Scrubbs, as a 2001 alumnus, is very appreciative of the culture that’s developed at LHP and is ready to, “Give back in that same capacity.” Through constant and reliable communication with coaches, Mr. Scrubbs is bringing a unique perspective to the athletics department, especially as a former student-athlete. With his new outlook, the athletics at LHP are on the rise.
In his time at LHP, Mr. Scrubbs played on both the varsity baseball and basketball programs, making him no stranger to the needs of student-athletes. He says he found his passion as a member of the student athletic training program under the guidance of Mrs. Gina Martin, while developing, “Important leadership skills and being a great teammate on and off the field.” After his time at LHP, he pursued this passion during his college years, finding time in between classes to coach youth sports around the Central Florida area. After his collegiate years he would spend his summers coaching summer collegiate basketball, developing a keen eye for what makes a successful student athlete. However, above all he says he’s learned to prioritize, “Building better people” as well as better athletes.
Upon his return to LHP, Mr. Scrubbs has felt very welcome, especially by the faculty members who remain from his years as a student. He says he’s felt at home,”No matter how long I’ve been away,” inspiring him to try and make it his mission to ensure that each athlete’s experience is one percent better every day he’s on campus. This dedication to the community is something that can only truly be captured by an alumnus who has come up through the entire Lake Highland experience once already. Mr. Scrubbs says he’s doing his best to take the lessons learned while building relationships with his peers and translating that to help, “Building relationships with student athletes.” Additionally, he credits much of the man he’s become to the, “Several staff members here on campus during my time at LHP” and the relationships he was able to build with them. He’s now starting to take strides to follow in their footsteps and build valuable relationships with student athletes through his attendance at nearly every athletic event this year.
Coincidentally, Mr. Scrubbs has arrived at a very historic time for LHP, with the construction of a completely new athletics complex on the way. According to Mr Scrubbs, the main goal of this building, despite all the glamor behind it, is, “To take our sports programs to even higher heights.” He hopes that with the new Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute complex on the horizon, the athletics at LHP will only continue to flourish. This new building will be the dream of coaches and athletes alike, serving as a way to help our athletes push the bar of excellence even higher.
