Jacksonville, Fla. — The Villages High School celebrated yet another state champion Thursday in Jacksonville. 

David Probola, a senior distance runner on the Buffalo track and field team, finished first in the 800-meter run at the FHSAA Class 2A state meet to become the 10th individual state champion in school history.

Probola finished the two-lap sprint in a time of 1:51.95 at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida, where he earned the third VHS track and field state title in the program's history. He follows only Emma Symonds (2019, high jump) and Caley Sosnowski (2023, javelin). 

The state championship run capped a storybook senior year for Probola, the son of longtime VHS track and cross country head coach, James Probola, as the 12th-grader swept both the district and regional titles en route to the gold at states. Probola also set the Buffalo cross country program record back in September.

Probola's first-place run helped the VHS boys team finish 13th overall in the Class 2A team race out of 66 teams scoring. The Buffalo girls took 15th overall out of 57 teams. 

Other notable results on the day included sophomore Michayla Griffin finishing second in the girls triple jump with a distance of 11.74 meters (38 feet, 6-1/4 inches). The Buffalo boys 4x400-relay team also took fourth overall with a time of 3:18.78.


VHS STATE CHAMPIONS
2013: Colton Jackson, Taylor Jackson (wrestling)
2019: Emma Symonds (track and field)
2022: Ellis Poplaski (weightlifting)
2023: Caley Sosnowski (track and field)
2024: Kristian Sarakinis (weightlifting), Kristian Sarakinis (weightlifting)
2025: Johnathan Clohecy (wrestling), Maleek Williams (weightlifting)
2026: David Probola (track and field)


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org.