GAINESVILLE, Fla.- Oviedo High School was named the winner of the 2026 Sunshine State Spirit Showdown. Oviedo beat out three spirited competitors to claim the title of best student section in Florida.
The Florida High School Athletic Association kicked off this competition in 2014 to promote sportsmanship and celebrate school spirit among member schools.
Student sections are an essential component when it comes to supporting athletic teams. The athletes and teams feed off the fans excitement and are there to cheer them on through the good plays and the bad ones.
The members of the FHSAA’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee scored the entries on the criteria of sportsmanship, participation, organization of students, and spirit conveyed through the submissions. Fans showed their support by voting for their favorite video via social media, which contributed to the overall scores.
"The 2026 Sunshine State Spirit Showdown was truly outstanding. Our FHSAA member schools went above and beyond to capture the heart of their campuses and communities, showcasing the creativity, pride, and passion that make high school athletics so special. Each submission reflected the incredible spirit of its students and supporters. We are grateful to every school that participated in this annual celebration. Congratulations to Oviedo High School on earning the 2026 Sunshine State Spirit Showdown title! Your exceptional school spirit and sportsmanship made this achievement well deserved.” Said Craig Damon, Executive Director of the FHSAA.
The FHSAA will send Oviedo a commemorative plaque and a personalized banner that they can present at a ceremony to notably honor the 2026 champions.
Oviedo’s winning video and those submitted by the three finalists can be found on the
FHSAA’s YouTube Channel.
For more information about the Sunshine State Spirit Showdown visit the
Sunshine Spirit Showdown information page.
For additional updates, follow @FHSAA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Use #FLSquad, the official hashtag for the Sunshine State Spirit Showdown, to join the conversation.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 850 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.
About the SAAC
The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will provide a voice in the FHSAA governance structure to the Association’s largest constituency – the more than 300,000 participating student-athletes. The committee will focus on the following areas: current issues facing student-athletes, input regarding rules and regulations, input on FHSAA special initiatives (e.g., sportsmanship program), and promoting a positive image of the student-athlete.