Among them this year is hometown legend Cherie Ingourdo-Devaux, who just made history as the first female horse trainer to win both the Kentucky Derby and, later, the Belmont Stakes. The full class reads like a highlight reel: Christian Otvos (weightlifting, football), Sam Tilly (track and field, football), Charlie Russo (trainer, mentor, legend), and Robert Burris (track and field, soccer, football). Every single one of these inductees brings a remarkable story, each marked by determination and success.

Recently, the Englewood REVIEW sat down with Robert Burris to hear about his days at Lemon Bay, where life has taken him since, and what it means to join the Hall of Fame.

Asked when he learned about the honor, Robert replied, “A few months ago, it became official.” He’d gotten wind of a possible induction a couple of years back, but only recently received confirmation. As for the ceremony, he expects there will be a photo on display, but on October 9th there’s a dinner for all inductees, followed by an in-game recognition at halftime during the football game, where they’ll also hand out the previous year’s state championship rings.

Does Robert still live locally? “No, I’ve been in Gainesville since I left for college,” he explained. He’s built a life there, running his own lawn care and landscaping business. Earlier, he’d studied zoology at UF and managed snakes and reptiles for a national pet distributor. “It was a cool job,” he said, “but five years ago I switched careers and started my own company.”

His passion for animals started in college, leading him to shift from mechanical engineering to zoology, a turn inspired partly by his older brother and those tough intro years. Managing and breeding reptiles became his job for a while; he took care of everything from leopard geckos to boa constrictors.

Sports played a big role throughout his youth. Robert played soccer his entire life but lights up when talking about pole vaulting. “Pole vaulting was the most fun,” he admitted. “When you’re on the field with a team, you lean on each other. With the pole vault, it’s all on you.” Still, he cherishes soccer and baseball too, but pole vaulting holds a special place for him.

In high school competitions, Robert and teammate Jason Ruberg gave their team a boost. The duo helped Lemon Bay’s Manta Rays achieve their highest-ever state finish.

But his journey wasn’t without roadblocks. Senior year, coming off a busy overlap between football and soccer, he tore his ACL during a soccer match. The prognosis? “You’re done, get surgery,” said the trainers and doctors. Robert wasn’t willing to accept that. After seeking a physician he trusted, they tried a knee brace. It meant pole vaulting on a leg with a torn ACL; no small feat. He recalls several dislocations before he even got into the season, competing in only three or four meets before the districts. Despite this, he won the state title, defying medical advice and his own pain. “I was determined. I’d said I was going to win states, so that’s what I was going to do.” 

How are his knees today? “About as good as you’d hope; occasional aches, but that’s just getting older,” he joked.

He shared another wild story, losing his state championship ring right after high school, only for it to make its way back to him two decades later. Robert wore the ring to a friend’s pool in Gainesville and lost it, figuring it was gone forever. Years later, a stranger (Tom) tracked him down. Tom had found the ring, buried in mud, and reached out after seeing Robert’s story about the torn ACL. They connected, united not just by the lost jewelry but by parallel experiences. Tom also played sports at UF and lost his senior season to injury. Ultimately, Tom returned the ring, an unexpected gesture that still amazes Robert.

Standing in front of the school as a Hall of Fame inductee, Robert says, “It’s crazy to come back after all this. I didn’t know I’d win states, didn’t know I’d tear my ACL, but I just decided: I’m doing this. Sometimes you just get lucky. But really, it’s about working hard. If you want something enough, you’ll figure out a way.”

He credits Jason Ruberg as a key motivator. “If it weren’t for always competing against each other, we wouldn’t have reached that level.” That competitive friendship pushed him forward, whether it was soccer, baseball, or track. And of course, he’ll never forget Tom, the guy who returned his ring, proof that sometimes, good things really do come back around.

Asked about life today? Robert smiles. “Happily married, got a little girl named Kare—after my mom, Karen, who passed away when I was in my twenties. She’s three now and amazing. My wife’s name is Natalie.”

You learn a lot about someone through their friends, and Robert’s high school pal Derek McConnell summed him up well: “Robert’s the most genuine, authentic friend you could have. To see him as a dad now, it’s just great. He’s loved here, by my family, by the whole community.”

As another school year kicks off, think about what you want to accomplish. The 2026 Lemon Bay Hall of Fame is a reminder that determination, resilience, and a little bit of luck can carry you far. Who knows, maybe your story will be the next one up on the wall.

The post As a New School Year Begins, Lemon Bay’s Newest Hall of Famers Remind Us That Every Great Journey Starts at Home appeared first on Englewood Review.