ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Moving to a new country is life-changing, and part of that for many is learning a few new sports. 

Oliver Francis knows how to adjust to change. He moved from England to the United States two years ago. He quickly found a new home, playing for Shorecrest’s football team, and helping the Chargers win a state title the past two seasons.

“I mean honestly, coming from England, this is all new to me, the high school experience,” Francis said.

Shorecrest Preparatory School welcomed Francis right away, and the track and field coaches recruited him for discus, a sport he had no experience in.

Head coach Richie Cameron said Francis' work ethic stood out from the start.

“He was very responsive to all of the training that we had to offer him,” Cameron said. “Very open to trying new things. We put him in different spaces to see how he’d do.”

Francis embraced the new challenge.

“When I first came here, I never had thrown any discs in my life nor shot put, and it was a humbling experience,” he said. “I was a bigger guy, I played football, and rugby back home in England.”  

But he quickly found his footing and Francis played a big role in helping the track and field team at districts. 

But his success hasn’t come without hard work and a certain mindset.

“The great part about him was that he was always positive and had that great energy to give everything he had, and that’s really helped him progress throughout the years, even though he had never really done any track and field,” Cameron said. “He is competing at the regional meet as a result of all of that hard work.”

At Shorecrest, Francis not only found a new sport, but also, a new family.

“Coming from England, there’s not really sports in secondary school or high school," he said. "When I came here, my first day at football practice, it was great. I made friends in football and more friends in January. It really makes you bond in a great environment.”