With three gold medallions around his neck, Bryan Kilts posed for pictures, conducted interviews and exchanged hugs and handshakes on Friday night.

He had just finished a sweep of the three jumping events — high jump, triple jump and long jump — at the Class 1A state meet at Showalter Field, and friends and strangers alike were in line to congratulate him on the rare feat.

"I never thought in a million years that people would know me when I don't know them," said Kilts, a junior at Mount Dora Bible. "People have been coming up to me all day. It's surreal."

Kilts, who became the first athlete in school history to win three individual events at the state meet, led the Bulldogs to their first team championship since 1983.

He was the highest-seeded jumper in all three events going into the meet, but there's a lot of pressure that comes with being the favorite.

"I didn't think I'd do it, to be honest," Kilts said. "It's definitely the best feeling I've ever had in my sports career."

That feeling was shared by many other locals on Friday, as Central Florida boys had a banner day with championships in seven events.