State honors for American Heritage soccer coach. Doral baseball 2nd at big event. Plus lacrosse and softball
She is the first girls' soccer coach with a South Florida team (Broward and Miami-Dade counties) to win that honor, since Coach Everton Edwards of Miami Gulliver Prep in 2011 and first with a Broward team since Coach Laura Rountree of Parkland Stoneman Douglas in 2006.
Marcial, who prior was named the state's Class 4A Girls' Soccer Coach of the Year, guided Plantation American Heritage to a 19-1 record and its third consecutive state championship (5A titles in 2023 and 2024).
Marcial's squad was ranked No.1 in Florida and No.1 in the nation via MaxPreps. In 14 years at American Heritage, Marcial's teams have won eight state championships (2013-16, 2019, 2023-25) and compiled a 261-31-10 record.
In the final voting for Florida's overall girls' soccer coach of the year, Marcial received six first-place votes and 101 points to finish ahead of Class 6A Coach of the Year Jen Rodriguez of Bartram Trail (86) and Class 5A Coach of the Year Dave Silverberg of Ponte Vedra (80). Class 2A COY Hillary Carney of The Benjamin School (63) finished fourth followed by Class 1A COY Mike Pickett of St. Johns Country Day (61), Class 7A COY Chistian Eissele of Lake Mary (37) and Class 3A COY Oscar Narvaez of Somerset-Canyons (34).
On the player side, Giovanna Waksman from The Pine School was voted the Florida Dairy Farmers 2025 Miss Soccer. Class 4A Player of the Year Courtney Caruso of state champion Plantation American Heritage was seventh in the voting.
The Florida Dairy Farmers High School Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers commitment to the state's youth. This is the 33rd year of these awards as they honor the state's top athletes and coaches in all FHSAA sanctioned sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
Baseball
The Doral Academy baseball team finished second at the prestigious IMG Academy National Spring Break Classic in Bradenton.
The Firebirds (17-3-1) went 3-1 in the 12-team tournament, spanning four days. They beat Florida Palmetto 13-1, Illinois St. Laurence 6-0 and North Carolina TC Roberson 6-2 to reach the finals. TC Roberson was ranked 27th in the country by Perfect Game. Doral ran out of pitching, and IMG Academy won the championship 15-3.
Three players from Doral Academy earned special recognition. Marcelo Rodriguez was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher, and teammates Leandro Hernandez and Gabriel Milano made the All-Tournament team.
The tournament featured teams from Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Washington D.C.
Doral Academy 13, Palmetto 1: Dylan Prince 1-3, HR, 3 RBI; Bryan Mesa 1-2, 2 RBI; Tyler Rodriguez 1-2, RBI; Winning Pitcher Matthew Paez 3 IP, 0 ER, 4 K. Dor 15-2-1.
Doral Academy 6, Illinois St. Laurence 0: Gabriel Milano 3-3, 2 RBI; Caleb Hernandez 3-3, 2 RBI; George Pardo 1-2, 2 RBI; Winning Pitcher Aaron Elissalt 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 K. Dor 16-2-1.
Doral Academy 6, North Carolina TC Roberson 2: Leandro Hernandez 1-3, 3 RBI; Jadyn Nunez 1-2, RBI; George Pardo 1-2, 2 R; Marcelo Rodriguez 5 IP, 7 K; Winning Pitcher Jadyn Nunez 2 IP, 2 K. Dor 17-2-1.
IMG Academy 15, Doral Academy 3: Gabriel Milano 2-2, 2 HR, 3 RBI; Tyler Rodriguez 1-2, 2B, R; Kobe Carrion 1-2, George Pardon 1-2. Dor 17-3-1.
Softball
The Westminster Christian softball team traveled to Gulf Shores, Alabama during Spring Break for the Gulf Shores Classic III High School Softball Tournament.
The Warriors (7-6) finished 2-2.
Westminster Christian beat Alabama Hatton 8-0 and Ohio Marysville 7-4. The Warriors lost to Alabama Jasper 6-5 and Alabama Central 4-2.
Westminster Christian 8, Alabama Hatton 0: Erin Perez 3 H, 2 R; Mya Rodgers 3 H, RBI; Jasmine Armenteros 2 H, 4 RBI; Abi Barboza 2 H, RBI; Kaley Dyer H, R. Winning Pitcher Kaley Dyer 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB 1, K 2; P Mya Rodgers 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. WC 6-4.
Alabama Jasper 6, Westminster Christian 5: Kelsie Kenney H, Grand Slam HR, 4 RBI; Casey Lesman 2 H, R; Kaley Dyer 2 H, RBI; Erin Perez 2 H; Mya Rodgers H, R. WC 6-5.
Alabama Central 4, Westminster Christian 2: Mya Rodgers 3 H, RBI; Gaby Perez H, RBI; Erin Perez H, 2 R; Gigi Khoury H; Kaley Dyer H, BB; Jasmine Armenteros H. WC 6-6.
Westminster Christian 7, Ohio Marysville 4: Winning Pitcher Kaley Dyer 4 IP, 4 R, 6 H 2 BB, 4 K; Elise La Rosa 3 H, 3 RBI; Abi Barboza 2 H; Jasmine Armenteros 2 H, R; Casey Lesman 2 H, 2 R; Gigi Khoury H, HR, RBI; Erin Perez H, RBI; Mya Rodgers H. WC 7-6.
More softball
Carrollton 11, Lourdes 4: Winning Pitcher Madelyn Althage (5-3); Sylvia Figueroa 3-3, 2B, RBI; Allyson Wolfson 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Grace Diez 2-5, 2B, 3B, RBI. Carr 5-3.
Carrollton 11, LaSalle 0: Winning Pitcher Madelyn Althage (6-3) 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K; Allyson Wolfson 2-3, 2B; Isabella Whitby 1-1, RBI; Emma Althage 1-1, 2 RBI. Carr 6-3.
Carrollton 11, Marathon 4: Winning Pitcher Madelyn Althage (7-3); Emma Althage 2-4, 4 RBI; Grace Diez 2-5, 2 RBI; Amalia Neff: 2-4. Carr 7-3.
Lacrosse
The Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy girls' lacrosse team defeated Key West 18-6.
Senior Carson Kroll had 10 goals and 1 assist for the Mavericks (6-10). Freshman Ava Valdivieso added 4 goals and 8 groundballs, and Eva Andrade had 2 goals and 1 assist. Julia Ayers-Golik scored, and Gaby Laffler had 1 goal and 1 assist. Blaire Gordon recorded 3 groundballs. Goaltender Josephine Mens made 4 saves.
For Key West (5-7), Deanna Mercier had 3 goals and 1 assist, and teammate Kaitlyn Piloto totaled 2 goals and 1 assist.
Archbishop McCarthy (6-11) ended the regular season with a 20-9 defeat to Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (9-5).
Valdivieso closed her first high school regular season with 139 draw controls, 51 goals, 19 assists, 111 ground balls, and 29 caused turnovers. Senior Carson Kroll finished her last regular high school season with 82 goals, 27 assists, 14 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers and 38 draw controls. Senior Hayden Hughes was an impact player, completing the regular season with 26 goals, 2 assists, 14 ground balls, 5 caused turnovers and 63 draw controls.
Send high school sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
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Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Miami Herald
St. Thomas Aquinas, American Heritage again sweep Broward All-Sports awards
It was a banner year for the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, even by their always lofty standards. Plantation American Heritage also excelled as one of the top all-around athletic programs in Broward County. So it should come as no surprise that the two schools, once again, are being honored with the Miami Herald's All-Sports Awards in Broward County for the 2024-2025 athletic season. In addition to the overall All-Sports award, the Herald also gives out the Boys' Major Sports Award, which recognizes success across six sports (football, basketball, soccer, baseball, track and field, and wrestling), and the Girls' Major Sports Award, which looks at how schools fared across five sports (indoor volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and field, and softball). Both schools swept all three awards in their respective classifications, with Aquinas winning the large schools division and American Heritage in the small schools division. For St. Thomas Aquinas, the Raiders won an impressive five team state titles this year in football, girls' volleyball, boys' basketball, baseball and boys' lacrosse. The football title was the Raiders' sixth in a row. The basketball team won its first title since 2001. Volleyball won its eighth overall and second consecutive title. Baseball won for the first time since 2018. And boys' lacrosse won for the fourth time in school history. Additionally, STA's girls' soccer and girls' track and field teams were state runner-up and five other teams — softball, boys' tennis, girls' tennis, boys' water polo and beach volleyball — advanced to the state semifinals. The boys' soccer, boys' volleyball, girls' water polo, girls' lacrosse and flag football teams also advanced to the regional final. And to further add to the success, the girls' swimming team finished sixth at state, while the girls' cross country team and boys' swimming team finished seventh and boys' track and field came in ninth. American Heritage, meanwhile, won four team state titles of its own in football, baseball, girls' soccer and girls' tennis. The girls' soccer team also won a national title. The football title was the school's sixth overall and first under third-year coach Mike Smith. Baseball won it all for the second time in the past three seasons. The girls' soccer team now has 14 state titles and has won three in a row. And American Heritage's girls' tennis has won seven state titles overall. Additionally, the Patriots' girls' basketball and softball teams finished as state runners-up, both golf teams finished third and boys' track and field placed sixth. Others to note (in alphabetical order) ▪ Blanche Ely: The Tigers won a state title in boys' basketball and reached the regional final in girls' basketball. ▪ Calvary Christian: The Eagles won a state title in boys' basketball and finished ranked in the top 5 nationally. ▪ Cardinal Gibbons: The Chiefs won a national title and finished state runner-up in competitive cheerleading, finished third in Class 1A in boys' wrestling, reached the state semifinals in boys' basketball and girls' soccer, and advanced to the regional final in boys' volleyball. ▪ Chaminade-Madonna: The Lions won the Class 1A state football for their seventh title in eight years. ▪ Cypress Bay: The Lightning were state runner-up in girls' soccer, advanced to the state final four in boys' tennis, reached the state quarterfinal in girls' tennis and appeared in the regional final in both girls' volleyball and beach volleyball. ▪ Dillard: The Panthers repeated as Class 3A state champions in girls' track and field, was runner-up in girls' cross country and third in boys' track and field. ▪ Flanagan: The Falcons finished third at state in boys' track and field. ▪ Fort Lauderdale: The Flying L's finished third at state in girls' swimming ▪ Highlands Christian: The Knights advanced to the state final four in boys' soccer. ▪ Northeast: The Hurricanes reached the state final four in girls' basketball. ▪ Pembroke Pines Charter: The Jaguars reached the state final four in boys' soccer, the regional final in boys' basketball and finished ninth at state in boys' cross country. ▪ Pine Crest: The Panthers finished third at state in boys' swimming, sixth in boys' golf and eighth in girls' swimming. They also reached the regional final in girls' volleyball and girls' tennis. ▪ Sagemont: The Lions won their third state title in a row in boys' basketball and reached the regional final in girls' volleyball. ▪ Somerset Academy: The Panthers won the Class 2A state title in boys' wrestling, reached the regional final in girls' soccer and finished eighth in girls' track and field. ▪ Stoneman Douglas: The Eagles won a state-record, fifth consecutive state title in baseball and reached the regional final in girls' soccer, boys' tennis and girls' tennis. ▪ Stranahan: The Mighty Dragons won a state title in boys' basketball - their fourth since 2019. ▪ Western: The Wildcats won a state title in competitive cheerleading, reached the state final four in softball and made it to the regional final in both football and flag football. ▪ Westminster Academy: The Lions won their first state title in boys' water polo in addition to finishing fourth at state in boys' cross country, sixth in girls' cross country, seventh in boys' swimming and ninth in boys' track and field. They also reached the regional final in girls' basketball.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Miami Herald
Doral, Mater Lakes win Dade All-Sports Awards. Columbus, Northwestern, Westminster also honored
It was another successful season of high school sports in Miami-Dade County, with schools from the area combining to win 25 state titles over the course of the academic year. Doral Academy and Mater Lakes Academy are the winners of the Miami Herald's All-Sports Awards in Miami-Dade County for the 2024-2025 athletic season. In addition to the overall All-Sports award, the Herald also gives out the Boys' Major Sports Award, which recognizes success across six sports (football, basketball, soccer, baseball, track and field, and wrestling), and the Girls' Major Sports Award, which looks at how schools fared across five sports (indoor volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and field, and softball). Doral was a double-winner, also taking home the Girls' Major Sports Award in the large school division. The other winners: Columbus for the Boys' Major Sports Award in large schools, Northwestern for the Boys' Major Sports Award in small schools, and Westminster Christian for the Girls' Major Sports Award in small schools. Doral Academy's biggest success this season came in softball, with the Firebirds winning their second state title in the sport. Beyond that, Doral had state runner-up finishes in both competitive cheerleading and boys' tennis as well as a state semifinal berth for girls' basketball plus regional final appearances in boys' soccer and baseball. The Firebirds' girls' golf team finished ninth at state, the highest finish among teams from the county. Girls' volleyball, football, boys' basketball and girls' soccer also made appearances in their respective regional tournaments. Columbus won its fourth consecutive state title (and a national title) in boys' basketball as well as its second consecutive state title in track and field. The Explorers also reached the state semifinal in football and finished fifth at state in Class 3A for wrestling. Mater Lakes had a breakout year. The Bears won three state titles in boys' swimming and wrestling, sweeping the duals and individual bracket tournament formats. They also had four teams — girls' swimming, girls' volleyball, boys' soccer and boys' water polo — finish as state runner-up. The girls' basketball team also made the regional final, the boys' cross country team finished eighth at state and 12 of the school's 20 teams won district titles. Northwestern won the Class 3A state title in football, finished fourth at state in boys' track and field and went 23-4 in boys' basketball before falling in the regional semifinal. (While this doesn't factor into their award, the Bulls also finished as state runner-up in girls' track and field.) 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Washington: The Tornadoes reached the state semifinals in football. ▪ Braddock: The Bulldogs won a state title in boys' swimming - the school's first in any sport - while also finishing sixth at state in girls' swimming and ninth in girls' cross country. ▪ Brito: The Panthers reached the state semifinal in baseball. ▪ Carrollton: The Cyclones won a state title in girls' track, finished fourth at state in girls' cross country and advanced to the regional final in girls' basketball ▪ Edison: The Red Raiders won a state title in flag football and reached the regional final in football ▪ Florida Christian: The Patriots made it to the state semifinal in boys' soccer and the regional final in softball ▪ Gulliver Prep: The Raiders won a state title in girls' water polo; were state runner-up in boys' tennis; finished third at state in girls' swimming; made it to the state semifinals in girls' volleyball, boys' soccer and girls' tennis; and advanced to the regional final in boys' basketball. ▪ Homestead: The Broncos were state semifinalists in flag football. ▪ JC Bermudez Doral: The Thunder were state semifinalists in boys' volleyball. ▪ LaSalle: The Royal Lions were state runners-up in competitive cheerleading and reached the regional final in both football and boys' volleyball. ▪ Lourdes: The Bobcats won a state title in competitive cheerleading, were state runners-up in girls' volleyball and girls' soccer, reached the regional final in girls' tennis and finished seventh at state in girls' cross-country. ▪ Mater Academy: The Lions won a state title in baseball. ▪ Miami Christian: The Victors reached the state semifinal in softball. ▪ Miami Country Day: The Spartans won a state title in girls' basketball, advanced to the state semifinal in girls' water polo, and made regional final appearances in boys' basketball, boys' tennis and boys' water polo. ▪ Miami Springs: The Golden Hawks won a state title in baseball - the school's first in the sport and first overall since 1988. ▪ Palmetto: The Panthers won a state title in girls' tennis, reached the state semifinal in flag football, finished fourth at state in boys' wrestling and made a regional final berth in boys' tennis. ▪ Ransom Everglades: The Raiders advanced to the state semifinal in girls' soccer and the regional final in both boys' and girls' water polo. ▪ Reagan: The Bison made the state semifinal in boys' volleyball. ▪ Riviera Prep: The Bulldogs won a state title in boys' basketball and reached the regional final in girls' tennis. ▪ SLAM Academy: SLAM was the state runner-up in girls' golf, reached the state semifinal in girls' basketball and made regional final appearances in boys' soccer and flag football. ▪ Somerset Silver Palms: The Stallions won their first state title in softball. ▪ South Dade: The Bucs won two more boys' state wrestling titles and finished third at state in girls' wrestling. ▪ Southridge: The Spartans had a pair of state runner-up finishes in girls' basketball and boys' wrestling plus a state semifinal berth in football. ▪ Southwest: The Eagles were state runners-up in boys' volleyball and finished third at state in wrestling. ▪ St. Brendan: The Sabres won a state title in cheerleading and made the regional final in boys' basketball and baseball. ▪ True North: The Titans won state titles in both boys' and girls' tennis while reaching the state semifinal in boys' volleyball.
Miami Herald
22-06-2025
- Miami Herald
American Heritage's Smith and Marcial are the Broward Overall Sports Coaches of the Year
For American Heritage's football team, it was about finishing a quest for redemption that lasted two years. For their girls' soccer team, it was about reaching another pinnacle for a program, which already ranks among the most decorated in state history. Patriots football coach Mike Smith and soccer coach Cindy Marcial navigated each team on their paths to accomplish those respective goals this season. As such, Smith and Marcial make it an American Heritage sweep as they are the Miami Herald's Broward County Overall Sports Coaches of the Year for the 2024-25 season. Smith, who was promoted to the position of American Heritage's football coach in 2022 after serving as the team's strength and conditioning coordinator and running backs coach, led the Patriots to a state title for the first time. He is the Boys' Sports Overall Coach of the Year after leading Heritage to its first state title since 2020 and sixth overall. But it was that much sweeter for a program, which came up painfully short in the state final in 2022 and the state semifinals in 2023. Even more so as it came two years after senior wide receiver Malachi Toney fumbled late in that 2022 state final loss. This time Toney started at quarterback in Heritage's three final playoff wins with starter Dia Bell hurt, and led the Patriots to the title. 'It's fitting how we ended this thing,' Smith said after the state final win. 'The adversity that kid battled through. He put the ball on the ground on the 28-yard line against Central two years ago and cried like a baby. For him to come back and do this, you can't make this up. Hollywood couldn't have written this ending better.' Marcial is the Overall Girls' Sports Coach of the Year. She led Heritage to its seventh state title since she became head coach in 2014, its 14th overall, and its third 'three-peat' in program history. But even more meaningful was the fact that the Patriots went 19-1 and went wire-to-wire as the nation's top-ranked team, securing a mythical national title. Heritage capped it off with a dominant 3-0 victory over Orlando Bishop Moore in the Class 4A state final. The Patriots finished the season with 11 consecutive shutouts. 'We are all about tradition and we want to keep it going,' Marcial said after the state final victory. BOYS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Todd Fitz-Gerald, Douglas baseball: The Eagles added another milestone to their storied program's history by becoming the first team in the state of Florida to win five consecutive state championships. Fitz-Gerald has now led Douglas to six state titles overall and he has seven rings, having led American Heritage to one as well. ▪ Joey Wardlow, St. Thomas Aquinas baseball: Led by one of the most prolific lineups in recent memory, Wardlow guided the Raiders to their first state title since 2018 and his first as their coach. ▪ Julius Sandi, St. Thomas Aquinas basketball: Sandi coached one of the most talented teams in the state to their first state championship since 2001 and his first as the Raiders' coach. ▪ J.R. McNabb, Blanche Ely basketball: McNabb helped restore the proud tradition of the Tigers' program by leading them to their first state title since 2019 and ninth overall, which leads all Broward County programs. ▪ Edward Schuler, Stranahan, basketball: On the strength of a miraculous last-minute comeback, Schuler's squad won its fourth state title overall and first since winning three in a four-year span from 2019, 2020 and 2022. ▪ Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas football: Even after a regular season, which raised doubts after three losses, Harriott oversaw another state title run, which extended the program's state-record streak to six consecutive seasons. ▪ Dameon Jones, Chaminade-Madonna football: Jones' squad overcame roster turnover and an 0-2 start to secure its fourth consecutive state championship and seventh in the past eight years. GIRLS' SPORTS FINALISTS ▪ Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball: Zielinski added to her storied resume by leading the Raiders to their eighth state title all-time and second in a row. It was the first time Aquinas repeated as state champions since winning three in a row from 2014-2016. ▪ Nicole Arnold, Cypress Bay volleyball: Arnold led the Lightning to an unbeaten season and best record in school history until their loss in the Class 7A regional finals. It was Cypress Bay's first appearance in the regional finals since 2018. ▪ Davidson Gil, Dillard track and field and cross-country: Gil led the Panthers to their second consecutive state championship, edging Miami Northwestern for the second year in a row. He also guided the Dillard cross-country team to a state runner-up finish in the fall. ▪ Toby Croke, American Heritage tennis: Croke led the Patriots girls to their first state championship since 2021 and their seventh overall.
