Latest news with #AmericanHeritage
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5-Star Texas QB Commit Reveals Inital Dream Was to Take Cooper Flagg Route at Duke
5-Star Texas QB Commit Reveals Inital Dream Was to Take Cooper Flagg Route at Duke originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When considering all that the five-star Texas quarterback commit Dia Bell has accomplished at quarterback over the past couple of years, one would assume he was always destined for stardom on the gridiron. Advertisement He has posted a 19-4 record as the starter at Florida powerhouse American Heritage, has thrown for over 4,500 yards in that span and was also named the 2025 Elite 11 MVP. However, when examining Bell's family and their athletic success, it has been primarily on the hardwood. His father, Raja Bell, had a 12-year NBA career that saw him garner an All-NBA Defensive team nod in 2007 and 2008. His aunt, Tombi Bell, played basketball at Florida, before a career in the WNBA. His younger brother is a 2028 basketball recruit who already has around 10 scholarship offers. So, for Dia Bell to be focused on football, it's a bit out of the norm for his family. However, when chatting with Danny Knnell recently, the Texas commit revealed it wasn't until COVID that he decided to not play basketball. Recruits Dia Bell and Byron Louis watch Ohio State warm up before playing Penn State.© Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK "Growing up, it was always basketball," Bell said. "I wanted to go play basketball at Duke. Like that's what I was set on. As time went on, COVID kinda came around and you couldn't really get in gyms anymore and I started like shifting my focus to football really. Advertisement "And I kind of figured out that I could use that as my own navigating tool to kind of create my own name and my own kind of legacy and not kind of be in his shadow," Bell added. While he chose football, he did seem well on his way to basketball stardom as he averaged 20.7 points per game as a freshman and 13.9 points per game as a sophomore. With his focus solely on football and being a dynamic athlete, Bell seems like the perfect candidate to replace Arch Manning whenever he departs for the NFL. Related: Oklahoma Hands Texas Rare Loss on Recruiting Trail This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Sport
- 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
22-06-2025
- Sport
- 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.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Elite 11: Ranking the top 11 QBs from the week
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – Over three days at the Elite 11, no quarterback absolutely, clearly, 100-percent established himself as the best one at the event. But through a battery of stations on Tuesday night, the all-important Pro Day on Wednesday night and a 7on7 session on Thursday, here is our ranking of the top 11 for the week. MORE ELITE 11: Bentley is best of pro day performances | Ten takeaways from opening night | Tough decision ahead for Bentley RIVALS FIVE-STAR EVENT: Roster | ACC programs in the spotlight | Big Ten programs in the spotlight | SEC programs in the spotlight | Key QB storylines | Key RB storylines | Key WR storylines | Key TE storylines | Key OL storylines | Key DL storylines | Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State 1. DIA BELL The four-star quarterback from Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage was the best of the best on the first night, not so great during the Pro Day and then came back with a vengeance and had a good 7on7 session. Advertisement Does that make him the top QB? We think so, as when he was good, he was really good. The Texas commit can spin it, the ball comes out beautifully and he can throw accurately to every level. Nothing looked forced when Bell is in the pocket. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS FANS AT 2. HELAMAN CASUGA Casuga has dealt with an injury that sidelined him for a portion of his junior season (after beating IMG Academy, of course) so what his performance was going to be like was uncertain. The Texas A&M commit delivered in a big way during the Pro Day, where his timing with receivers was impeccable, and he spun it with pace as well as anyone at the event. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS A&M FANS AT 3. KEISEAN HENDERSON The Houston commit is a top-10 prospect and a five-star quarterback but one cannot help but feel he's only tapping his potential and he could have the most upside in the class. His athleticism is off the charts and so is his arm talent as it's burned in my memory the nicest throw of the Pro Day when he ducked pressure, moved right and zipped it on a rope 40 yards downfield to a receiver. Henderson has special qualities that Houston needs badly. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH HOUSTON FANS AT 4. BOWE BENTLEY Bentley really flashed during the Pro Day portion of the Elite 11 as he graded out the highest on our point system and we loved that the Celina, Texas, standout fired each ball and didn't try to place it with zero pace on it just to score points. Advertisement Down to Oklahoma and LSU, Bentley was great throwing from the pocket, escaping pressure and keeping zip on his passes, and hitting receivers in stride. He wasn't exceptional the other two days so he's fourth overall on our list. 5. TAIT REYNOLDS Reynolds was skilled, reliable and consistent. The Clemson commit has a little elongated motion (probably from his baseball background) but he's a big, steady presence in the pocket who was exceptional on deep throws and the seam routes during the Pro Day. He was solid the other two days, if not spectacular. He will head to play for the Tigers and have weapons around him. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH CLEMSON FANS AT 6. BRYSON BEAVER Beaver was one of the biggest surprises of the Elite 11. The Murrieta (Calif.) Vista Murrieta three-star definitely outplayed his ranking and came in with a ton of confidence. He was another one who zipped the ball and played to win instead of trying to game the system for points. Other than Henderson's dime down the right side of the field, Beaver had the best throw of the night on the same route. He's at Oregon this weekend and the Ducks look strong but his recruitment has been wild in recent weeks. 7. TRAVIS BURGESS There is a tendency to look at the North Carolina commit at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds and think he's going to be too lanky, too gangly and have a really long motion but that wasn't the case at all with the Loganville (Ga.) Grayson standout. Advertisement Burgess was more than solid throughout the entire event and after missing on a deep throw early during the Pro Day was basically perfect on all his deep shots after that. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UNC FANS AT 8. TERRY WALKER Beaver and Walker were the biggest surprises for us at the Elite 11. The Duke commit is so smooth, the ball pops off his hand and other than just a couple poor throws during the Pro Day, he was really impressive. Walker was exceptional on night one as his tight spirals just looked different than a lot of other quarterbacks and then he backed it up again at the pro day. Most impressive is that he's best at being creative so this structure didn't necessarily suit all his gifts. Advertisement The Blue Devils got a steal. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH DUKE FANS AT 9. FAIZON BRANDON Did Brandon sign, seal and deliver the No. 1 quarterback spot in the 2026 class with his three-day performance at the Elite 11? No. But the Tennessee commit was also very good in numerous spots with the biggest spotlight on him over the event. There's no questioning his arm talent and playmaking ability. But he didn't separate himself like an undoubted No. 1 quarterback has done at this event before. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TENNESSEE FANS AT 10. JETT THOMALLA Thomalla had a lot on his mind even flying to the Elite 11 and waking up that first morning because that's when he flipped from Iowa State to Alabama. He was a tick slow that first night but really stepped it up during the pro day and beyond as he was exceptionally good throwing receivers open and putting it where only they could catch it. Advertisement One of the toughest throws is to go across the field and throw to the pylon in the front of the end zone and Thomalla aced that one. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ALABAMA FANS AT 11. OSCAR RIOS The more we see Rios – in camp settings, 7on7 settings and now at the Elite 11 – we like his game and how it translates to the next level. The Downey, Calif., four-star QB is down to Arizona and UCLA and Rios plays with a quiet confidence and competitiveness that should carry over well to the college game. Even though he's on the leaner side, Rios is dynamic, the ball pops and he has no problem throttling back and getting it deep.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Stoneman Douglas, Aquinas and Heritage coaches are Broward Baseball Coaches of the Year
At Stoneman Douglas, Todd Fitz-Gerald has helmed the greatest state championship streak in state history. Meanwhile at St. Thomas Aquinas, Joey Wardlow directed his program to its first state championship in seven years, propelled by one of the best hitting teams in recent memory. And at American Heritage, a redemption season was completed and resulted in a state title under the direction of Bruce Aven. As such, Fitz-Gerald and Wardlow are the Miami Herald's Broward County Baseball Co-Coaches of the Year for Classes 7A-5A. And Aven is the Herald's Coach of the Year for Classes 4A-1A. Fitz-Gerald and his players proudly held up all five fingers stretched out after defeating Jupiter this past May to capture the school's state record fifth consecutive state title. For the Eagles, it was their sixth overall, all under Fitz-Gerald, who won his seventh overall. Douglas went 31-2 on a dominant run led by ace Gio Rojas, who went 12-0 with 120 strikeouts and an 0.72 ERA. Wardlow's squad won its first state title since 2018 and the fourth overall for Aquinas. The backbone of this effort was a prolific lineup, which totaled 68 home runs as a team, and powered its way to the Class 6A state title. Miami Herald Player of the Year, Zachary Malvasio, a UCF commit, led the charge with 16 home runs. And at Heritage, Aven directed the Patriots to their third consecutive state finals appearance and second state title in three seasons. Led by versatile outfielder Jordan Rich and an array of talented pitchers, American Heritage bounced back after losing to Tampa Jesuit in last year's state final and secured the program's fourth state title overall. The Patriots' dominant run through the Class 4A bracket was among the most impressive of any state champion this season, and for Aven, it was his second as Heritage's head coach.
