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Miami’s Katerina Stewart won the USTA Florida Bobby Curtis Junior State Championships for the second consecutive year.

Stewart, the No.3 seed in Girls 18s, upset No.2 seed Maci Epstein of Windermere 6-2, 6-3 in the finals at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

“I’d seen her around a lot and actually played her in doubles but never in singles,” Stewart said. “I just played it by whatever she did. I just reacted to it. I counter punched. The heat was a factor, but today it wasn’t as hot as [the previous day].”

The previous day the combatants played their quarterfinals and semifinals in 92 degree temperatures with 90 percent humidity.

Last year Stewart won in Girls 16s.

In Boys 16s, No.7 seven seed Alfredo Perez of Coral Gables defeated No.11 seed Mirko Radosevic of Miami 6-3, 6-2 for the title.

Coached by Robert Gomez, the operations supervisor for the Kerdyk Biltmore and Salvadore Park tennis centers in Coral Gables, Perez arrived in the United States as a 9-year-old from Cuba. In Cuba, he played extensively but with smaller racquets, shorter courts and low-compression balls now popularized by the USTA 10 and Under Tennis program.

“Alfredo came to us at Salvadore Park in the summer of 2007,” Gomez said. “His father explained to me that it was the first time Alfredo had hit with a regular tennis ball. I noticed right away how well-rounded his skills were. Good two-handed drive, one-handed slice, one-handed backhand volley. In Cuba, he played with low-compression balls, which they use until the age of 10.”

Perez entered the finals with the advantage of wins over Radosevic in all their previous meetings.

“He was nervous in the final, so I tried to take advantage of that the best I can,” Perez said. “I was nervous at first, but then I relaxed a little bit. I haven’t done that well here in the past. Last year I was the No.1 seed in the 14s but lost in the quarters. This year has been a really good tournament.”

Top seed Adriana Reami of Miami was runner-up in Girls 14s.

Formerly known as the USTA Florida Junior State Closed, the tournament is the annual top junior singles event in Florida for age groups 10-18, and one of the top in the nation for competitive junior tennis talent.

Visit www.ustaflorida.com.

More tennis

From USTA PlayDays to kids tennis and 10 and Under Tennis, there are a number of opportunities to get involved in tennis events this summer in Miami.

North Miami-Dade Summer Junior Round Robin Series events include three divisions: 10 and under (orange ball/60-foot court), 12 and under, and 14 and under.

Summer Events

July 8: North Miami-Dade Summer Junior Round Robin Series at

Michael Ann Russell JCC, 18900 NE 25 Ave., North Miami Beach, (305-932-4200).

Aug. 26: North Miami-Dade Summer Junior Round Robin Series at

Diplomat Country Club, 501 Diplomat Pkwy (4th Avenue), Hallandale Beach, (954-465-7606).

10 and Under Tennis is designed for children featuring smaller court sizes, racquet sizes, foam and decompressed balls, a simple scoring system, and net heights adjusted to ease kids into the sport. Similar mini-tennis formats have long been popular in Europe, where current stars such as Roger Federer and Kim Clijsters first learned the game with age-adjusted racquets, balls and court sizes.

To see a video of 10 and Under Tennis in action, or to see where 10 and Under Tennis leagues are offered in your area, visit http://10andundertennis.usta.com.

For information on all Miami-area events, go to www.USTAMiami.com.

Soccer

Representing Florida, the Soccer Academy of the Americas Real Madrid 96/97 under-15 boys travel soccer team won the United States Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships in Greenville, S.C.

They qualified for the national championships.

Real Madrid competed in regionals after winning the Florida State Cup.

At regionals, they played six games in eight days beating State Cup champions from other Southeastern states.

The state and region champs are Juan Pablo Moreno, Christopher Lamorte, Alessandro Campoy, Anthony Quiroz, Juan Grimaldo, Daniel Pernia, Juan Manuel Sarabia, Arturo Barahona, Cristian Cervantes, Lucca Barbaris, Sebastian Herran (MVP), Juan Gross, Gonzalo Marquez, Gabriel Lopez (Golden Glove Award), Ernesto Benitez, Joseph Tolgyesi and Tomas Garcia Morillo. The coach is Libardo Perdigon, and the team manager is Juan Carlos Sarabia.

The team needs money to cover travel costs for nationals. A fundraising page is at

http://igg.me/p/144788?a=778237.

Dolphins 7-on-7 Tournament

Booker T. Washington defeated Carol City 24-21 to win the fifth annual Miami Dolphins Academy 7-on-7 High School Tournament, presented by Under Armour, AT&T and the National Guard, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.

By winning the championship, Booker T. Washington will represent South Florida and the Miami Dolphins at the 2012 HSPD National Championships July 12-15 in Indianapolis.

“It was a great game,” said Tim Harris, Booker T. Washington football coach. “Carol [City] is a great program. Both teams competed well, and we were just Blessed to get the win. We were excited about that. I liked our kids competing all the way through.”

Booker T. Washington was one of 50 schools to participate in the three-day event, and one of eight teams to make the final round. Booker T defeated Taravella 38-35 in the quarterfinals and West Palm Beach-Cardinal Newman 41-14 in the semifinals.

“My experience competing here was great,” said Nigel Patten, a Booker T. Washington cornerback. “I came here my ninth grade year, and we lost the championship game. I was confident that we were going to win, and it felt great to play on the Miami Dolphins’ field. It was my second time coming out on this field. Last year, we came to a game when the Dolphins played Buffalo Bills and had a great time.”

The three-day event began with a symposium focusing on character development and specific skill training. George Hegamin of Under Armour was one of the guest speakers. Members of the Miami Dolphins’ organization including General Manager Jeff Ireland, Head Coach Joe Philbin, former Dolphins tight end Troy Drayton and defensive lineman Ryan Baker also gave uplifting words to the student athletes. The high school players were also taught practical life lessons and preparation for standardized tests, along with discussions on life after high school, personal development and community service.

On-field components of the NFL’s High School Player Development program included fundamental skill development by position, reviews and individual competitions. As part of on-field training, players focused on offensive and a defensive position and eventually applied their newly-learned fundamentals to live drills.

“It was an exciting three days,” said former St. Thomas Aquinas High School, University of Miami and Miami Dolphins linebacker Twan Russell, who is the director of the Miami Dolphins youth and community programs.

“From the symposium to the final minute of the championship game, there was nonstop action. However, the importance of developing student athletes as men off the field is most important. I hope this event has impacted these student athletes in a positive manner, and they will adapt these lessons they learned into their everyday lives.”

More football

The U.S. under-19 national team began defense of its International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship gold medal with a 27-6 win over American Samoa in Austin, Texas.

Jesus Wilson (Miami/Christopher Columbus High School) opened the scoring for Team USA with an electrifying 75-yard kickoff return to give the United States a 6-0 lead 13 seconds into the game.

Learn more about the IFAF Under-19 World Championship and the World Football Festival at www.u19championship.com.

Billiards

The Warriors won the American Pool Association Miami-Dade County Championship at Bird Bowl in Miami.

The Warriors overcame an 0-2 deficit to capture the billiards title and qualify for the National 8-Ball Championships at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Charles Urra was named Most Valuable Player. The champs also feature Daniel Clarin, Jason Levine, David Stallings, Allison Perlman, Greg Maynes, Marisol Maldanado and Curtis Osceola.

Bird Bowl is an established bowling ally with a 20-table billiards room. The Warriors play their home games at Little Hoolie’s Sports Bar & Grill in Pinecrest.

Sunshine State Games

Miami’s Ashley Granada and Sean Vilar won gold medals in fencing during the Sunshine State Games at The Lakeland Center.

Since April, more than 9,000 of Florida’s finest amateur athletes have participated in the 33rd annual Sunshine State Games.

As the longest-running State Games competition in the United States, Florida’s Sunshine State Games is now in its fourth decade of providing amateur sports opportunities for Florida residents.

• Fencing at The Lakeland Center

Local results: Women’s Sabre: 1. Ashley Granada, Miami. Men’s Sabre: 1. Sean Vilar, Miami. Youth 14 Women’s Epee: 2. Tyler Granada, Miami. D and under Epee: 3. Jean Milien, Miami.

• Judo at The Lakeland Center

Local results: Senior Division: 17-29 Female (Fly, not over 56.4kg): 2. Vanessa Castellanos, Hialeah; 3. Jessica Rodriguez, Hialeah. 17-29 Male (Fin): 1. Alejandro Menendez, Miami. 17-29 Male (Bantam): 2. Tomas Perez, Hialeah Gardens. 17-29 Male (Fly): 1. Adonis Diaz, Hialeah; 2. Oscar Rosa, Miami; 3. Alejandro Menendez, Miami. 17-29 Male (Middle): 1. Juan Ruiz, Miami Beach.

•  Wrestling at the Polk State College Wellness Center in Winter Haven

Local results: Lower 90: 1. Zach Mickle, Miami Sharks. Greco Roman Wrestling : Lower 90-95: 2. Zach Mickle, Miami Sharks.

• For information on Florida’s Sunshine State Games and the 2012 Florida Senior Games State Championships, visit www.flasports.com.

Aquabike

Miami’s Carlos Dolabella and Key Biscayne’s Lois Leon won age group national titles during the first USA Triathlon Aquabike National Championship, in conjunction with the I Love the Tavern Triathlon, in Richmond, Va.

The race featured a 650-meter swim and a 18.8-mile bike.

Dolabella won the title in men 50-54 in 54 minutes 37 seconds. Leon was first in women 70-74 in 1:12:09.

The event attracted 125 athletes in USA Triathlon’s first swim-bike national championship. USA Triathlon ranked the nation’s top aquabike athletes for the first time in 2011, and the organization will do so again in 2012.

Duathlon

Marie-Cecile Desvignes of Miami was runner-up in the women’s division of the Mack Cycle Key Biscayne Duathlon Trilogy No.1 at Crandon Park. Desvignes finished a 1-mile run, 9.8-mile bike and 3.1-mile run in 1 hour three minutes and 12 seconds. Miami’s Michael Ashworth placed second in men overall in 56:29.

Local Winners: ATHENA: 1. Virginia Perez, Miami, 1:23:13.

WOMEN: 25-29: 1. Elizabeth Orlin, Miami, 1:14:02. 30-34: 1. Ximena Alvarez, Miami, 1:14:07. 45-49: 1. Giuseppina Naccarato, South Miami, 1:10:15.

MEN: 15-19: 1. Alberto Herran, Miami, 1:28:10. 20-24: 1. Carson Bench, Miami Lakes, 1:04:28. 30-34: 1. Alfredo Gonzalez, Miami, 1:02:04. 35-39: 1. Maikel Cusimano, Hialeah, 1:02:01. 40-44: 1. Hector Arana, Miami, 1:00:15. 60-64: 1. Gabriel Yanni, Miami, 1:04:15. 65-69: 1. Arturo Perez, Miami, 1:20:31. Fat Tire: 1. Juan Pineros, Miami Beach, 1:38:55.

Visit www.multirace.com.

Triathlon

Miami’s Isabel Olivas won the women’s title at the Mack Cycle Key Biscayne International Triathlon Trilogy at Crandon Park. She covered the 0.5-mile swim, 19.6-mile bike and 6.2-mile run in 1 hour 52 minutes and 43 seconds. Samuel Houston of Miami won the men’s championship in 1:42.50. Miami’s Gian Gil took second in 1:46:17.

Other Local Winners: CLYDESDALE: 185 0-39: 1. Anthony Gonzalez, Miami, 2:16:16. 225 0-39: 1. Edward Nunez, Miami, 2:47:58. 225 40+: 1. Richard Villaverde, Coral Gables, 2:25:10.

WOMEN: 20-24: 1. Courtney Premer, North Miami, 2:24:04. 45-49: 1. Laura Adams, Miami, 2:42:58. 50-54: 1. Deirdre Marshall, Miami, 2:17:05. Masters: 1. Alessandra Castanho, Miami, 2:11:20.

MEN: 20-24: 1. Carl Speer, Miami, 2:05:03. 35-39: 1. Gabriel Hidalgo, Coral Gables, 1:57:48. 40-44: 1. Carols Torres De Navarra, Coral Gables, 1:59:39. 50-54: 1. Reynaldo De La Flor Ramos, Miami, 1:59:20. 65-69: 1. Archie Jones, Hialeah, 3:24:49. Masters: 1. Jonathan Friedland, Miami, 1:54:21.

• Miami’s Yacceri Lopez won the men’s title of the Mack Cycle Key Biscayne Triathlon Trilogy No.1 at Crandon Park. Lopez completed a 0.25-mile swim, 9.8-mile bike and 3.1-mile run in 54 minutes 51 seconds. Joseph Perez of Miami Springs followed in 55:41. Monica Rossi-Montero of Miami was second in the women’s field in 1:03:25.

Other Local Winners: CLYDESDALE: 185 0-39: 1. Frank Delgado, Miami, 1:17:38. 200 0-39: 1. Yanko Sierra, Miami Beach, 1:12:25. 225 0-39: 1. Miguel Ardid, Key Biscayne, 1:25:25.

WOMEN: 10-14: 1.Alma Campiani, Key Biscayne, 1:11:23. 25-29: 1. Corey Walton, Miami, 1:08:36. 30-34: 1. Gerin Reyes, Miami, 1:07:55. 35-39: 1. Christina Warren, Miami Beach, 1:11:07. 45-49: 1. Carole Flamant, Miami, 1:13:45. Fat Tire: 1. Martina Kornmayer, Miami, 1:24:38.

MEN: 10-14: 1. Serafin Dominguez, Miami, 1:09:22. 15-19: 1. Connor Guest, Miami, 58:53. 20-24: 1. Andrew Hibbitt, Miami, 58:02. 25-29: 1. Philip Altemus, Miami, 1:00:56. 30-34: 1. Eli Stiers, Miami, 59:17. 35-39: 1. Eric Gomez, Coral Gables, 57:47. 40-44: 1. Alejandro Ponce, Miami, 1:00:43. 45-49: 1. Ted Sanchez, Miami, 1:02:53. 55-59: 1. Robert Maughan, Aventura, 1:08:58. 60-64: 1. Robin Macklin, Key Biscayne, 1:20:07. 65-69: 1. Tim Regier, Miami, 1:14:41.

Visit www.multirace.com.

Judo

U.S.A Judo is sponsoring a camp for the blind and visually impaired at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind that features top fighters from the U.S. Paralympic Judo Team who will compete in the Paralympic Games in London this summer.

The local camp, which runs through July 20, is designed to empower young, visually impaired athletes by teaching them how to develop their coordination, agility, strength and self-defense skills.

Helping lead the camp will be members of the U.S. Paralympic Judo Team including Myles Porter (100 kg), Dartanyon Crockett (90 kg) and Ron Hawthorne (60 kg). Each hails from the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where they’ve been preparing for the Paralympic Games.

Porter, a U.S. favorite in London, is ranked fourth in the world among visually impaired judokas. He was born with ocular albinism, a visual deficit in which his retinas lack pigmentation.

“We love doing demonstrations for these young athletes,” Porter said in a release. “Judo has given me so much, and this is a way to give back to the sport. So many people with disabilities are so often told about what they can’t be or what they can’t do. These demonstrations serve to show these kids that they can do things they thought were impossible. It’s really nice U.S.A Judo and Miami Lighthouse make these camps possible for the visually impaired.”

Luis Guardia, the program’s coordinator, is hopeful the combined efforts of U.S.A. Judo and organizations such as Miami Lighthouse will make judo much more accessible to young, visually impaired athletes.

“Many visually impaired people feel isolated,” he said. “This program is designed to incorporate these people, and prevent them from feeling marginalized by society.”

Judo is a good sport for the visually impaired because at its root, the sport relies heavily on a person’s ability to balance and grapple, while utilizing their core strength. Classes are 9-11 a.m. Monday and Friday at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, 601 SW 8th Ave., Miami, 33130.

For information visit http://www.miamilighthouse.org or call Cameron Sisser at 786-362-7515.

NPC Southern States Championships

The 32nd annual NPC Southern States Championships -- featuring fitness, figure, bikini, physique and bodybuilding competitions -- are July 13-14 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale.

The NPC Southern States Championships is the largest, regional national qualifier east of the Mississippi and will consist of more than 200 of the nation’s top sanctioned National Physique Committee amateurs vying for a spot into nationals later this summer. Age divisions of entrants include teenage, adult and senior competitors (men and women) from 18 states and Puerto Rico.

Guest posers include IFBB Pro Stars including 8x IFBB Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray, 8x IFBB Mr. Olympia Lee Haney, 2011 IFBB Europa Orlando Overall Champion Hidetada Yamagishi, 2012 Toronto Pro Overall Champion Craig Richardson, 2011 IFBB Mr. Olympia Top 5 Finisher Shawn Rhoden, Canadian National Champion Fouad Abiad and 2011 IFBB English Grand Prix Overall Champion Flex Lewis. Also, 2011 IFBB Ms. Olympia Bikini Nicole Nagrani and IFBB Bikini Champion & Former NPC Southern States Winner Jaime Baird are special guests.

“This year’s NPC Southern States promises to be one of the biggest and most exciting in our history,” said NPC Southern States Promoter Peter Potter. “With the new divisions, more than 20 vendors with the latest in supplements, clothing and equipment, plus top ranking IFBB Pros, it will be a treat for one and all on both nights.”

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, the War Memorial Auditorium (954-828-5380) and USA Sports Promotions of Florida (954-763-2718). Pre-judging tickets for July 13 and 14 are only available from USA Sports Promotions of Florida and at the box office the day of the events. For information visit www.npcsouthernstates.com.

EVENTS, TOURS, TRYOUTS

Miami Shores soccer

The Miami Shores FC under-12 girls’ travel soccer team participated in the Disney Memorial Day Soccer Shootout at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista.

They competed in the highest division in their age group, earning silver medals. For tryout information for the 2012-2013 season, contact David Ocampo at david.ocampo23@gmail.com.

More soccer

South Kendall Sun Blazers (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Miami Dade Soccer League (miami-dadesoccer.com) at Three Lakes Park, 13375 SW 136 St. (786-488-5216).

Soccer 5 (ussoccer5.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (1-888-575-2976).

Club Atletico De Miami (camsoccer.com) at Kendall Soccer Park, 8011 SW 127 Ave. (305-764-5783).

Soccer Academy of the Americas (socceraa.com) at Tamiami Park, 11201 SW 24 St. (786-486-3804)

Pinecrest Premier Soccer (pinecrestpremier.com) at Deerwood Bonita Lakes, 11511 S. Dixie Hwy. (305-255-3422).

Optimist Club of Westchester (tropicalsoccer.org) at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St. (786-370-4222).

Coral Estates Soccer Club (coralestatessoccer.org) at Coral Estates Park, 1411 SW 97 Ave. (305-279-2328)

South Kendall Soccer Club (sksoccer.org) at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, 11395 SW 79 St. (305-630-3314).

Southern Soccer Coalition-AYSO (kendallsoccer.com) at Millers Pond Park, 13350 SW 47 St. and Westwind Lakes Park, 6805 SW 152 Ave. (305-965-0083).

Tennis

Tennis classes and programs for all ages are at the Penny Sugarman Tennis Center at Sans Souci, 1795 Sans Souci Blvd., North Miami. Call for information on group lessons, annual passes, court rates and private lessons. Tennis pro is Ross Dubins. Call 305-893-7130.

Marlins Tours

The Miami Marlins offer behind the scenes tours of Marlins Park. The tours are open to the public on non-event days for $10 a person.

The tour includes visits to the field (behind home plate), home clubhouse, home batting cage area and Diamond Club, Promenade Level featuring the art in the facility, the bobblehead museum and the premium areas including the Suites.

Tours operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except when the Marlins play at home or when other major events are scheduled at Marlins Park. Group tours, accommodating between 10 and 25 people, are available by appointment.

For information, fans can call 1-877-MARLINS or e-mail tours@marlins.com. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket windows on Felo Ramirez Drive (NW 6 Street between NW 14 Avenue and NW 15 Avenue) and are for the time and date specified.

Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.

South Florida Eagles baseball

The South Florida Eagles 13-and-under travel baseball team seeks dedicated, experienced travel team players with supportive parents.

The team will play in the Premier Spring League as well as numerous tournaments including the Cal Ripken Experience in June. For information or for an individual tryout, contact Coach Gonzalo Morales at 305-753-9065 or gonmorales87@comcast.net.

Health program

Stand Up! For Those Who Can’t, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through (w)holistic programs in education, culture and the arts, and as fiscal agent for the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative, has received a $50,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to implement “Sunshine Fit for Tots,” an obesity-prevention program developed by SCWC for 3-year-old children.

“One in five preschool-age children in the United States are overweight or obese. We recognize the need to start prevention at the earliest age possible to promote lifelong habits of health and wellness,” said Mary Rae Smith, president and founder of SCWC. “We want to bend the curve on childhood obesity and are grateful to the Aetna Foundation for this opportunity to enhance obesity prevention through exercise and nutrition programming.”

Through March 2013, 60 children from four early childhood centers in Miami-Dade will receive nutritional education and obesity-prevention activities through art classes and dance lessons. The centers selected to receive the program are Fantasyland Learning Center in Westchester; Happy Kids in Miami Beach; Happy Children of Overtown; and Alberto’s Dream Childcare in North Miami.

“We thank the Aetna Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Jeannette Egozi, president of SUFTWC. “In the United States, low-income families are the most affected by the alarming obesity trend. With these funds we can teach children how to eat healthfully and be physically active throughout their lives.”

For information about “Sunshine Fit for Tots” call the Sunshine Child Wellness Collaborative at 305-807-5229 or Stand Up! at 305-864-5237, e-mail jeannette@ecqc.biz.

Ironman 70.3

The City Bikes Ironman 70.3 Miami is Oct. 28, starting at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Registration is underway. http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1995048.

The event supports the Blazeman Foundation for ALS. Through this partnership, athletes who are participating in the race can make a contribution to the foundation when registering. The Blazeman Foundation will also be featured at the EXPO. To find out more about the Blazeman Foundation for ALS, visit www.waronals.com.

Muscle Milk Grant Program

CytoSport, the largest sports nutrition company in the United States and maker of Muscle Milk, announced the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program which will provide up to $250,000 in grants to help rebuild and revitalize high school athletic programs around the country.

Submissions for high school programs will be accepted on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk now through Nov. 30.

“High school athletic programs are critical to the overall development of student-athletes, and we are dedicated to helping them succeed,” CytoSport Chief Marketing Officer Nikki Brown said. “The Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program is a great way we can provide financial resources to programs in need in local communities around the country.”

Grants will be awarded up to $25,000 per submission to programs that show a financial hardship outlined in the application process. Applicants must be at least 14-years-old and can nominate the high school of their choice on the Muscle Milk Facebook page www.facebook.com/musclemilk where they will be required to submit a written statement outlining their program’s needs, provide photos that support their request and will have the option to upload a video link to help further tell their story.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30 and recipient programs will be selected in January 2013.

In conjunction with the launch of the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, Muscle Milk will also launch limited time packaging that includes a red, white and blue theme. A portion of sales from the patriotic packaging will go toward funding the Recovery Grant Program.

For information on the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant Program, visit www.facebook.com/musclemilk.

Wendy’s High School Heisman

Wendy’s is accepting applications for the annual Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, a program honoring outstanding high school student-athletes for its commitment to academic achievement, community service involvement and athletic prowess.

More than just a shining star on a college résumé, the Heisman mystique touches students at every level of the program. In addition to recognition at school and state levels, six female and six male national finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the Wendy’s High School Heisman Awards Ceremony and college Heisman Memorial Trophy Award presentation with their families in December 2012.

Beginning now through Oct. 2, eligible students can apply at www.WendysHeisman.com for a chance to win the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award and the prestige of joining an ever-growing family of distinguished past winners. A partner award with college football’s acclaimed Heisman Memorial Trophy, Wendy’s High School Heisman has received more than 350,000 applications and honored more than 216 national finalists and 36 national winners since its inception.

Each year, nearly 50,000 young male and female scholar-athletes from across the country who embody leadership, academic excellence and athletic skill in their schools and volunteerism in their communities apply for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. These applicants are then narrowed down in four phases:

School Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from every school will be selected as a “School Winner”

State Finalists Phase – 20 finalists—10 senior males and 10 senior females—from every state and the District of Columbia will advance to “State Finalists”

State Winners Phase – One senior male and one senior female from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected as “State Winners”

National Finalist Phase – A judging panel will select “12 National Finalists” from the 102 State Winners

“I was thrilled to have made it so far in the competition,” said Selena Pasadyn, the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman female award winner and first in her class at Brunswick High School in Ohio. “It’s an honor to represent my community and to be part of such an exceptional group of people who I now call my Wendy’s High School Heisman family.”

The one male and one female Wendy’s High School Heisman Award winners will each earn $10,000 for their high school and a $500 Wendy’s gift card. They will also be highlighted during ESPN’s live national broadcast of the college Heisman Memorial Trophy Ceremony in early December 2012.

Eligibility

Eligible high school seniors, slated to graduate in 2013, may submit an application online through Oct. 2. The first 25,000 students with completed applications will receive a Wendy’s gift card valued at $10. From the completed applications, one male and one female winner will be chosen to receive the WHSH Award.

For information, students can visit www.WendysHeisman.com, call 800-205-6367 or contact their local high school principal, guidance counselor or athletic director. Participants can also “like” Wendy’s Heisman on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WendysHighSchoolHeisman for additional program details.

Got Milk

The National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign recently launched the call for entries for the 15th annual Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year (SAMMY) Awards.

The SAMMY scholarship recognizes 25 student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, community service, leadership and who fuel their daily success with milk.

Milk Mustache celebrity judges will help select 25 winners from across the country who will receive a $7,500 college scholarship, an awards ceremony at Walt Disney World and an opportunity to appear in their own special Milk Mustache ad.

For complete contest rules and applications log onto facebook.com/MilkMustache where visitors can also learn more about the exclusive SAMMY awards weekend and view behind the scenes footage.

MVP of the Week

Dick’s Sporting Goods MVP of the Week program is a promotion that recognizes amateur athletes for moments of greatness on the playing field and in the arena.

Fans can vote online each week to determine the top amateur sports moment with the wining video being rewarded $500 in Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards — $250 to the individual who submitted the winning entry and $250 to the featured players’ choice of qualified school, team or athletic organization.

The entry process:

Go to www.DicksMVP.com.

Upload your compelling sports videos.

Encourage friends, family and the local community to vote for your video.

Orange Bowl donations

One thousand South Florida children will receive a pair of sneakers.

In its ongoing campaign to inspire kids to stay active and participate in sports, the Orange Bowl will donate 1,000 pairs of shoes to children at the YMCA of Greater Miami.

The donation is part of the Orange Bowl’s Kicks for Kids program and is the culmination of its 2011 launch campaign.

Orange Bowl mascot Obie will pass out the “kicks” at the Allapattah YMCA Family Center and create a giant “Kicks for Kids” logo mural with the kids using their footprints.

The Orange Bowl also will announce an expansion of the Kicks for Kids program for the 2012 college football season. It is the Orange Bowl’s mission to make sure every South Florida child has a good fitting pair of sneakers or cleats so they can participate in and reap the rewards of sports and exercise.

The Orange Bowl is a 352-member, primarily-volunteer non-profit sports organization that promotes and serves the South Florida community. The Orange Bowl Festival features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the Discover Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013 and the Discover BCS National Championship on Jan. 7, 2013.

Other Orange Bowl core events include the MetroPCS Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance presented by Sports Authority, Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships, Orange Bowl Sailing Regatta Series and Orange Bowl Paddle Championships. For information on the 2012-13 Orange Bowl Festival and its events, including promotional and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, log on to www.orangebowl.org.

Jai-Alai

Jai-alai is open to anyone, age 10 to 80.

With a rubber ball and cestas, the amateur jai-alai facility is at 1935 NE 150th St. in North Miami, near FIU’s north campus.

It is indoors, air-conditioned and open to all. Contact Luis at 305-389-2313 or Bob at 786-556-3574.

More Jai-Alai

Who said you have to be a male to play Jai Alai? Just as many females play the sport in Spain, France and Mexico, and gals can play it in South Florida at an amateur indoor air-conditioned fronton.

There are also leagues for males and children. Rubber or plastic balls used with free lessons by former pros. Cestas and balls also provided free with a nominal court fee.

Open everyday. Email admanUSA@aol.com or call Brucio 786-629-5428. The American Amateur Jai-Alai Academy is a not-for-profit organization.

Rebelle volleyball

Rebelle Athletics Club offers girls’ volleyball tryouts at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, 4949 NE 2nd Ave.

The volleyball club, a member of the United States Volleyball Association, is under the direction of Mandi Tate, Dee Rey and former Barry University player Kelly Dantas. They are former coaches with South Florida Volleyball Club and currently coach at Alonzo & Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Biscayne Bay.

Rebelle Athletics is dedicated to providing developmental and participatory athletic sports programs beginning at the youth development level. It offers a progression of sports activities for persons of all ages, races and creeds. It strives to enhance the physical, mental and moral development of amateur athletes at all levels, promoting sportsmanship and active citizenship.

Visit www.rebelleathletics.com.

CB Sports Leagues

CB Sports Club offers Youth Basketball, Flag Football, Youth Soccer, Adult Soccer and Adult Basketball. Visit cbsportsclub.com. Call 786-273-5639.

Physically Challenged

Miami-Dade Parks welcomes children with disabilities in its youth leagues. If you need accommodations to participate, call 305-735-7847 (V/TDD).