Julian closed his high school swimming career with a gold medal in the 200-yard freestyle and a silver in the 100 freestyle. He also anchored the winning 400 free and the 800 free relays. Ryan Guso, Evan Banceilla, Tommy Avallone, Juan Perez-Costa and Jose Perez earned gold as members of those winning relay teams.

The Jesuits founded Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in 1854 in Havana, Cuba. In 1961, when Belen and all private schools were confiscated by the new political regime, the school was re-established in Miami that same year and has grown the past five decades. Currently the enrollment is nearly 1,500 male students, grade 6 to 12. There are more than 6,000 alumni.

For the seventh consecutive year, Belen Jesuit has been named one of the Top 50 U.S. Catholic High Schools by the National Catholic High School Honor Roll.

Orange Bowl swimming

Collegiate swimmers and future Olympians will compete in the Orange Bowl Swim Classic on Jan. 3 at the Jacobs Aquatic Center, mile marker 99.6 oceanside in Key Largo.

Part of a month-long Orange Bowl training session held each year in the Keys, the classic hosts some of the nation’s finest competitors. The sprint-style meet features 20 fast-paced swimming events measured by a state-of-the-art timing system.

Of more than a dozen college teams scheduled to attend winter training, eight will compete in the swimming classic including George Mason University from Fairfax, Va., University of Michigan from Ann Arbor and Dartmouth College from Hanover, N.H.

Some notable 2012 Olympians have either trained at the Jacobs Aquatic Center swimming facility or participated in the Orange Bowl Swim Classic. They include top women’s swimming medalist Missy Franklin (four gold, one bronze), three-time swimming medalist Nathan Adrian and freestyle swimmers Kate Ziegler and George Bovell who represented Trinidad and Tobago at the London games.

“Key Largo is quickly becoming a much sought-after place for training,” said Dr. Jim Boilini, event chairman, who also serves on the board of directors of the Jacobs Aquatic Center. “Key Largo’s weather, a first-class training facility, the community’s embrace and the lure of the Orange Bowl is a great combination.”

The competition is expected to start at 2 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Admission is free.

A post-contest awards social and dinner will commence at the Jacobs Aquatic Center following the meet. Spectators who reserve ahead can attend the dinner and interact with the swimmers and coaches. Event contact: jacobsaquaticcenter.org or 305-453-SWIM (305-453-7946).

Heisman Florida winner

Marathon High School’s Taylor Konrath was chosen from 10 female finalists to represent Florida in the 2012 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award program.

Of the 45,000 seniors who applied nationwide, 2,135 were from Florida and were narrowed to the state’s 20 finalists (10 boys, 10 girls) which included Konrath. After being named the Florida female winner, Konrath hopes to be chosen as a national finalist. Twelve national finalists (six boys, six girls) from the state winners will compete for the national honor on Dec. 7 in New York City.

National finalists will be featured during a televised ceremony on ESPN networks and will receive gold medals and $2,000 awards for their high schools. One male and one female national winner will receive a crystal Wendy’s High School Heisman trophy and a $500 Wendy’s gift certificate. Wendy’s will also donate $10,000 to each winner’s respective high school. The winners will be recognized during the collegiate Heisman Trophy broadcast on Dec. 8 on ESPN.