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Our Lady of Lakes sports

Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School concluded a succesful 2012-13 athletic year with an Athletic Convocation at the school in Miami Lakes.

The 25 teams were recognized, and each participant was congratulated for being an outstanding student athlete.

Our Lady of the Lakes Athletic Director German Garcia and the majority of the 22 volunteer coaches also presented three distinctive awards for each team: Heart and Hustle Award, Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Player.

Coach Garcia closed the ceremony by announcing eighth graders Daniel Padron and Janelle Rodriguez as the Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively.

Padron received Most Valuable Player in basketball, cross-country and flag football. He also maintained good grades. In the Fall, he will attend Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches where he plans to compete in basketball and cross-country.

Rodriguez received Most Valuable Player for girls’ volleyball. She was a standout student as well as a leader on and off the court. In the Fall, she will attend Monsignor Edward Pace High School where she plans to participate in volleyball.

Highlights for the 2012-13 athletic year:

All Catholic Conference North Division Champions: Primary Baseball (7-1-1), JV Baseball (9-0), Spring Boys Flag Football (7-1), Primary Boys Basketball (9-1).

All Catholic Conference North Division Runner Up: JV Boys Basketball (7-3).

All Catholic Conference Tournament Runner Up: Primary Boys Cross Country, Spring Boys Flag Football (advanced to school first ACC Flag Football 3A final).

All Catholic Conference Sportsman of the Year Nominee: Coach Eddy Fleitas for Girls Basketball (first Cheetah coach to be nominated).

Notable Achievements: Girls and boys basketball teams played in the Court of Dreams at the AmericanAirlines Arena. A school first, the girls won the Court of Dreams.

Gymnastics

Anais Rey and Bella Torres of Tumblebees Gymanstics in Kendall fared very well during the USAG Regional Championships at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Rey placed second all around for Level 7 scoring 37.75, and Torres totaled 36.0 all around. Rey was first on vault, fifth on balance beam and seventh on floor exercise. Torres was eighth on balance beam and vault. They qualified for regionals with strong performances at the USAG Florida State Championships at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

Highland Oaks track & field

Highland Oaks Middle School runners Jamir Ferguson and Malik Watson did a good job at the Florida Youth Runners Association Middle School Track Championship at Calvary Christian School in Clearwater.

Ferguson, who won his heat in the 3,000-meter run, later set a personal best 9 minutes 57 seconds to place eighth overall, earning a medal. Watson also set a personal mark in the 3,000 in 10:09. Both advanced to the championships by faring very well at a qualifier.

More track & field

The Dade Christian School boys’ varsity track & field team was third of 55 schools during the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A State Championships at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Dade Christian senior Andrew Florvil was runner-up in boys’ shot put at 51-3.75. Teammate Jonathan Saintil, a junior, was runner-up in the boys’ triple jump at 45-2.5.