Southwest’s Juanmarco Diaz is the Miami-Dade Boys’ Volleyball Player of the Year
Juanmarco Diaz practically grew up inside the Southwest High gym.
The sights and sounds of volleyballs being spiked was familiar to him before he could even walk.
But for years, Diaz never saw a new state championship banner hanging next to the two his father, Mauricio, coached the Eagles to in 2003 and 2008.
Juanmarco Diaz made sure that will soon change.
Diaz, a sophomore, played a huge role this season in ending Southwest’s 15-year state title drought by leading the Eagles to their third such championship.
As an outside hitter and often as a setter as well, Diaz recorded 426 kills, 67 aces, 207 digs and 647 assists along the way.
For those accomplishments, Diaz is this year’s Miami Herald Boys’ Volleyball Player of the Year for Miami-Dade County.
“With the amount of people we had going for us and a lot of fans, you could tell the emotions in the gym and it really felt like a great accomplishment,” Diaz said. “I’m not sure it’s sunk in yet, but I’m the type to accomplish something and just look forward to the next one. It is definitely something I’m going to cherish.”
The Eagles, who are one of only two Miami-Dade teams to win a state title since the sport became sanctioned by the FHSAA in 2003, finally triumphed after losing in four previous trips to the state final. After dominating Hialeah Gardens and West Palm Beach King’s Academy, Southwest took down Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in four sets in the championship match.
What made the victory that much sweeter for Diaz was the effort it took just to be back on the court.
Diaz returned this season after fracturing his fibula and tibia a year earlier while playing basketball. Diaz spent six months rehabilitating after having to wear a full cast for four months and a smaller one for the following six weeks.
“It was all mental. The physical ability was there, but I needed to have a strong mindset and that’s why I was able to make it back,” Diaz said. “When I got back on the court, I felt more like myself and I knew I had to get back out there and help my team.”
Diaz’s return helped Southwest overcome the loss of a couple of other players early to injury. The team finally regained its full lineup in mid-April just in time to win its first GMAC championship in five years and embark on its postseason run.
This story was originally published June 1, 2023 at 7:10 AM.
