Braddock’s Gonzalez and Ferguson and Mater Lakes’ Amores are Dade Swimmers of the Year
Braddock’s boys swimmers knew a state championship was theirs for the taking.
But that was also the case in 2023 when a disqualification of one of their relays denied them that prize.
Led by two of their senior leaders - George Gonzalez and Dylan Ferguson - the Bulldogs refused to let history repeat itself in 2024.
Gonzalez and Ferguson each came away winners in four events (two individual and two relays) to cap their careers as individual and team state champions while bringing that first trophy to their swimming program.
Meanwhile on the girls’ side, freshman Jia Amores, who is one of three siblings swimming for Mater Lakes, might be just getting started when it comes to winning state titles.
And so, Gonzalez and Ferguson share the honors of being this year’s Miami Herald Miami-Dade Boys’ Swimmers of the Year. Meanwhile on the girls’ side, Amores is the Girls’ Swimmer of the Year after winning a state title in the 100 butterfly, a state runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke and leading Mater Lakes’ 400 free relay team to a state title. Amores also led the Bears to a program-best state runner-up finish in Class 2A.
Amores’ older brother, Jaden, is a key figure on Mater Lakes’ boys’ squad, which won a state title and her sister, Jenesys, a sophomore, form a solid 1-2 punch that could lead the Bears to more gold in years to come.
“It was an awesome experience,” Jia Amores said. “I’ve been working toward this getting better and better thanks to my coaches.”
For Gonzalez and Ferguson, the time to win was now after coming painfully close the previous two seasons.
“It was really upsetting last year because we had it by points and then we had that DQ,” Gonzalez said. “This year, when we got there we already knew we had it so it was more about ‘get your points’ and how well we could do individually. It was really emotional because it was our last chance to do that together and we made history.”
Gonzalez brought home state championships in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Ferguson, who is headed to Air Force Academy, secured championships in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. The two then led Braddock to victory in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
“It was a fairy tale dream and the best way we could have ended it,” Ferguson said. “We wanted to make sure we won it pretty safe and we won by a lot.”
