Belen’s Navarro, Westminster’s Vanegas are the Dade Lacrosse Players of the Year
Both Belen Jesuit’s Adrian Navarro and Westminster Christian’s Kiera Vanegas both became vital leaders for their respective lacrosse teams in recent years.
This year, they each grew even more within those roles while leading their teams to successful seasons.
Navarro and Vanegas capped the 2026 season as the Miami Herald’s Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse Players of the Year respectively for Miami-Dade County.
Navarro, a senior long stick midfielder for the Wolverines, was the driving force behind a squad that was among the best in the state once again and had the best finish of any Dade team.
Navarro led Belen to its sixth consecutive district championship, an 18-3 record and a berth in the Class 1A regional semifinals before losing to Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest.
“(Player of the Year) was a goal I was chasing toward the second half of the season,” Navarro said. “I loved my time at Belen and being on a winning team like that made it extra fun.”
Navarro’s defense was his biggest strength as he caused 92 turnovers this season. But he said he improved more as a senior on the offensive side, which made him a more complete player.
Navarro finished with 33 goals and 19 assists.
Although he is not planning to play lacrosse formally at the college level, Navarro is considering playing it as a club sport when he attends Tulane University in the fall.
“I learned to keep a strong work ethic from my coaches and teammates and I think I can carry that with me in whatever I do in life,” Navarro said.
Vanegas, a senior midfielder, is the Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Although the Warriors did not repeat as district champions, they still had a winning season and overcame some growing pains early in 2026 while adjusting to roster changes.
Vanegas was a key figure in that process.
“Our team had a lot of challenges and obstacles to overcome with injuries and scheduling, but everyone fought super hard and finished strong even though we didn’t repeat as district champions,” Vanegas said. “We all played like a family.”
Vanegas showed why she remains one of the most versatile players in the county.
She finished her senior season with 57 goals, 17 assists, 54 ground balls and 119 draw controls.
Vanegas is continuing her lacrosse career at the college level, and is headed to Marymount University, a Division-III college in Arlington, Virginia, in the fall.
“Being a leader, I had to lead my team through adversity,” Vanegas said. “I really stepped into that role by showing the girls what it’s like to prevail and succeed.”
