Belen’s Mantecon, Westminster’s Artiles are Dade Small School Athletes of the Year
Whether it was running on a cross-country course or on the track, once again no one was as dominant statewide as Belen Jesuit’s Marcelo Mantecon.
And whether it was on the hardcourt or the sand, few could compare to Westminster Christian volleyball star Gigi Artiles.
Mantecon, who has received numerous offers from colleges, was a state champion in both of his sports and honored as the top athlete in the state in both this season.
Artiles, a University of Georgia commit, was one of the most versatile players in the state once again, leading the Warriors to the regional finals during the indoor season and another state final four appearance in beach volleyball.
Mantecon is the Miami Herald’s Small School Miami-Dade Boys’ Athlete of the Year, and Artiles is the county’s Girls’ Small School Athlete of the Year.
Mantecon was also the Miami Herald’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year and Track and Field Athlete of the Year during the high school year.
The former came following another dominant season for Mantecon while spearheading another remarkable year for one of the country’s most dominant cross-country programs.
Mantecon ran a time of 15:03.3 to repeat as the Class 3A state individual champion. He became only the third runner in Belen history, joining Eric Alvarez (1983, 1984) and Javier Vento (2018, 2020) to win multiple state individual titles. As a senior next season, Mantecon will try to become Belen’s first three-time individual state champ.
Mantecon’s top time for the season of 14:33 was a county-best. His efforts also led Belen to its ninth consecutive state team championship and their 17th overall.
Mantecon was named Mr. Florida in both cross-country and later track and field by the Florida Dairy Farmers Association, and later was named Gatorade State Cross-Country Runner of the Year.
Mantecon followed up all of this by winning four state championships in track and field. Mantecon won the 800 meters, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters, and anchored the Wolverines’ state championship 3,200-meter relay. His efforts helped Belen finish state runner-up in Class 3A.
Artiles, a 6-2 senior, proved herself one of the best throughout her career with the ability to play at multiple spots on the court and in multiple roles. Artiles, an outside hitter, finished with 428 kills, 45 aces and 30 blocks this past indoor season to earn first team All-Dade honors. She was part of a state championship her junior season and state runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore.
During the beach season, Artiles was just as dominant as she teamed up with fellow senior Cassie Thomas to form one of the best pairs in the county and finish 18-4. They earned Miami Herald Beach Volleyball Player of the Year honors.
BOYS’ FINALISTS
Champ Smith, Gulliver (football, basketball, track and field): Smith showed off his excellence in three different sports for the Raiders as he heads to play college football at Northern Illinois. Smith was a two-way standout in football with eight touchdowns receiving and seven interceptions on defense. He was also a third-team All-Dade selection as a guard in basketball and earned second team All-Dade honors as a state qualifier in the high jump.
Jacob Lombard, Gulliver (baseball): Expected to be drafted as high as the top 5 in next month’s Major League Baseball Draft, Lombard capped a stellar career by hitting .477 with 10 home runs and 25 RBI and leading the Raiders to the Class 3A regional finals. He earned Miami Herald 4A-1A Player of the Year honors.
Calvin Russell Jr., Northwestern (football): Russell Jr., a multi-sport star during most of his career, focused on football this season and finished his outstanding career with another first-team All-Dade honor. Russell Jr., a Syracuse signee, caught eight touchdown passes and amassed over 1,000 all-purpose yards while leading the Bulls to the Class 3A state final.
James Briggs, Northwestern (football, track and field): Briggs, a junior, was part of the top 400-meter relay in the county at state. He was also an outstanding defensive back on the Bulls’ football team, earning third-team All-Dade honors.
GIRLS’ FINALISTS
Gabriela Socarras, Carrollton (cross-country, track and field): Socarras, a junior, was one of the county’s top cross-country runners and earned first team All-Dade honors. She ran a top time of 19:15 and finished 17th at state in Class 2A. She followed with a state championship in the 800 meters in track and field.
Dezaria Hampton, Northwestern (flag football): Hampton had a breakout season to earn Flag Football Player of the Year honors and lead the Bulls to the Class 2A state championship for the first time as well as a GMAC championship. Hampton finished with 1,712 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns on offense and 11 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, on defense.
Jianna Amores, Mater Lakes (swimming): Amores, a sophomore, finished another outstanding season as a state champion in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly to earn Swimmer of the Year honors. Her efforts helped the Bears win their first girls’ team state championship.
Arianna Garcia, Carrollton (track and field): Garcia, a University of Miami signee, capped her stellar career with two more state titles as she swept the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles championships at the state Class 2A meet to earn Track and Field Athlete of the Year honors.
