School board member calls for review of classification of district athletic programs

Having spent the past seven years watching three football programs, Central, Carol City and Northwestern, all in the same district, dominate the entire state in Class 6A, School Board member Dr. Steve Gallon III is trying to do something about it and other districts as well.

At next week’s School Board Meeting (Dec. 19), Gallon III will offer Board Item H-11 which calls for a review of the FHSAA Classification of High School Athletic Programs.

With Northwestern defeating Seffner Armwood last Saturday, it marked the seventh consecutive season that the “big three,” Central (2012-15), Carol City (2016) and Northwestern (2017-18) have won state titles in Class 6A. The thinking from many has always been that the three best teams in the state each year in Class 6A reside in the same district.

“The Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is committed to students’ participation in interscholastic sports,” said Gallon III. “In doing so, it recognizes athletics as a mainstay of school districts, schools, and more important, the learning and life experiences of students. Participation in high school athletics provides countless benefits to students and one widely known benefit is the exposure of student-athletes to increased opportunities for athletic scholarships for higher education.”

For “Existing Member Schools,” classification is determined “on the basis of the school’s traditional and non-traditional student population grades 9 through 12 combined as reported during the week in October designated by the Florida Department of Education for the fall semester FTE survey of public schools. Each member school shall be responsible for reporting to the FHSAA its student population as required.

Thus the item seeks to direct the Superintendent to review district schools’ compliance and alignment with FHSAA bylaws and guidelines for classification of member schools, review and discuss findings with a Task Force comprised of principals, athletic directors, and coaches, as well as members of the District Athletic Advisory Committee and Greater Miami Athletic Conference.

“This item, if approved by the board, will square the classifications of high school athletic programs with current enrollment levels pursuant to FHSAA policies and related bylaws,” said Gallon III. “It may also be the first step in eliminating the competitive cannibalism among numerous District athletic programs and increase the number of schools eligible to compete for and pursue state titles.”

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

▪ Miami High 49, Miami Beach 36: MHS – Neely 19, Dorcely 6, Fowler 6, McBride 6, Clavero 5, Davis 5, Arias 2. Miami Beach – Charles 12, Gray 5, Willon 4, Vincent 3, Dean 3, Blustein 2, Putterson 2, Recmstern 1, Cameyo 1. Rebounds: Dorcely 11. Assists: Clavero 5. Steals: Clavero 5. Blocks: Davis 8. 3-pointers: Fowler 2, Charles 2, Clavero, Neely, Gray, Vincent. MHS: 4-1 MB: 4-3.

▪ Mourning 52, Westland Hialeah 51: ATM – Thompson 17, Philmond 15, Desir 8. Rbounds: Philmond 13. Assists Thompson 6.

▪ Hillel 43, Hebrew Academy 41: HIL – Bacal 14, Almkies 9, Ben-Shmuel 7, Berkman 7, Birmaher 4, Raf 2. HA – Lurie 20, Farkas 11, Dobin 3, Ovaknin 3, Otsman 2, Rosenthal 2. HIL: 8-2.

▪ Palmer Trinity 45, Coral Shores 23: PT – Waldman 16, Arrien 12. CS – Orr 11. Half: PT 28-14. 3-pointers: Arrien 4, Alberto. Rebounds: Z. Friedland 7. Steals: Z. Friedland 2, Waldman 2. Assists: Z. Friedland 7. PT: 7-2.

▪ Doral Acdemy 64, Jackson 57: DA – Carter 32, Nunez 16. JAX – Prospe 14, Romer 12, Brinson 11.

▪ North Miami 71, American 46: NM – Charles 22, Meronne 12, Hart 10, Monestime 8, Andrews 8. Rebounds: Meronne 11. Steals: Hart 5.

▪ Krop 63, Hialeah 56: KR – Alexander 13, Sterling 12, Joseph 10, Foo 8, Reid 7, Angel 6, Mobley 4, Butler 3. HIA – Gay 19, Martinez 14, Phophete 10, Storr 4, Soto 4, Kone 3, Taylor 2.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

▪ Carrollton 53, Booker T. Washington 15: CAR – Paneque 14, Mas 12, Benitez 11, Mendez 10, Rabassa 6. Half: CAR 30-9. 3-pointers: Mas 2. Assists: Paneque 6. Rebounds: Mendez 11. CAR: 8-2.

▪ Coral Gables 40, Braddock 25: CG – Mendez 11, Cohen 11, Bilbao 8, Cruzata 4, Arguello 2, Crabill 2, Forbes 2. BRAD – Pozo 7, Gonzalez 5, Lopez 5, Nontero 2, Carmona 2, Mendez 2, Attila 2. 3-pointers: Gonzalez. Rebounds: Cohen 11. Assists: Cruzata 3. Steals: Cruzata: 5. Blocks: Cohen 5.

▪ Gulliver Prep. 60, Ransom-Everglades 25: GP: Kaplan 14, Ka. Sanders 14, Haymore 7, Ky. Sanders 7, Neves 6, Doctor 5, Berman 2, Perry 2, Santoro 2, Alibahi 1. Half: GP 56-10. GP: 7-0.

▪ Carol City 52, Mourning 26: CC – Brantley 17, Bovian 11, Williams 8, Coleman 6, Harrell 2, Carter 2, Taylor 2, Cooper 2, Wallace 2. Rebounds: Brantley 7. Steals: Williams 8. Assiss: Williams 3, Brantley 3

BOYS’ SOCCER

▪ Palmer Trinity 5, Miami Community Charter 0: Hermo Lopez 3 goals, 1 assist; Eduardo Franceschi and Thomas Rincon 1 goal each; Arturo Alvarez and Michael Gomez and Roberty Bistry 1 assist each. PT: 10-3-1.

▪ Boca St. Andrews 3, Calvary Christian 0.

▪ LaSalle 5, Monsignor Pace 1: LaSalle 7-2-2.

▪ Miami Country Day 1, Hillel 0: Alejandro Roye 1 goal; Diego Oropeza assist; Michael McPherson shutout, 5 saves. MCD: 6-1-1.

▪ Westminster Christian 5, Florida Christian 0: WC- Renzo Brambilla 2 goals, Max Maduro, Matias Gutierrez and Jack Butler 1 goal each; Breno Goncalves 2 assists, Tyler Perez assist. Johnny Gleason and Reza Reyes combined for shutout. WC: 6-0

GIRLS’ SOCCER

▪ Miami Springs 9, Jackson 0: Sarah Schuster 3 goals, Jasmin Romay 3 goals, 2 assists; Ashley Romay 3 goals, 1 assist; Elizabeth Viscaino 2 assists; MS: 8-2.

▪ Coral Springs Charter 2, University School 1: Chrissy Tedesco and Madison Micioni 1 goal each; Dagiana Scarpetta assist. CSC: 4-2-1.

▪ Archbishop McCarthy 8, Hollywood Hills 0: Lili Katz 2 goals; Adriana Duque, Riley Balser, Eliana Ramirez, Cassie Lawson, and Gianna Carmona 1 goal each; Natalia Perez 1 goal, 1 assist; Riley Schemel and Nadia Colon 1 assist each. AM: 8-0.

▪ Hebrew Academy 3, Greater Miami Academy 0: Amit Shushan, Yael Bister and Sophia Furman 1 goal each.

▪ Coral Reef 4, South Dade 2: Ashley Alfaro 2 goals, Mia Vissepo goal and assist, Celeste Baro goal. CR: 8-1.

▪ St. Thomas Aquinas 6, Nova 0: Rachel Tuffy 3 goals; Isabela Piso 2 goals, 1 assist; Isabella Perez goal; Shannon Guerin 2 assists; Isabella Solano and Emma Mack 1 assist each; Alexandra Carpintero and Megan Pellisseri combine for shutout. STA: 6-2.

▪ Plantation American Heritage 1, Pines Charter 0: Taylor Dobles game-winning goal, Emily Thompson assist; Elizabth Matei shutout.

▪ Palmetto 7, Killian 0: Dom Mosley and Emma Pardo, 2 goals each; Rachel Graff 4 assists; Maria Butler shutout.

▪ Mater Academy 2, Reagan 0: Laisy Sanabria and Melanie Chiquillo 1 goal each; Daniela Flores shutout. MA: 6-2-2.

▪ Carrollton 4, Palmer Trinity 1: Genevieve Barquet, Jackie Reed and Lexi Diaz Silver with 1 goal and 1 assist each; Marian Alcántara goal, Annie Diaz Silvera assist.

▪ LaSalle 6, Monsignor Pace 1: Deanna Prieto 2 goals, 1 assist; Stephanie Cuan, Natalie Gaviria and Andrea Ulivi 1 goal each; Paulina Diez goal and assist. LAS: 7-0-4.