The LaSalle cheerleaders give the school its first state championship in history

Dwight Eisenhower was still president of the United States when Immaculata-LaSalle opened the doors to its school in the late 1950s.

In all that time, no team in any sport ever won a state title. The boys’ soccer team came tantalizingly close one year ago, dropping a penalty-kick heartbreaker to Orlando Lake High Prep in the state final.

The LaSalle drought officially came to an end when the Royal Lions cheerleaders traveled to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville to compete in the Competitive Cheerleading state finals and came away with a first-place finish.

Led by team captain Sophia Peñas, LaSalle won the Class 1A Extra Large Division, Non-Tumbling division with a score of 78.10, four points ahead of second place Fort Lauderdale Stranahan and five ahead of third place Ocala Trinity Catholic.

“Through injuries and people quitting, the team went through a lot this season,” said LaSalle coach Coral Buxeda. “We practiced almost everyday from November to the day before states to make sure that we had a perfect showing. When they announced us as state champions, it made all the blood, sweat, tears, long practices and sleepless nights extremely worth it. I believed in this team since the beginning. The cherry on top was it being our school’s first state title in 60 years. What an honor.”

Meanwhile, St. Brendan continued its dominance in the Class 1A Extra Large Division by winning a fifth consecutive state title with a score of 83, two-and-a-half points ahead of second place Doral Academy which has finished runnerup to the Sabres all five years. West Broward also won in Class 2A Large Division Non-Tumbling.

“We actually work hand in hand with St. Brendan and their coaches, so the fact that we both won together was amazing,” Buxeda said.

“We had a goal this year and it was to win states and with hard work and lots of dedication it all paid off,” said Peñas. “Going into the competition we were very confident but still nervous. As soon as I stepped on the mat I knew that this was going to be our winning routine. It feels amazing to be the leader of this amazing team and make history at Immaculata La Salle.”

Other area high finishers (all from Broward) included Miramar (2nd in 2A Small Division, Non-Tumbling), Coral Springs (3rd in 2A Medium Division, Non-Tumbling) and Coral Glades which finished 2nd in Class 2A Extra Large Division, Non-Tumbling.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal: Miami High 72, Miramar 33: Colleen Bucknor 15 points, 10 rebounds; and Jeanine Scott 14 points —including four 3-pointers Miami High will host Naples Gulf Coast Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a regional semifinal.

▪ Region 4-7A quarterfinal: Krop 63, Everglades 41: The Lightning had four players in double figures led by Lindsay Weingard, who scored 21 points and recorded 7 steals. Brianna Knowles (13 pts, 3 assists), Lauryn Hornstein (12 pts), Kamryn Walker (12 pts, 8 rebounds) and Emmy Mills (9 rebounds) also helped lead the way. No. 3 seeded Krop will travel to Broward County Tuesday to take on No. 2 Cypress Bay in a regional semifinal.

▪ Region 4-4A quarterfinal: Gulliver Prep. 60, Hallandale 50: Kaitlyn Sanders stole the show for the Raiders as she scored 45 of her team’s 60 points while also pulling down 10 rebounds and recording four assists as Gulliver won on the road. Madison Aguilera (10 points), Briana Santoro (6 rebounds) and Andrea Delgado (3 steals) also pitched in for the Raiders who improved to 17-11. Gulliver, the No. 6 seed, will travel to take on No. 2 Cardinal Gibbons in a regional semifinal on Tuesday.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

▪ Krop d. Miami Beach 7-0: Gabriela Rondon, Ayami Maehama, Monique Lima , Ginella Grimes anmd Galit Beraja all won singles. Rondon/Beraja and Maehama/Lima won in doubles.

BOYS’ TENNIS

▪ Krop d. Miami Beach 4-3: Sebastian Rondon, Jaime Perez-Duran and Bautista Lotter won in singles for Krop while Rondon and Andres Escalona defeated Yosue Noa and Santiago Sosa in #1 doubles to decided the match. Sosa and Roberto Campoverde won their singles matches for Beach.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

▪ Ransom Everglades 26, Miami High 0: Emanuelle Dooreck-Aloni had 6 goals, 3 assists and 4 steals to lead the way for RE. Amanda Harris contribued with 4 goals, 1 assist and a steal.

BOYS’ WATER POLO

▪ Ransom Everglades 29, Miami High 3: Nico Valls 5 goals, 2 assists, 4 steals and Alex Freedline 4 goals, 1 assist and 4 steals.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

BOYS’ SOCCER

Region 4-7A semifinal: Cypress Bay at Coral Gables, 3 p.m.

Region 4-6A semifinal: Miami Beach at Doral Academy, 6 p.m.

Region 4-6A semifinal: South Broward at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7 p.m.

Region 4-5A semifinal: Pembroke Pines Charter vs. TERRA, 4 p.m. at Tropical Park

Region 4-5A semifinal: Palm Bay Heritage at Belen Jesuit, 7 p.m.

Region 4-4A semifinal: Mater Lakes Academy at North Broward Prep., 6 p.m.

Region 4-4A semifinal: Gulliver Prep. at Plantation American Heritage, 7 p.m.

Region 4-3A semifinal: Keys Gate Charter at University School, 7 p.m.

Region 4-3A semifinal: Miami Country Day at LaSalle, 7 p.m.

Region 4-2A semifinal: Doral Divine Savior at Riviera Prep., 11 a.m.

Region 4-2A semifinal: Westminster Academy at North Miami Beach Sheck Hillel, 8:30 p.m.