Florida Dairy Farmers honor Alexander Bennett, Kevin Gilligan, Taylor McClain, JC Pompa
Senior JC Pompa of Gulliver Prep is the Florida Dairy Farmers 2021 Mr. Water Polo.
Former Gulliver Prep Coach Alexander Bennett of (Orlando) Lake Nona High School was named the Florida Dairy Farmers 2021 Girls’ Water Polo Coach of the year.
Pompa helped the Gulliver Prep boys’ team to a perfect 25-0 record and the state title, culminating with a nine-goal scoring performance in the state championship game. He finished the season with 87 goals, 30 assists, 59 steals and a 71.3 shooting percentage (87-of-122).
“He is an amazing athlete on land but even better in the water,” said Gulliver Prep coach Carroll Vaughan, the Miami Herald All Dade Water Polo Coach of the Year. “He plays center so aggressively. When guarded by more than one defender, he would still make a great move, get open and score. He has been a strong leader and player for many years. Very mature.”
Pompa, a two-year captain, earned Miami Herald first team All Dade in 2019 and 2021. He will play water polo in college for Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Coach Bennett led the Lake Nona girls’ team to an 18-0 record and beat top-ranked Gulliver Prep in the state title game. He won three girls’ state titles (2005-07) and a boys’ title (2007) at Gulliver Prep before taking over the Lake Nona program 12 years ago.
Junior Jordan Agliano of Lake Nona High School is the Florida Dairy Farmers 2021 Miss Water Polo. Agliano scored 83 goals, had 43 assists and added 71 steals in leading Lake Nona to the school’s first state championship in any sport.
Leonardo Leon Ramirez of (Orlando) Dr. Phillips led his boys’ squad to a 17-3 record and a state runner-up finish to garner the Florida Dairy Farmers Boys’ Coach of the Year honor. In 16 years as head coach, he has compiled a 279-88 record.
The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This is the 29th year of these unique awards as it honors the state’s top athletes and coaches in all 30 FHSAA sanctioned and recognized sports.
The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
Lacrosse state awards
Pine Crest senior attack Taylor McClain was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year.
McClain scored 69 goals and added 71 assists for her regional finalist squad. A 2021 Miami Herald All Broward first team selection, she has also signed with Bucknell University.
Kevin Gilligan was named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year after leading St. Thomas Aquinas to a 13-1 record and the Class 2A state title. He is also the 2021 Miami Herald All Broward Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Senior attack Olivia Adamson of (Orlando) Lake Highland Prep is the 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Lacrosse.
Adamson, who was also named the Class 1A Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year, had 40 goals on 53 shots (75.5%) and added 27 assists for her Class 1A state runner-up squad, including eight goals in the two Final Four contests. She has signed to play lacrosse at Syracuse University.
John McClain, who was named the Class 1A Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year, was also named Florida Dairy Farmers Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year after leading Delray-American Heritage to a 16-1 record and the Class 1A state championship.
American Heritage won the state championship game 11-9 over Lake Highland Prep, ending LHP’s 40-game winning streak, which included the 2019 state title and an unbeaten Covid 19-shortened 2020 season. American Heritage was ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.
More Florida Dairy Farmers Honorees: 2021 Mr. Lacrosse and Class 1A Player of the Year: Junior Sean Jordan of Boca Raton-Saint Andrew’s School. 2021 Boys’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year and Class 1A Coach of the Year: Tony Seaman of Boca Raton-Saint Andrew’s School. Class 2A Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year: Senior Max Sanderson of Jupiter. Class 2A Boys’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Nick O’Hara of Jupiter.
Submit info on award winners and all-star games
For high schools in Broward and Miami Dade counties, if you have coaches and athletes who won special awards (local, state, regional, nationals) and/or competed in all-star games, email hssports@miamiherald.com. Varsity only.
Spring football
High School football teams can submit spring football top performers to us at hssports@miamiherald.com. Include game score for each team and top performers from your team with school year (junior, sophomore, etc.) and position(s). Stats optional.
Submit summer sports results
For summer sports with high school athletes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have results and stats for this column, email hssports<code_dp>@<code_dp>miami<code_dp>herald.com.
For club teams and individuals, include the high school(s) of the student athlete(s).
This is open to participants in summer sports leagues, events and tournaments who are current high school athletes, those who graduated in 2021 and those who will be freshmen in the fall.
Email hssports<code_dp>@miami<code_dp>herald.com.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published June 2, 2021 at 9:37 PM.
