BCAA celebrates Brian Piccolo award winners, recognizing Broward football scholar athletes
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The BCAA hosted the 46th annual Brian Piccolo Awards Gala virtually. The event honored high school senior football players in Broward County who have excelled academically.
Special Award Recipients:
Orange Bowl Committee Overall Winners: Riley Clemente (Westminster Academy), Roman Huntley (Nova), Jomel Monpas (Blanche Ely), Evan Saifman (South Plantation).
Chuck Puleri & Associates Defensive Player of the Year: Nicholas Donahue (North Broward Prep).
Donahue, a defensive tackle and nose guard, graduated with a 3.86 GPA, 1350 SAT, 29 ACT. He will attend Florida International University in Miami in the fall.
North Broward Prep Coach Rex Nottage said: “It’s definitely an honor and privilege for Nick to win this award. We are so proud of Nick and his accomplishments in his final year of high school. He came a long way from his freshman year. His hard work definitely paid off.
“Coming in as a ninth grader weighing in at 290 pounds and liked to play video games, he worked hard, and he turned the 290 pounds to a solid 265 pounds. Not only did he make the transformation, but he encouraged his teammates to train with him at 6:30 a.m. during the off season. His dedication and commitment in the classroom and on the field has totally paid off.”
Neal Bidwill Family Offensive Player of the Year: Joshua Sauickie (St. Thomas Aquinas).
An offensive lineman, Sauickie helped the Raiders win the FHSAA Class 7A state title. Graduating with 4.1 GPA, 1200 SAT, 27 ACT, he will attend the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Sauickie said during the virtual ceremony: “Thank you for holding me in this honor among so many highly regarded players as well. I want to thank my parents so much for supporting me the whole way, my coaches and athletic staff at STA along with the teachers and administration for making sure I held up to my academic excellence.”
Dr. Edward “Doc” Storey Special Teams Player of the Year: Xavier Angulo (Fort Lauderdale).
“Mr. [Shawn] Cerra [of Broward County Public Schools] contacted me one day about it. I was totally shocked,” Angulo said. “I had been doing online schooling, so I met him at a location in Lauderhill [to take a photo and] to receive the award.
Angulo added: [Former Fort Lauderdale High School football player] Emanuel Villatoro-Fuentes, who is in the [U.S.] Naval Academy, won a special [Brian Piccolo] award previously, too. It is really an honor.”
Angulo, a center and long snapper, helped the Flying L’s (3-2) win the Silver Bracket of the Tri-County Championships in Class 7A. He played youth football for the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes in the Flo Rida program.
Angulo graduated with 5.41 GPA and 1290 SAT. He will attend the University of Florida in Gainesville on a Bright Futures Scholarship, planning to major in construction management.
Brian Piccolo, an inspiration, was a 1961 graduate of Central Catholic High School (now St. Thomas Aquinas High School). A good person, he was the embodiment of the character, determination and drive needed to become a successful student athlete. “Brian’s Song” is a famous movie about his friendship with teammate and star Chicago Bears running back Gayle Sayers, covering their time together until Piccolo’s early death from cancer.
Broward County Public Schools Director, Athletics & Student Activities Shawn Cerra, Orange Bowl Committee President & Chairman Jack Seiler and BCAA Intern Arianna Allen presided over the festivities. Florida State University football coach Mike Norvell was the guest speaker virtually.
Brian Piccolo Chapter Senior Scholar Athletes
American Heritage: Connor Maron. Archbishop McCarthy: Thomas Gosselin. Blanche Ely: Jomel Monpas. Boyd Anderson: Javaris Juste. Calvary Christian Academy: Jonathan Lane. Cardinal Gibbons: Zachary Farris. Chaminade-Madonna: Jaylon Tolbert. Coconut Creek: Jonny Simon. Cooper City: Braden Dulude. Coral Glades: Michael Remy. Coral Springs: Corey Jones. Coral Springs Charter: Brett Straus. Cypress Bay: Logan Cain. Deerfield Beach: Marquis Pierre. Dillard: Leonard Shoultz. Everglades: Steven Nunez. Flanagan: Joshua Belardo. Fort Lauderdale: Xavier Angulo. Hallandale: Alistaire Hall. Hollywood Hills: Alexander Bocanegra. JP Taravella: Ryan Carner. Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Blake Ofstein. McArthur: Kevin Knowles II. Miramar: Aiden Cange. Monarch: Edward Acevedo. North Broward Preparatory: Nicholas Donahue. Northeast: Sydney Morbeth. Nova: Roman Huntley. NSU University School: Emile Aime. Pembroke Pines Charter: Jeremy Jacobs. Pine Crest: Jonathan Vales. Piper: Brian Celetti Jr. Plantation: Carlinton Armstrong. Pompano Beach: Diego Cofino. South Broward: Travis Burke. South Plantation: Evan Saifman. St. Thomas Aquinas: Joshua Sauickie. Stranahan: Daniel Gabriel. West Broward: Matthew Benitez. Western: Carter Davis. Westminster Academy: Riley Clements.
Miami Dade Hall of Fame
David Schorr, the athletic director at Miami Edison Senior High School, and some of his athletic director friends are starting a Miami Dade High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
They encourage Miami Dade schools (public and private) to submit names (with accomplishments) of those deserving alum and/or teams for the honor.
The plan is to convene a committee per sport of living legends of that sport in Miami Dade County to decide who should be inducted annually.
Schorr and friends also open the nomination process to local community members.
To nominate a student-athlete and/or coach and/or team in any sport, email:
or text 305-951-9721.
Include the student athlete’s name, school, years played and accomplishments.
They also looking for people to become board members as they make the Hall of Fame Committee a 501c.
Cardinal Gibbons Baseball Camp
The Jason Hamilton and Chiefs Baseball Club East Inc’s 2021 Summer Baseball Camp offers three sessions for boys and girls, age 4-11, at Cardinal Gibbons High School, 2900 NE 47th St., Fort Lauderdale 33308.
The program, led by Cardinal Gibbons High School head baseball coach Jason Hamilton, includes instructions, drills, games, and fun. The staff consists of former players and area and regional experienced high school coaches, who have coached and/or played collegiately and/or professionally.
Session 1: June 14-18: 8:30 a.m.-Noon. Cost $180. Session 2: June 21-25: 8:30 a.m.-Noon. Cost $180. Session 3: June 28-July 2: 8:30 a.m.-Noon. Cost $180. Sibling discounts available. No lunch or concession stands.
Call or text Coach Hamilton at 954-650-2962.
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 9, 2021 at 1:48 AM.
