American Heritage’s Jada Joseph and TERRA’s Ethan Matzner are outstanding student athletes
Team USA was once again well represented in track & field during the Summer Olympics.
Team USA track & field had some local ties, too, including shot put athlete Jessica Ramsey and sprinter Fred Kerley.
Could South Florida teenager Jada Joseph be a future local to make the Team USA track & field team?
We’ll see.
For now, it’s college.
Joseph, a (Plantation) American Heritage track & field star, will be attending Brown University in the fall in Providence, Rhode Island.
Joseph was Miami Herald All-Broward first team in the triple jump, second team in the long jump and second team in the high jump.
“This [honor] definitely means a lot,” she said. “After a long season and with the pandemic and everything that happened, I’m grateful to have a senior year.
“Getting [Miami Herald] first team meant a lot to me and my coaches. I just put forth my best effort, and this is where I ended up, and I’m super grateful for the opportunity and the recognition.”
At the 2021 FHSAA Track & Field State Championships, Joseph won the triple jump in Class 3A, finished second in the high jump and fourth in long jump to help the Patriots finish third.
American Heritage track & field coach Greg Barnes said: “Jada, as an athlete, she knows exactly what kind of coach she wanted in college. That played a big part of her decision making on choosing a college. When she picked Brown University, I was very surprised, until she told me why. She wanted the same type of training and coaching that she received here at American Heritage.
“As a student, she put in a lot of work to put herself in that position to be able to attend such a prestigious university such as Brown, and she will do just fine. It fits her.
“As a person, I can go on forever, but I will start by saying she’s one of those kids you would hate to lose as a coach. She’s a team player and a leader who leads by example.”
As a youth, Joseph was a member of Miami Northwest Track Club, before joining Hallandale PAL.
At Brown University, she plans to major in architecture.
“[American] Heritage is my foundation for architecture. It had the program, which allowed me to apply for [Brown] and have my portfolio set-up.
“Balancing that and track was really hard at first, just with college applications in general, but I was able to do it, maintain and know this is what I need to move forward.”
She is moving forward, full speed ahead.
“American Heritage definitely has helped me,” she noted. “I give a lot of credit to them. The teachers there, the coaches and all the academic support, allowing you to go to tutoring, if needed.”
Joseph is a fan of the Summer Olympics, watching track & field, of course.
“Maybe I can be there in 2024. Who knows.”
Traveling south to Miami Dade County.
TERRA Environmental Research Institute student athlete Ethan Matzner capped off an amazing high school career.
Now he also prepares for the next phase. College.
Competing for TERRA’s golf team, Matzner excelled in the classroom.
Matzner, a smart leader, served as team captain.
“I had to balance it,” he said. “I think that school is certainly more important, but I made sure to make plenty of time for my team.”
About golf.
He said: “I love the peaceful nature of golf and how it’s a very relaxing sport. You can make friends and talk. It’s not as aggressive as a lot of other sports. It;s peaceful, and you can enjoy the beautiful day. It’s very nice.”
Also nice, very nice, is how Matzner earned Miami Herald Silver Knight honorable mention honors in math.
About math.
“I like how certain math is,” he said. “Math has a lot of certainty to it, and I greatly appreciate that, and all the things you can do with math.”
Like tabulating golf scores and grade point averages.
Matzner is TERRA’s male scholar athlete and also received a First Tee golf award.
First Tee, based in Miami, impacts the lives of young people by providing CHAMP (Comprehensive Health and Mentoring Program) educational activities that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.
“It’s so nice to get to reap the rewards from all the hard work I put in over the last four years,” Matzner said, “ on the [course] and in school, outside the school and all the wonderful things I’ve been able to help the community through.”
As a freshman, Matzner was an instrumental part of a TERRA radio controlled racing team that qualified for the National STEM League Finals at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Four years later, he is returning to New York.
In the fall, Matzner will attend Columbia University in New York City to study mechanical engineering. He plans to become an aerospace engineer.
New coaches and award winners
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have new hires, or coaches and athletes who won special awards (local, state, regional, nationals), email hssports@miamiherald.com. Varsity only.
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@miamiherald.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@miamiherald.com.
