High school sports, like at Braddock and Cooper City, can create lifelong friendships
The benefits of high school sports include physical health and wellness, leadership and teamwork skills, mentorship, time management, improved athletics and academics, and accountability and responsibility.
Furthermore, a student athlete can forge friendships with other student athletes which last a lifetime.
Braddock High School boys’ volleyball star John Marcos Gonzalez and boys’ basketball standout Jorge Santos met as freshmen in high school and ended their high school careers as friends.
Gonzalez was Miami Herald All-Dade first team in volleyball and a Miami Dade County all-star. He also played on the basketball team. Santos competed in those two sports, too, excelling in basketball.
Braddock won a district title for the first time in boys’ volleyball in 2021.
“It means a lot to our program and our school,” said Gonzalez, who saw the 2020 season canceled because of the pandemic.
Boys’ volleyball returned in 2021.
“I like how competitive it is and how everybody strives to work together,” Gonzalez said. “How much you need a team around you and how you guys improve over time, just seeing everyone get better.”
Braddock won a district title in boys’ basketball in 2020.
Santos said: “I enjoy the competitive nature and all the friends and teammates I’ve had.”
Gonzalez being one.
“We help each other out a lot, working out,” Santos said, “just the bond that we have is really strong.”
Gonzalez added: “Hanging out from 7 in the morning at the school, eating lunch at McDonald’s on the corner and then staying at school til 8 at night, 10, you get really close.”
That will change in the fall.
Gonzalez said: “You think about going to college, and it’s going to be tough, but it’s just part of life.”
Gonzalez will continue playing volleyball at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Santos will play basketball at Atlantis University in Miami.
A cool memory shared by the two friends is from the fifth set of the boys’ volleyball district championship match.
After losing both regular season matches to Belen by straight sets, Braddock fought through five tough sets to claim the District 30 championship. Braddock captured sets 1 and 3, but Belen battled back to win sets 2 and 4.
In the fifth and deciding set, Braddock built an 11-4 lead, only to have Belen make a run that gave the Wolverines match point at 14-13. The Bulldogs saved the match by tying it at 14 on a block by John Marcos Gonzalez and Jorge Santos.
Gonzalez put the Bulldogs ahead 16-15 on a kill assisted by Nicholas Mirabal to set-up match point. Then, Manuel Leon’s serve was misplayed by Belen to give Braddock the championship.
In a thriller, Braddock defeated Belen 27-25, 19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 16-14. Gonzalez finished with 30 kills, 16 digs, an ace, and a block.
COOPER CITY HS
Cooper City High School cheerleading stars Makinzi Burgs and Alicia Flores are friends, too, with some awesome memories.
Burgs and Flores, two Miami Herald All-Broward first team selections, are preparing for the next stage of their lives -- college.
Burgs cheered four years for Cooper City High School. She was captain of the JV team her sophomore season and captain of varsity her senior year.
“It’s been fun,” Burgs said. “I just enjoy cheering.”
Flores began cheering for Cooper City High School her sophomore campaign.
“As soon as I got in, it was a very welcoming team,” Flores said. “We work very hard for all our competitions, and we have a lot of fun, and I’m glad I got to spend the time with them.”
Competitive cheerleading, especially, is more than just Friday Night Lights.
Burgs and Flores agreed: “We put everything we have into competitions and cheering at football games, basketball games. We just work together as a team to do the best we can.”
The Cowboys placed second at the 2021 FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading State Championships in Class 2A Large Division Non-Tumbling. After placing fourth at regionals, they won the state semifinal round to reach the finals.
“Competition season, we usually have three, four practices a week...Saturdays mornings from 10 a.m. to 2 in the afternoon,” Flores said. “It gets hard. It gets tiring, but we’re dedicated to it, and that’s what makes our team great, because we have the dedication to have those practices.”
Burgs is studying nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. Flores will study criminal justice in 2022 at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. She will also get involved in coaching, helping the Cooper City High School cheerleading team.
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, national), 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@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@miamiherald.com.
Miami Herald Fall Sports Preview Forms
Broward and Miami Dade varsity high school coaches of Fall sports, preview forms were sent via email last week to athletic directors.
Bowling, cross-country, football, golf, swimming and volleyball.
If you received one from your AD, fill it out the best you can and return it to the person listed on the form by the designated deadline date.
If you did not receive the preview form to highlight your team, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 11:07 PM.
