Pace’s Rodriguez, St. Brendan’s Salazar are Miami-Dade co-cheerleading coaches of year

St. Brendan is a regular here. Monsignor Pace, meanwhile, finally broke through.

The two schools won state titles in competitive cheerleading this year, and as, such their head coaches — Surella Rodriguez for Monsignor Pace and Victoria Salazar for St. Brendan — are the Miami Herald’s co-coaches of the year.

Pace had gotten close to winning a state cheerleading title in recent years. The Spartans were state runners-up in both 2019 and 2021 in the Class 1A extra-large non-tumbling division.

In 2022, they finally got over the hurdle. Pace’s team of 29 cheerleaders put up a score of 77.80 in the finals that was just enough to finish ahead of fellow Dade competitor La Salle to win their first title in the sport.

St. Brendan, meanwhile, continues its run that is putting the school on the brink of FHSAA cheerleading history. The Sabres’ state championship in the Class 1A extra-large tumbling division was their seventh consecutive state title. St. Brendan’s score of 84.90 was 15 points higher than runner-up Fort Myers Bishop Verot.

Only two schools have a current streak of consecutive state championships longer than St. Brendan. Dover Strawberry Crest and Callahan West Nassau have each won eight consecutive state titles, which is tied for the FHSAA record.

Also, only four schools have more total state championships than St. Brendan: Orlando Bishop Moore (12), West Nassau (11), Winter Park (nine), Bartow (nine) and Strawberry Crest (eight).

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 8:00 AM.