North Miami relay team wins state. American Heritage, Braddock set track records. Plus baseball
The North Miami girls’ 400-meter relay team won an FHSAA Class 3A state title in track & field at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Sophomore Kennedi Hadley, junior Nathanaelle Bien-Aime, junior Chrislande Nelson and sophomore Antaniyah Brown ran a winning 46.55 seconds. Prior, they won district and region championships on the road to state.
The Pioneers, coached by Enrico Knowles, placed eighth in the team standings at state.
Dillard, coached by Davidson Gill, won the team state title in the girls’ division of Class 3A, after its 1,600 relay team took runner-up honors.
The state title clinching foursome consisted of senior Darianne Christian, 7th grader Shynah Collins, junior Alexia Reid, and senior Raquel Edwards at 3:46.58, which was 4.4 seconds faster than third place Rockledge.
American Heritage-Plantation, via Coach Greg Barnes, celebrated a team state title in Class 3A boys.
The Patriots boys’ 400 relay team (sophomore Brandon Bennett, sophomore Braylen Bennett, sophomore Zamarii Sanders, senior Xavier Lucas) had something to do with that by finishing first.
Furthermore, they completed the race in a winning 39.39 seconds, setting a state record with the first sub-40-second time in Florida history.
That tandem won a region title, too. At districts, the winning American Heritage group was Brandon Bennett, Braylen Bennett, Braden Parris and Xavier Lucas.
In Class 4A, the Braddock boys’ 3,200-meter relay team won a state title and set a school mark.
Sophomore Mauro Escalona, senior Aidan Mendoza, senior Michael Gongora and sophomore Jhonny Felix teamed to win gold in 7:51.61 for coaches Carlos Cano and Alex Shaw.
Shaw noted: “One of many reasons why we won the relay was the perfect baton exchanges that the team worked on for hours with Coach Gino. In this picture the [runner] from Hagerty actually beat us to the exchange, but we had the better hand-off; so we didn’t lose the lead.”
Shaw added “The boys worked on baton exchanges for 90 minutes on Monday and Wednesday [prior] with Coach Gino...Major credit goes out to our two young coaches, Coach Gino and Coach Kenny, for working endless hours with these boys.”
That Braddock foursome won a district title a few weeks before but then was runner-up to Columbus at regionals. They regrouped at state to outdistance the competition, which included Hagerty (second at 7:53.67) and Columbus (third at 7:53.76).
The Bulldogs also broke the school record at state in that relay, eclipsing the previous mark (7:54) set at last year’s state meet. Gongora and Mendoza were part of that record setting relay group in 2023, too, which finished seventh overall.
Of note, the last time a boys’ 3,200 relay from Miami-Dade County won a state title was Miami Carol City in 2012.
More track & field
Voting for the 2024 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. & Miss Track and Boys & Girls’ Track Coach of the Year awards is underway.
Locals on the ballot include:
GIRLS: Class 4A: Ariana Allen (St. Thomas Aquinas) Jr., 400M Hurdles State Champion (1:01.43); Jolie Dormus-Bayer (Miami Beach) Sr., High Jump State Champion (5-7 3/4); Coach Erin McCray (Southridge) State 2nd Place.
Class 3A: Christiana Coleman (Dillard) Sr., 1600M (4:53.58) and 3200M (10:50.88) State Champion; Kashia Hoo (Northwestern) Jr., 400M Hurdles State Champion (1:00.58); Anya Carey (Somerset Academy) Sr., Triple Jump State Champion (39-5 3/4); Lauren Kirby (Somerset Academy) Jr., Shot Put (14.11) and Discus (47.56) State Champion; Coach Davidson Gill (Dillard) State Champion; Coach Carmen Jackson (Northwestern) State 2nd Place.
Class 2A: Alexa Schwartz (North Broward Prep) Jr., Javelin State Champion (146-7).
Class 1A: Noelani Sadler (Palmer Trinity) Sr., 100M Hurdles State Champion (14.63); Coach Tammy King (Palmer Trinity) State 2nd Place.
BOYS: Class 4A: Lee Prince Jr. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Fr., 100M State Champion (10.77); Adrian Cardero (Columbus) Jr., 400M State Champion (46.73); Shaddai Caret (Columbus) Jr., Long Jump State Champion (24-1 1/2); Coach Danny Areces (Columbus) State Co-Champion.
Class 3A: J’Vari Flowers (Northwestern) Soph., 100M State Champion (10.50); Zamarii Sanders (American Heritage) Soph., 200M State Champion (20.58); Tywan Cox (Northwestern) Jr., 400M State Champion (46.43); Joseph Socarras (Belen Jesuit) Jr., 1600M State Champion (4:04.53); O’Hara Tommie (Boyd Anderson) Soph., Triple Jump State Champion (47-11 3/4); Coach Greg Barnes (American Heritage) State Champion; Coach Darryl Elmore (Northwestern) State 2nd Place.
Class 2A: David Serra (Ransom Everglades) Sr., 1600M (4:15.10) and 3200M (9:09.15) State Champion; Nieko Garnes (Jackson) Jr., 400M Hurdles State Champion (53.58); Bryce Webb (Cardinal Gibbons) Sr., Shot Put State Champion (57-0 3/4).
Class 1A: Henry Stark (Palmer Trinity) Sr., 1600M (4:16.76) and 3200M (9:18.02) State Champion.
Baseball
Senior centerfielder Jacob Gaynor received the prestigious Miami Beach High School Alumni Association Skip Bertman Scholar Athlete Award.
Bertman is a former college baseball coach and athletic director at Louisiana State University (LSU). He led the Tigers baseball team to five College World Series championships and seven Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships in 18 years as head coach. He amassed 870 wins, 330 losses, and three ties for a .724 winning percentage. His .754 winning percentage in NCAA baseball tournament competition is the highest among head coaches in college baseball history.
Prior, he coached 11 seasons at Miami Beach High School. Bertman’s teams won a state championship and was state runner-up twice. Bertman was named Florida High School Coach of the Year three times. Based in part on these coaching credentials, Bertman worked as associate head coach at the University of Miami for eight seasons (1976–1983) under another legend Ron Fraser. During this time, the Hurricanes won the national championship in 1982. In that 1982 College World Series, Bertman orchestrated one of the most famous plays in college baseball history—a phantom pick-off play known as the “Grand Illusion” which resulted in Wichita State’s Phil Stephenson being thrown out at second base.
As an athlete, Bertman competed for Miami Beach High School and spent his collegiate playing days as an outfielder and catcher for the University of Miami from 1958–1960. He earned his B.A. in health and physical education. He later received his master’s degree from Miami in 1964.
“I am honored to receive this award knowing the incredible impact Coach Bertman has had on the game of baseball,” said Gaynor.
Gaynor achieved a 5.3 weighted grade point average (4.0 unweighted grade point average - Straight A’s) during his high school career.
A team captain and four-year starter for the Hi-Tides baseball team, Gaynor also has perfect attendance -- never being tardy or missing a day of school -- from kindergarten through 12th grade.
In the Fall, Gaynor will attend NCAA Division III Grinnell College in Iowa where he will study sports medicine and play outfield for the Pioneers.
More baseball
Voting for the 2024 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Baseball and Coach of the Year awards is underway.
Locals on the state ballot include:
Class 7A: Matthew Rios (Columbus) JR P 4-1, 2.05 ERA, 56 Ks, 21 BB, 51 IP; Devin Fitz-Gerald (Stoneman Douglas) SR SS .407 BA, 10 2B, 5 HR, 34 RS, 26 RBI; NC State commit; Justin Miranda (Miami Senior) SR OF .519 BA, 8 2B, 22 RS, 9 RBI, 29 SB; Ryan Godinez (Goleman) JR C .320 BA, 2 2B, 6 RS, 7 RBI; Daniel Bravo (Braddock) SR P 3-1, 0.56 ERA, 33 Ks, 10 BB, 37 IP; FIU signee; Rylan Lujo (Stoneman Douglas) SR 3B .453 BA, 11 2B, 4 HR, 31 RS, 37 RBI; Dayton commit; Coach Carlos Ochoa (Hialeah Gardens) 9-14; Coach Edwin Bonilla (Miami Senior) 15-8; Coach Joe Weber (Columbus) 20-7; Coach Todd Fitz-Gerald (Stoneman Douglas) 26-5 State Champion; Coach Howard Stein (West Broward) 23-6 Regional Finalist.
Class 6A: Nestor Quintana (Southwest) SR P 6-2, 1.99 ERA, 48 Ks, 18 BB, 56 IP; Anthony Ciscar (St. Thomas Aquinas) SR P 6-4, 2.11 ERA, 64 Ks, 19 BB, 53 IP; FSU commit; Keniel Marrero (South Broward) JR SS .441 BA, 13 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 27 RS, 40 RBI; Rafael Peraza (Dr. Krop) SR P 2-6, 2.71 ERA, 59 Ks, 23 BB, 49 IP; .292 BA; Coach Mandy Pelaez (Southwest) 21-7; Coach Joe Wardlow (St. Thomas Aquinas) 18-10; Coach Charlie Garcia (Miami Beach) 16-9.
Class 5A: Brandon DeGoti (Belen Jesuit) SR INF .390 BA, 6 2B, 3 HR, 32 RS, 22 RBI; Greg Coban (Archbishop McCarthy) SR 1B .455 BA, 8 2B, 3 HR, 16 RS, 17 RBI; E. Kentucky commit; Jack Cabrera (Hialeah) JR P/IN .339 BA, 10 RS, 11 RBI, 3-6, 3.69 ERA, 37 Ks, 36 IP; Coach Bruce Aven (American Heritage) 21-11 State Runner-up; Coach Jesse Fernandez (Belen Jesuit) 19-9; Coach Aaron Vorachek (Archbishop McCarthy) 15-15 Regional Finalist; Coach JJ Sanchez (American) 3-14.
Class 4A: Jevri La Rosa (Mater Lakes) JR P/OF 5-2, 3.55 ERA, 54 Ks, 45 IP; .311 BA, 11 2B, 17 RBI; Michael Kass (Cardinal Gibbons) SR P 7-0, 1.17 ERA, 73 Ks, 27 BB, 60 IP; Joey Abbazia (American Heritage) SR P 5-3, 1.24 ERA, 74 Ks, 21 BB, 51 IP; Brandon Mon (Somerset Academy) SR OF .403 BA, 8 2B, 2 HR, 22 RBI; Kendry Blanco (Killian) JR INF .343, 3 2B, 3 HR, 22 RS, 15 RBI, 14 SB; Roydan Perez (Miami Springs) SR INF .415 BA, 8 2B, 2 3B, 29 RS, 20 RBI; Coach David Fenshawe (Miami Springs) 19-9; Coach Jason Hamilton (Cardinal Gibbons) 25-4 State Champion; Coach Rafael Jiron (Mater Lakes) 16-14 Regional Finalist; Coach Chris Leon (Killian) 11-17.
Class 3A: Jacob Poletto (Monsignor Pace) SR OF .365 BA, 4 3B, 3 HR, 29 RS, 22 RBI; FAU commit; Mateo Gray (North Broward Prep) SR P 11-0, 0.83 ERA, 87 Ks, 17 BB, 76 IP; UCF commit; Kaden Foran (Calvary Christian) SR P 9-0, 2.02 ERA, 58 Ks, 16 BB, 59 IP; Jose Lopez (Westminster Christian) SR 1B .329 BA, 11 HR, 27 RS, 33 RBI; Grand Canyon commit; Dylan Llanes (Monsignor Pace) SR P 6-3, 2.70 ERA, 70 Ks, 31 BB, 49 IP; Coach Howard Cuervo (Palmer Trinity) 20-8; Coach Tom Duffin (Monsignor Pace) 19-8; Coach Wayne Rosenthal (Calvary Christian) 21-7 Regional Finalist; Coach Brian Campbell (North Broward Prep) 28-3 State Champion; Coach Emil Castellanos (Westminster Christian) 25-5 State Runner-up.
Class 2A: Willy Mendez (Miami Christian) SR OF .452 BA, 6 2B, 14 RS, 23 RBI; Miami commit; Coach Gregory Catano (Miami Brito) SR C .412 BA, 11 2B, 15 RS, 17 RBI; Julian Irizarry (Westminster Academy) SR OF .329 BA, 6 2B, 16 RS, 16 RBI; Pittsburgh commit; Coach Chris Cuadra (Miami Christian) 22-5 State Runner-up; Coach Ernie Gonzalez (Westminster Academy) 15-13.
Submit sports info
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
