Belen golf, Cushman volleyball, Gulliver lacrosse, Miami Beach and University soccer and more
Miami Gulliver Prep lacrosse goalie Dominic Veloso has officially signed with Cornell University to play for the Big Red, one of the nation’s most storied collegiate lacrosse programs.
With three NCAA national championships and 32 Ivy League titles to its credit, Cornell lacrosse is renowned for its tradition of excellence, making Veloso’s commitment a testament to his talent and determination on and off the field.
Veloso leaves Gulliver Prep as one of the most decorated players in school history. A two-time USA Lacrosse Academic All-American, Veloso excelled in every aspect of his high school career. On the field, his statistics are staggering: 802 career saves, 156 ground balls, 18 takeaways, and a career save percentage of 66.2%, helping lead Gulliver to 54 wins and three district championships during his tenure. His impact as a leader earned him the prestigious USA Lacrosse Bob Scott Award, recognizing his contributions to his team, school and community.
In 2023, Veloso’s talents took center stage on the national level when he was one of only two goalies and 22 players selected to represent Team USA’s U18 team. His steady and dependable play was instrumental in Team USA’s Brogden Cup victory, showcasing his ability to excel at the highest level of lacrosse.
“Dominic epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete,” said Gulliver Prep lacrosse coach Erik Cartelle. “His relentless work ethic and commitment to our program’s non-negotiables of accountability and discipline have helped us establish a new culture at Gulliver—one that will serve as the foundation for long-term success beyond both his and my time at the Prep. Dominic is more than just a phenomenal player. He’s a leader who has shown our younger athletes what it takes to excel both on and off the field.”
Veloso’s accomplishments extend far beyond the lacrosse field. As an IB Diploma recipient with a 5.45 GPA and a 35 on the ACT, he has consistently balanced academic rigor with athletic excellence. He is a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National Social Science Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and Mu Theta Alpha, the National Math Honor Society. His outstanding academic performance earned him recognition as Gulliver Prep’s Male Scholar-Athlete and a Miami Herald Scholar-Athlete finalist.
Beyond academics and athletics, Veloso has been an active member of his community. He participated in the Bounce Back from Cancer initiative to benefit Baptist Health’s Miami Cancer Institute, helping raise more than $11,000 for cancer research and treatment. His dedication to service underscores his holistic approach to leadership and personal growth.
As Veloso transitions to Cornell, he joins a program that has consistently been a powerhouse in NCAA Division I lacrosse. Known for their rich history and competitive edge, the Big Red will benefit from Veloso’s skill, leadership and character.
“I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Gulliver Prep and for the support of my coaches, teammates, and family,” Veloso said. “Cornell is a special place that offers the perfect combination of academic and athletic excellence, and I’m excited to make my mark at one of the top lacrosse programs in the country.”
As Veloso embarks on the next chapter of his career, his legacy at Gulliver Prep remains firmly intact. For the Raiders, the future looks bright, with a new senior class that is “leading from the front” thanks to the culture and standard of excellence that Veloso has helped establish.
Golf
The 2024 season was another historic chapter for the Miami Belen Jesuit boys’ varsity golf team as the Wolverines extended their school record streak of qualifying for the FHSAA State Championships for the sixth consecutive year.
Competing among the state’s elite programs in Class 2A, the team secured an impressive eighth place finish.
Leading the charge was senior Lorenzo Rodriguez, the defending 2A state champion, who was looking to become only the 11th player to repeat. Rodriguez came up short but capped off his remarkable high school career with an impressive third place finish in a highly competitive field of 96 players.
Coach Carlos Rodriguez, reflecting on the season, noted: “Our top five players demonstrated incredible consistency, skill and teamwork throughout the season. This is the deepest and most talented group we’ve had, and their commitment has set a new standard for the program.
“While we’ll miss Lorenzo’s leadership and dominance on the course, the future looks incredibly bright with key players like Danny [Garcia], Beckett [Castro], Matthew [Gonzalez] and Ryan [Nieto] returning and others like freshman Marley Caudle and sophomores Benjamin Ligouri and Pablo Berges who continue to show improvement.
“Combined with the continued development of younger players in our middle school pipeline, I’m confident that we have built a program that has the tools and foundation to remain competitive at the highest level for years to come.”
Coach Rodriguez also expressed his pride in the program’s growth and stature: “Belen Jesuit golf is one of the largest, if not the largest and most robust school-related golf programs in the country. This is a testament to the dedication of our players, parents, school administration, coaching staff, and supporters.”
Belen golf scores at state:
- Lorenzo Rodriguez (Sr) – 140
- Matthew Gonzalez (Soph) – 165
- Daniel Garcia (Jr) – 168
- Beckett Castro (Fr) – 168
- Ryan Nieto (Soph) – 175
Volleyball
Miami Cushman volleyball celebrated a solid season in Class 1A, reaching regionlas for the first time in program history, and freshman setter Ariele Kupferman was a big reason why.
Kupferman totaled 116 aces, good for second in the state, according to MaxPreps. Avea Casperson of Tallahassee Community Christian recorded 122.
Kupferman’s aces in a season ranks with some of the top ace producers in South Florida high school volleyball history.
Soccer
In a battle of top boys’ soccer teams, Miami Beach, ranked No.36 nationally by MaxPreps, edged No.4-ranked Miami Gulliver Prep 1-0.
In a battle of top girls’ soccer teams, Miami Lourdes and Parkland Stoneman Douglas played to a tie at 2 as both remained unbeaten.
▪ BOYS: Belen Jesuit 4, Highlands Christian 1: E.Poleo 2 goals; N.González 1 goal, 1 assist; D.De Leon 1 goal; G.Fernández 1 assist; J.Serratos 1 assist. Bel 4-2-3.
▪ BOYS: Cardinal Gibbons 4, Northeast 0: Deven Garcia 2 goals, 1 assist; Finn Ailiff 1 goal; Luigi Olivieri 1 goal; Gedson Clebert 1 assist; Eugene Gibbons 1 assist; Dillion Young 1 assist; Gkps Tyler Fuquay and Dorian West combined shutout. CG 3-2.
▪ BOYS: Cardinal Gibbons 5, West Broward 2: Deven Garcia 2 goals; Gedson Clebert 1 goal, 1 assist; Luigi Olivieri 1 goal, 1 assist; Eugene Gibbons 1 goal; Fin Ailiff 2 assists; Dillion Young 1 assist; Gkp Ilan Sanchez shutout. CG 4-2.
▪ BOYS: LaSalle 1, Doral Academy 1: LaS: Max Fadel 1 goal. LaS 3-0-2.
▪ BOYS: LaSalle 2, Columbus 0: George Mavris 1 goal; Andre Zeron 1 goal; Gkp Max Massat 3rd shutout. LaS 4-0-2.
▪ BOYS: Miami Beach 1, Gulliver Prep 0: Tomas Visintini 1 goal; Evan Rice 1 assist; Gkp Lenonx Nunez 4th shutout. MB 5-0-1, GP 7-1-1.
▪ BOYS: Palm League Quarterfinals: NSU University School 1, Palmer Trinity 0: Julius Bullock 1 goal; Matias Winterman 1 assist; Gkp Matthew Jean Baptiste 3rd shutout. NSU Univ 4-0-1.
▪ BOYS: Palm League Semifinals: NSU University 6, North Palm Beach Benjamin 2: Julius Bullock 3 goals; Daniel Ciffoni 2 goals; Raul Leyva 1 goal. NSU Univ 5-0-1.
▪ GIRLS: Chaminade-Madonna 5, Don Soffer Aventura 3: Dani Ibanez 2 goals, 1 assist; Ceili Scope 2 goals, 1 assist; Calyn Rey 1 goal, 1 assist; Sophia Luna solid midfield play; Lauren Liger solid defense; Natalie Williams solid defense; Gkp Marilyn Hernandez 6 saves. CM 2-4-1.
▪ GIRLS: LaSalle 1, Carrollton 0: Valentina Mangles 1 goal; Gkp Olivia Rodrigue-Salum 4th shutout. LaS 5-3.
▪ GIRLS: Lourdes 2, Stoneman Douglas 2: Lour: Lauren Cancio 1 goal; Gianna Gray 1 goal; Sienna Aviles 1 assist; Nicole Lee 1 assist. SD: Breanna Gordon 2 goals; Emma McGregor 1 assist; Oliviai DeStefano 1 assist. Lour 6-0-1, SD 3-0-3.
Basketball
▪ BOYS: Belen Jesuit 77, Dr. Krop 20: Orlando Roche 12 pts, 2 asts, 3 rebs; Julio Blandon 11 pts, 2 asts; Alec Arnholt 10 pts 5 asts, 4stls; Lucas Diaz 10 pts, 2 stls; Max Klemick 7 pts; Javi Vasseur 7 pts; Mikey Valdes 6 pts, 5 asts, 5 rebs. Bel 3-0.
▪ BOYS: Gulliver Prep 69, True North 43: Dylan Brown 19 pts, 6-7 3-ptrs, 7 rebs, 2 asts; Jacob Marquez 16 pts, 4 asts, 5 rebs, 3 stls; Luke Mansfield 8 pts, 6 rebs, 4 asts. GP 4-0.
▪ BOYS: North Miami 61, Miami Jackson 59: Jonathan Joseph 17 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls; A.Jean-Jacques 13 pts (2-2 3-ptrs), 4 rebs, 4 asts, 2 stls; Jeano Joachim 13 pts (4-9 3-ptrs), 2 asts, 2 stls, 2 blks. NM 2-2.
▪ BOYS: North Miami 63, North Miami Beach 62: Jeano Joachim 16 pts, 4 stls; Calando Joseph 11 pts (2-5 3-ptrs), 4 rebs; A.Jean-Jacques 11 pts, 4 asts, 2 stls; Jonathan Joseph 5 pts, 9 rebs; J.Jeantinor 6 rebs, 6 stls; K.Valcourt 9 pts (1-2 3-ptrs), 7 rebs; Oween Francois 9 pts, 8 rebs. NM 3-2.
▪ BOYS: Westminster Christian 71, Mater Academy 52: C.Whitby 22 pts, D.Whipple 16, J.Crespo 13, C.Miller 10, M.Riggs 4, B.Hendrikse 3, S.Sanchez 3. 3-ptrs: C.Whitby 3, J.Crespo 2, D.Whipple 3, C.Miller 1, S.Sanchez 1. Rebs: M.Riggs 9, B.Hendrikse 7, D.Whipple 6. Asts: J.Crespo 9, D.Whipple 3. WC 4-0.
▪ BOYS: Westwood Christian 65, Calusa Prep 59: Jason Martinez 22 pts, 10 rebs, 4 asts, 2 stls; Devin Mcintyre 22 pts, 8 asts, 6 stls; John Weir 10 pts, 5 rebs. WC 3-1.
▪ GIRLS: North Miami 79, Keys Gate 69: J’adore Hayes 34 pts, 25 rebs, 2 stls; Donnesha Morency 18 pts, 13 rebs, 10 asts; Rayna Benoit 6 pts, 10 asts, 3 stls; Naima Garnes 7 pts, 10 rebs; Tiana Fleurima 7 pts, 10 rebs. NM 5-1.
▪ GIRLS: North Miami 54, North Miami Beach 37: J’adore Hayes 19 pts, 15 rebs, 2 blks, 2 stls; Rayna Bemoit 13 pts, 2 rebs, 2 stls, 2 asts; Donnesha Morency 12 pts, 10 rebs, 8 stls, 3 asts; Naima Garnes 5 rebs, 5 pts; Laila Willis 3 pts; Tiana Fluerima 2 pts, 5 rebs. NM 6-1.
Send high school sports results
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
