Poll: Who should be the Miami Herald’s High School Athlete of the Week? (Feb. 10)
South Florida’s top athletes were recognized recently in the sports of basketball, soccer and wrestling.
This week, we continue a feature where we ask you to vote for the best performer of the week from basketball, cheerleading and soccer in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Take our poll below to cast your vote. The poll will be open until Thursday, Feb. 13, around 10 p.m. You may vote as often as you like until then.
Here are the candidates:
NOTE: You should see a Miami Herald box underneath this note for you to type Yes and click Submit. That will ignite the actual poll to vote.
▪ Rayne Archuleta, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas soccer: the junior scored twice in a Region 4-6A quarterfinal win over Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer 4-0 and then added a key goal in a 2-1 win over defending state champ Hollywood South Broward in a Region 4-6A semifinal. That victory came after the Raiders (17-6-3) lost to South Broward in the regular season and also the district finals in a shootout.
▪ Vanessa Bu-Nassar, Miami St. Brendan cheerleading: the senior and four-year letterwinner led the Sabres to their ninth FHSAA state title. They also won regionals to advance to state in the Class 1A Large Division and will compete at nationals.
▪ Fernando Carrasco, Miami Mater Lakes Academy soccer: the senior scored three goals as the Bears (21-1-1) beat TERRA 4-3 in double-overtime in a Region 4-4A semifinal and had a goal in a 5-1 win over Pompano in a Region 4-4A quarterfinal.
▪ Angie Fernandez, Miami Westminster Christian basketball: the sophomore reached 1,000 career points with 28 points in a 58-23 win over St. Brendan. With 1,027 career points (and counting) in three seasons, she is the first sophomore in Westminster Christian girls’ basketball history to do so.
▪ Nykeria Flowers, Oakland Park Northeast basketball: the senior scored 19 points -- making clutch shots as well as key plays on defense -- to lead the Hurricanes to an impressive 42-39 comeback win over St. Thomas Aquinas in the BCAA Big 8 Tournament final. She was named tournament MVP.
▪ London Gill, Miami Palmetto soccer: the senior goalkeeper celebrated her birthday in style when she recorded a pair of saves during penalty kicks as the Panthers (13-4-1) beat Boca Raton Spanish Rivers 3-1 in a shootout, after the Region 4-7A quarterfinal game ended regulation and overtime tied at one. She allowed just one goal to always strong Cypress Bay (16-1-1) in a Region 4-7 semifinal loss.
▪ Elena Gonzalez, Miami LaSalle cheerleading: the senior captain led the Royal Lions to a runner-up finish at the FHSAA state tournament. They also placed third at regionals in Class 1A Large Non-Tumbling to advance to state.
▪ Anthony Pasto, Miami Ferguson soccer: the senior goalkeeper played very well, including a pair of outstanding saves to ensure a 1-0 victory for the Falcons in a Region 4-7A quarterfinal against favored Weston Cypress Bay. Then he followed up with two more big saves in a shootout (eight in the match while allowing just one goal) as the Falcons (11-2-2) edged Miami Columbus in a Region 4-7A semifinal.
▪ Drake Sandi, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas basketball: the junior scored 20 points with 4 assists to lead the Raiders to its first BCAA Big 8 title in a finals win over Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna. Prior, he scored 10 points with 8 assists and 4 rebounds in a BCAA Big 8 semifinal win over Pembroke Pines Charter. He was named tournament MVP.
▪ Gianna Vazquez, Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy soccer: the sophomore came off the bench because of an injured player and within three minutes she scored the winner from 30 yards as the Mavericks (12-5-3) edged rival Pembroke Pine Charter 1-0 in a Region 4-5A semifinal. Prior, she added two assists in an 8-0 win over Okeechobee in a Region 4-5A quarterfinal.
This story was originally published February 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM.
