Coral Springs, North Miami wrestling excel. Plus Gibbons hoops, OB Football Showcase & more
The Orange Bowl Committee is hosting its ninth annual Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase, presented by Baptist Health on Saturday, Feb. 15 at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.
The free event will provide hundreds of local high school junior and senior student-athletes an opportunity to meet college coaches from across the country for a chance to receive aid or scholarships as they aspire to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Each participant will compete in a series of tests, drills and scrimmages that best display each player’s various talents at their respective positions, followed by a meet and greet opportunity with coaches from approximately 30 NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and JUCO programs.
Since 2017, more than $8 million in scholarships and financial aid has been awarded to more than 400 high school student-athletes participating in this event.
“The Orange Bowl Committee takes great pride in its ability to once again present this unparalleled opportunity to local high school student-athletes,” stated Orange Bowl Committee President & Chair Henri Crockett, a former football player at Florida State University. “Our consistent objective is to provide these students with increased exposure, thereby enhancing their prospects for securing financial assistance for college and ultimately attaining a college degree. The event’s significant success over the past eight years underscores its effectiveness in pursuing this aim.”
To be eligible to participate in the football showcase, student-athletes must be a high school senior or junior who has not accepted a scholarship offer from a Division I football program. In addition, it is recommended that participants have a 2.5 GPA or higher in 16 Core Courses AND have an SAT score of at least 920 (math and verbal only), OR have a composite ACT Score of 18 or higher or a sum score of 68 or higher.
“Baptist Health is proud to support this incredible program that celebrates the athleticism, determination, and sportsmanship of young athletes,” said Baptist Health Doctors Hospital CEO, Lourdes Boue. “Our commitment to the health and well-being of our community extends beyond the walls of our facilities, and by partnering with the Orange Bowl, we empower these student-athletes to reach their full potential. We are excited to be part of such an important tradition.”
The Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase is presented by Baptist Health and is joined by associate sponsors Amazon, Bank of America, Florida Power & Light Company, GA Telesis, GRUBBRR, Mgc2 and Uber. The football showcase is conducted in association with the National Football Foundation (NFF) and its local chapters.
For more information about the Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase presented by Baptist Health and to register, visit www.orangebowl.org/showcase/.
Wrestling
The North Miami High School girls’ wrestling team won the Girls’ Bulldog Brawl, placing first of 25 teams at South Broward High School in Hollywood.
North Miami won the team title with Isis Severe (130), Viktoriya Devochkinn (145) and Nadiane Janvier (155) each finishing first.
Southwest Miami was runner-up, just two points back. Nia Sanchez (115) and Camila Halaby-Bravo (235) won individual titles.
With a partial squad, Coral Springs was third. Payton Moyer led the Colts by winning the title at 170 pounds.
Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy and Miami Palmetto tied for fourth, followed by South Broward, Davie Western, Miami Southridge, Miami SLAM and Miami Norland.
Champions: 100: Rosie Kleine of Monarch. 105: Gabriela Kerber of Cypress Bay. 110: Abigail Gonzalez of Miami Southridge. 115: Nai Sanchez of Southwest Miami. 120: Carmen Moya of Miami Palmetto. 125: Kaileia Villaviciencio of Archbishop McCarthy. 130: Isis Severe of North Miami. 135: Alexa Paz of SLAM Academy. 140: Francesca Lara of Miami Palmetto. 145: Viktoriya Devochkinn of North Miami. 155: Nadiane Janvier of North Miami. 170: Payton Moyer of Coral Springs. 190: Latoya Sylvestre of South Broward. 235: Camila Halaby-Bravo of Southwest Miami.
The South Broward High School boys’ wrestling team went 6-0 to win the Boys’ Bulldog Brawl. Coral Springs was 5-1 to take runner-up honors.
District basketball
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons senior Savanna Nicholson scored her 1,000th career point with six minutes remaining in the first quarter of her team’s District 13-3A quartefinal win over Don Soffer Aventura. Led by Nicholson, the Chiefs (15-8) reached the finals of the district tournament.
▪ GIRLS: District 13-3A Championship: Pine Crest 71, Cardinal Gibbons 52: Pts: Savanna Nicholson 32; Makayla Midgett 6; Anaya Forgerthy 7; Maya Pinero 2; Maleia Coker 7; Maddie Kornowski 3. Rebs: Anaya Forgethy 7; Makayla Midgett 3. Stls: Maddie Kornowski 3; Maya Pinero 3; Makayla Midgett 4; Savanna Nicholson 2. Asts: Savanna Nicholson 3; Makayla Midgett 5. Blks: Anaya Forgethy 2. PC 19-4, CG 15-8.
▪ GIRLS: District 13-3A Semifinal: Cardinal Gibbons 58, NSU University 39: Pts: Savanna Nicholson 22; Makayla Midgett 11; Anaya Forgerthy 3; Maya Pinero 2; Maddie Kornowski 17; Gigi Garcia 2. Rebs: Anaya Forgethy 6; Maleia Coker 3; Makayla Midgett 3. Stls: Maddie Kornowski 3; Maya Pinero 3; Makayla Midgett 4; Savanna Nicholson 2. Asts: Savanna Nicholson 3; Makayla Midgett 4. Blks: Anaya Forgethy 1. CG 15-7, NSU U 16-6.
▪ GIRLS: District 13-3A Quarterfinal: Cardinal Gibbons 63, Don Soffer Aventura 26: Pts: Savanna Nicholson 19; Makayla Midgett 5; Anaya Forgerthy 6; Maya Pinero 9; Maleia Coker 4; Maddie Kornowski 12; Gigi Garcia 6; Cassidy Grant 2. Rebs: Anaya Forgethy 7; Maleia Coker 4. Stls: Maddie Kornowski 3; Maya Pinero 3; Savanna Nicholson 2. Asts: Savanna Nicholson 4; Maliea Coker 2. Blks: Anaya Forgethy 2. CG 14-7, DSA 6-9.
Region soccer
▪ BOYS: Region 4-3A Quarterfinal: NSU University School 4, Cardinal Gibbons 2: Raul Leyva scored twice and had an assist. Nicholas Marques and Daniel Ciffoni also scored with outstanding goalkeeping from Matthew Jean Baptiste. The Sharks (15-3-1) will host Downtown Doral on Friday in a region semifinal.
Baseball
▪ McArthur 7, Dr. Krop 6: Trailing 4-0, the Mustangs scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Krop answered with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh, but McArthur answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off win.
WP Caleb Kronen 3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 K. McA: Isnedit Fernandez 2-3, 2 2B; Dylan Dess 1-4, 2 RBI, HR. DK: Myles Green 1-4, 2 RBI; Ryan Pena 1-2, RBI, 3 BB.
▪ Doral Academy 7, Plantation American Heritage 5: Gavin Ruvalcaba 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Gabriel Milano 2-3, Run; George Pardo 2-3, RBI; Dylan Prince 1-2, Run; WP Christopher Vasallo.
Water polo
The Belen Jesuit boys’ water polo team won its season opener, defeating Miami Country Day 15-10.
Leading the Wolverines were Juan Franco with 7 goals and Lucas Levy with 5. Xavier Caceres drew 5 exclusions.
Belen prepares for the Belen Invitational on Feb. 21-22.
Lacrosse
GIRLS: Cardinal Gibbons 19, Cooper City 2: Ella Chanon 4 Goals, 5 Draw Controls, 2 Turnovers; Kacey Puia 4 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Draw Control; Lilly O’Connor 3 Goals, 4 Draw Controls, 2 Turnovers; Lilly Zinn 6 Saves.
HOF awards
Arbetter’s, the long-time Miami hot dog establishment, is hosting its Hall of Fame event on Monday, Feb. 17 at its location, 8747 SW 40 St.
The honorees include Columbus High School golf coach Mike Marinelli, who not only does an outstanding job coaching the Explorers boys’ golf team but is a true ambassador for the school, promoting its academics and athletics.
Also, post-humously inducted will be Fred Ellis, the outstanding Miami Southwest High School track coach.
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
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 1:40 AM.
