Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame, College signings, Doral baseball, Palmetto lacrosse and more
The Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame will host its third Induction Banquet on Saturday, April 26 at the Delta Hotel Orlando Celebration.
Eight individuals will be honored including three with South Florida ties.
▪ Earl Hall Jr. is a highly-successful high school wrestler from Homestead South Dade High School and currently is an assistant coach at the University of North Colorado.
Hall started wrestling at 9 where his early experiences laid the foundation for the impressive accomplishments he has achieved throughout his wrestling career. He won his first FHSAA State Championship at Homestead Senior High School and claimed three more at South Dade High School, finishing his high school career with a 208-2 record. He made history as the first-ever wrestler in Miami-Dade County to win four state championships, ranking as the No.14 119-pounder in the country.
More about Hall
Hall earned seven All-American honors, is a NHSCA Sophomore Champion and Junior National Placer (3rd Place), a three-time USAW Junior All-American Greco Champion, USAW Junior All-American Freestyle (placing 3rd, 4th, and 5th), Super 32 All-American (3rd place), 2011 Dapper Dan Team USA Member, 2011 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Winner for Florida, 2011 Wrestling USA Scholastic All American, and 2011 Dairy Farmer’s Class 3A “Wrestler of the Year.”
Before attending Iowa State University, Hall trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where he won the 2012 FILA Junior World Team Trials Championship at 60kg. During his time at the OTC, he qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials and placed 3rd at the Dave Shultz Memorial. Hall graduated from Iowa State, where he earned All-American honors twice and qualified for the NCAA Championships four times. He received All-American honors at 125 pounds in 2014 and at 133 pounds in 2016. In addition, Earl posted a 39-12 record in Big 12 duals, earning Big 12 runner-up honors in 2015 and 2016. He also claimed the 2015 Southern Scuffle championship and won the 2015 University National Championship in freestyle at 61kg. As a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the University of Virginia, Earl helped coach Louie Hayes to All-America honors, and an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships at 125 lbs, while eight other wrestlers qualified for the tournament. His success at Virginia led him to join the University of Northern Colorado wrestling staff in 2021. At UNC, Earl played a vital role in the team’s historic 2021-22 season, helping the Bears secure four Big 12 Championship placers, three NCAA qualifiers, and their first Big 12 Champion in program history with Andrew Alirez at 141 pounds. The team also earned their highest NWCA Top 30 Scholar All-American Honors ranking, coming in ninth place, and had six individual NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
Hall has a deep passion for coaching kids. While in Virginia, he was actively involved with the Cavalier Wrestling Club. Now, along with his role as the assistant coach at Northern Colorado, he also organizes the Northern Colorado dual teams and assists with the Colorado national team.
Outside of wrestling, Hall cherishes his time with Lee-Aloha and their son, Leighton. Being a father is one of his greatest joys, and he values every moment they share. When his schedule allows, Hall enjoys socializing with friends, engaging in fun activities, and playing games to unwind. He also loves returning to Florida whenever possible to reconnect with family and childhood friends.
▪ Mark Fee, a Fire Captain for the City of Hollywood, is a hero both on and off the mat.
Fee’s wrestling story started at St. Thomas Aquinas High School (1995-99), where he was a force to be reckoned with. He dominated as a two-time Broward County Champion, four-time District Champion and two-time Regional Champion. In 1998, he was the state runner-up, but he came back with a vengeance in 1999, going a perfect 44-0 with 39 pins to clinch the State Championship.
More about Fee
Fee then took his talents to Appalachian State University in North Carolina, where he made history as a three-time Southern Conference Champion and two-time NCAA Division I All-American. In 2002, he placed 5th at 165 lbs. and claimed the title for most pins in the nation. A year later, he added a 7th-place finish at 174 lbs. and earned the Southern Conference’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
After hanging up his singlet in 2006, Fee shifted gears to coaching. As Head Coach at St. Thomas Aquinas, he built champions for five years and later helped train top-tier athletes at award winning MMA training facility American Top Team with Mocco Wrestling Club in Coconut Creek.
Fee’s remarkable achievements as an athlete, coach and mentor exemplify his dedication to excellence in wrestling.
Residing in Parkland with his wife Chrissy and their three energetic sons — Breckan (14), Cannon (11), and Decker (8) — Fee spends his free time coaching his sons’ flag football teams, reeling in fish, and mastering all things outdoors.
▪ Jonathan Taylor has been honored with several awards for his contributions and accomplishments in wrestling.
His accolades include being a four-time high school wrestling state champion for Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, the 2003 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Winner for Florida and the 2024 National Men’s Freestyle Youth Development Council Person of the Year, among other awards and honors.
More about Taylor
Taylor’s wrestling journey has taken him across 30 states within the United States and Istanbul, Turkey, where he was a member of the first USA Wrestling Beach-Wrestling World Team. He has contributed to wrestling for almost 30 years as an athlete, supporter and coach. He has served as a head coach, assistant coach, program director, national team coach, national team leader, and board member in various programs, associations, and organizations.
Taylor’s current leadership roles include serving as a Florida Amateur Wrestling Association (FAWA) board member and as the 14U National Duals Team Leader. He is the Youth Impact Center’s Director and Head Wrestling Coach in Fort Lauderdale. He realizes how significant it is that he has had the honor of receiving high-quality, thoughtful, results-driven programming and how it truly impacted his life. As a result, for over two decades, he has committed his life to supporting high-quality programs for youth in several communities across multiple states.
Taylor currently resides in Deerfield Beach with his wife Jenetha, and sons, Javin and Kyrell.
More wrestling
Powerhouse South Dade boys’ wrestling won another region championship (its 21st), by placing first at the Region 4-3A Tournament (nicknamed “The Region of Doom” because of so many good wrestlers/teams in it).
The annual IBT event was hosted by South Dade in Homestead. Miami Southridge was runner-up.
In Region 4-2A, Pembroke Pines Somerset won the region title, while host Jensen Beach took runner-up honors. For the Panthers, that marks their fourth IBT region championship (third consecutive).
In Region 4-1A, Miami Mater Lakes Academy won its first IBT region title, with host Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons second. The Bears won their first state team title at the FHSAA State Duals in January at Osceola High School in Kissimmee.
The FHSSA State Wrestling Championships (boys’ tournament and girls’ tournament) begin Thursday and run through Saturday at the Silver Spurs Arena at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.
Somerset and South Dade won state team titles last season at that event. The Panthers won the title in Class 1A. Mater Lakes was runner-up in 1A. South Dade won in 3A. Tampa Jesuit was the 2A state champ.
College signings
Miami Archbishop Carroll football players Roger Soca and Jake Santoveña signed to play college football at NAIA Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida.
Soca, a tight end, is a three-year starter, competing on three district championship teams. Santoveña, an offensive tackle, is a four-year starter and a two-time Miami Herald All-Dade first team selection. He was also a member of those district championship teams.
Lacrosse
The Palmetto girls’ lacrosse team defeated Lourdes Academy 13-6.
Junior Samira Moore led the Panthers with 4 goals and 2 assists and won 7 face-offs. Senior captain Alexis Cohen has 3 goals and 2 assists, and sophomore Sofia Cohn made 7 saves en route to her third win of the season and sixth of her career.
Senior captain Orli Clarin led a strong defense in front of Cohn, recording 4 groundballs and causing a turnover.
In Broward, Cardinal Gibbons handed West Broward its first loss of the season.
▪ GIRLS: Cardinal Gibbons 10, West Broward 3: Kacey Puia 4 goals, 3 turnovers; Keira Betzler 8 saves. CG 3-1, WB 3-1.
▪ GIRLS: Cardinal Gibbons 17, South Plantation 7: Lily O’Connor 6 goals, 3 assists, 2 turnovers; Kacey Puia 4 goals, 1 assist, 5 turnovers. CG 4-1.
Baseball
▪ Doral Academy 11, Hialeah ABF Academy 3: Gabriel Milano 2-3, HR, 4 RBI: Dylan Prince 2-3, HR, 3 RBI; George Pardo 3-5; Leandro Hernandez 2-2, R; Winning Pitcher Christian Vasallo 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K. Dor 6-2.
▪ Doral Academy 3, Hialeah Educational Academy 1: Winning Pitcher Aaron Elissalt CG, 7 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 K; George Pardo 1-3 2 RBI; Bryan Mesa 1-3, RBI; Kobe Carrion 1-2, R; Fabio Marquez 1-2, R. Dor 5-2.
Softball
▪ Braddock 15, Coral Gables 1: Winning Pitcher Emely Ramirez 8 K; Vanessa Builles 2-4; Braelen Cintron 1 H; Anais Gonzalez 1 H; Catherine Fuerte 1 H. Brd 3-0.
▪ Flanagan 14, Nova 12: Winning Pitcher Jurnee Bent 7 K; Emily Arias 3-4, 2 R, 4 RBI; Jasmine Gonzalez 3-5, R, 3 RBI; Alessandra Uzcategui 3-5, R; Alinah Atencio 1-3, 2 R, RBI; Jade Reeves 1-3, 2 R; Camila Andrade 1-1, R, 2 RBI. Flan 2-2.
Tennis
▪ BOYS: Palmetto 6, Columbus 1: Singles: 1. Michael Larionov (Plm) d. Santiago Salazar 8-5; 2. Beau Gibson (Plm) d. Rodrigo Arangoiz 8-3; 3. Ben Montana (Plm) d. Jacob Alvarez Drago 8-1; 4. Paul Sasso (Plm) d. Lucas Garri 8-1. Doubles: Larionov /Gibson (Plm) d. Salazar/Arangoiz 8-0; 2. Montana/Sasso (Plm) d. Drago/Chavzarreto 6-1. Plm 5-0.
▪ GIRLS: Gulliver Prep 6, Carrollton 1: Singles: 1 Valentina Donoso (GP) won 8-2; 3. Hanna Matuk (GP) won 8-5; 4. Mika Ringel (GP) won 8-0; 5. Kayla Carey (GP) won 8-1. GP 7-0.
Basketball
The Orange Bowl Florida High School Basketball Showcase, presented by Memorial Healthcare System, is 8 a.m. Saturday, March 15 at the Davis Posnack JCC in Davie.
The event is free to high school juniors and seniors to showcase their hoop skills in front of coaches, representing 30-plus colleges and universities. Scholarships and/or financial aid can be awarded to more than 400 student athletes.
For info, go to:
https://www.orangebowl.org/basketballshowcase/
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
