JC Bermudez, Reagan win boys’ volleyball region titles. Plus Olympics hopeful event and state hoops honors
The Miami Ronald Reagan Doral High School boys’ volleyball team won the Region 4-2A title to qualify for the FHSAA state semifinals.
After dropping the first set, the Bison (24-4) rebounded to beat Miami Varela 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 for the region championship. Senior Yeison Gonzalez and junior Diego Requeno led Reagan.
The Vipers, featuring sophomores Sebastian Hidalgo and Aquiles Lorenzo and seniors Luke Ieremia and Jose Santos, finished the season 20-7.
Reagan, coached by Alberto Pacheco, will play Gulf Breeze (16-5) in a state semifinal on Friday at Polk State College in Winter Haven. The winner plays the winner of Riviera Beach Suncoast (23-1)/Winter Park Lake Howell (27-2) for the state title.
In a five-set battle, Miami JC Bermudez Doral avenged its district final loss by edging Miami Divine Savior 25-14, 23-25, 25-13, 21-25, 15-13 for the Region 3-1A title, advancing to state.
Led by senior captains Ernesto Alvarenga (setter), Carlos Flores (outside hitter) and Julio Werner (opposite hitter) and junior Javier Ramos (middle blocker), the Thunder are 14-3.
Divine Savior finished an impressive debut season at 13-7. Senior Santiago Lopez Farina had 18 kills, 3 blocks, 13 digs, 3 assists and 25 serve received in the region final.
JC Bermudez Doral, coached by Wendy Kaufman, will play West Palm Beach King’s Academy (20-5) in a state semifinal on Thursday at Polk State College. The winner plays the winner of Miami True North Classical Academy (18-11)/Tampa SLAM (24-0) for the 1A state title.
▪ Region 4-2A Championship: Reagan d. Varela 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-20: Yeison Gonzalez 21 kills, 18 serve received, 9 digs, 2 assists; Michael Perez 10 kills, 5 blocks; Diego Requena 39 assists, 4 kills; Diego Cobena 9 kills, 21 serve received, 10 digs; Santiago Mejias 22 serve received, 11 digs, 2 assists, 2 aces; Zhayed Lacruz 3 kills, 5 blocks, 2 aces; William Camacho 3 blocks. Rea 24-4, Var 20-7.
Winter Olympics hopeful
There is a cool fundraising event for Miami Beach local Jared Firestone -- aka “The Jewish Jet” -- on Saturday, May 31 as he attempts to reach his goal of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics for Israel in skeleton.
Skeleton is a winter sliding sport in which a person rides a small sled, known as a skeleton bobsled (or bobsleigh), down a frozen track while lying face down and head-first.
Firestone, a 2008 Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest alum, played golf and tennis before joining the upper school where he became a track star for the Panthers. He set three school records in the 100-meter dash and won a district title.
He continued his running career at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, before attending Cardozo Law School in New York City.
Firestone, 33, currently a lawyer with a license in Florida and New York, is captain of Israel’s Bobsled & Skeleton Team.
Fundraising -- via a special night of meat eating with multiple rounds of Wagyu -- will help offset costs for his Winter Olympics dream on Saturday, May 31 at Palm Beach Meats, 4812 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach.
Ticket at www.beefbrawl.com.
Visit: www.jewishjet.com.
Basketball state honors
Source Hoops presents the 2024-25 Boys’ Basketball Class 3A and Class 4A All-State Teams.
Fifteen players represent the best of the best for those high schools that participate in Class 3A of FHSAA boys’ hoops, and 15 more who compete in Class 4A.
Players were selected based on in-person evaluations, a review of all-area teams selected by media from around the state and without regard to a player’s travel team or high school affiliation or his ranking by other outlets.
In 3A, state champion Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian was well represented on first team. Players from Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons and Miami Gulliver Prep were also acknowledged.
In 4A, state champ Fort Lauderdale Stranahan celebrated two selections, while players from Hialeah Mater Lakes Academy, Miami Northwestern and Miami St. Brendan are also on the teams.
3A FIRST TEAM
Shon Abaev, 6-7 Sr, Calvary Christian
Aydan Corbin, 6-0 Sr, The Villages Charter
Darius Livingston, 6-2 Sr, Lake Alfred Discovery
Jahari Simmons, 6-1 Sr, Jacksonville Andrew Jackson
Cayden Daughtry, 6-0 Soph, Calvary Christian
3A SECOND TEAM
Trey Card, 6-6 Sr, Tallahassee Florida High
Jacob Marquez, 6-1 Sr, Miami Gulliver Prep
Javian Jones, 6-2 Sr, WPB King’s Academy
Juwan Scippio, 6-4 Jr, Newberry
Michael Madueme, 6-5 Jr, Orlando Lake Highland Prep
3A THIRD TEAM
Alex Montes, 6-5 Sr, Boca Raton St. Andrew’s
Justus Dylan Herbert, 6-4 Jr, Ft Laud Cardinal Gibbons
Patrick Johnson, 6-8 Sr, Fort Myers Gateway Charter
Willie Piggott, 6-5 Jr, Tampa Catholic
Cash Zirkle, 6-2 Jr, Panama City Bozeman
4A FIRST TEAM
Josh Lewis, 6-7 Sr, Tampa Blake
Jacob Daniels, 6-0 Sr, St. Petersburg Gibbs
Christian Yeargin, 6-4 Jr, Stranahan
Oneal Delancey, 6-3 Soph, St. Petersburg Gibbs
Calvin Russell, 6-6 Jr, Miami Northwestern
4A SECOND TEAM
Kaden Toure, 6-2 Sr, Jacksonville Ribault
Cornelius Hines, 6-6 Sr, Eustis
B.J. Plummer, 6-5 Sr, Tallahassee Rickards
Joe Philon, 6-6 Jr, Tampa Blake
Damari Foster, 5-11 Soph, Stranahan
4A THIRD TEAM
Spencer Clayton, 6-3 Sr, Naples Barron Collier
Jonas Duque, 5-9 Sr, St. Brendan
Bobby Crawford, 6-7 Sr. St. Petersburg Gibbs
Tai Bell, 6-3 Fr, Mater Lakes Academy
Jerdarrius Jackson, 6-3 Jr, Citra North Marion
All-County Ballots
High school coaches of spring varsity sports should have received their ballots to send Miami Herald All-Dade and Miami Herald All-Broward nominees. If you have not received a ballot, email hssports@miamiherald.com.
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
