Miami players help USA Football’s 17U flag football win gold. Plus Bobby Curtis tennis and OT7 football
USA Football’s 17U boys’ national flag football team won the gold medal during the 2025 Junior International Cup in Los Angeles.
Five Miami residents made the 12-athlete roster for Team USA, including Britton Bayag (Westminster Christian), Luc Carroll (Gulliver Prep), Champ Smith III (Gulliver Prep), Colton Smith (Ransom Everglades), and quarterback Anthony Vera (Westminster Christian).
They played integral roles in the team’s first place finish in the three-day tournament, which featured teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea, and America.
Team USA defeated Team Canada 38-19 in the gold medal game.
Carroll, who is the son of former Miami Hurricanes national champion wide receiver Wesley Carroll, earned MVP honors in the gold medal game. He played on both sides of the ball, catching three passes on offense and registering two flag pulls and an interception on defense.
Vera, the quarterback, completed 17-of-25 passes for four touchdowns and three extra point conversions in the finals. Bayag made a long reception for more than 40 yards on offense and pulled five flags on defense. Champ Smith III contributed four flag pulls, and Colton Smith had one catch for eight yards and a flag pull.
The 17U boys’ team also defeated Canada in pool play 38-6, Australia 65-13, South Korea 59-6 and 54-6, and Team Azteca (from Mexico) 46-32.
NOTE: Bayag was named MVP in last year’s event, after leading USA Football’s 15U boys’ national flag football team to the championship. Vera was part of that team, too. Carroll and Champ Smith III played for the USA Football’s 17U boys’ national flag football team which placed third last year. Colton Smith was an alternate on the 17U team.
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS
This year 40 boys competed for the initial 18 roster spots on the 17U flag football team at the U.S. National Team Trials in March in Charlotte. There were 160 total athletes at Junior National Team Trials (40 each for the 15U and 17U boys’ and girls’ teams).
The roster of 18 was invited to U.S. National Team Training Camp at the Minnesota Vikings’ Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in April. The final 12-man roster and six alternates were announced after the event.
The final 12 attended a final training camp in May in Charlotte alongside the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams to continue building chemistry and prepare for the Junior International Cup.
BIO ON THE LOCALS
Luc Carroll
Carroll won a bronze medal at the 2024 Junior International Cup in Los Angeles with the 17U U.S. Boys’ National Team and a gold medal at the 2023 Junior International Cup in Charlotte with the 15U U.S. Boys’ National Team.
Carroll plays tackle football for Gulliver Prep and club flag football for RYAN Football. He began playing flag football at just four years old, giving him 13 years of experience in the sport.
One of Carroll’s favorite flag football memories was securing a Beast of the East tournament championship and MVP with a game-winning touchdown catch.
Carroll also runs track. He competes in the 100m, 200m, 4x100 and 4x400, qualifying for FHSAA regionals in each event. Carroll won all his events at the FHSAA District 16-2A meet, except the 200m, which he finished second.
Luc’s father, Wesley Carroll, was the 42nd overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft and spent three seasons in the NFL as a wide receiver for the Saints and Bengals. Carroll played his college ball for the Miami Hurricanes, winning a National Championship in 1989 and leading the team in receiving yards in 1990.
Britton Bayag
Bayag won gold medals with the 15U U.S. Boys’ National Team at the 2023 and 2024 Junor International Cups in Charlotte and Los Angeles. He was named MVP of the Gold Medal Game in 2024.
Bayag plays safety and slot receiver for Westminster Christian School in addition to 7-on-7 for the Miami Immortals and flag football for RYAN Football. He has been playing flag football for nine years.
Bayag earned All-Dade Honorable Mention honors from the Miami Herald in 2024. He’s also had success in club flag football. In 2022, he and U.S. National Team teammate Anthony Vera won the NFL Flag National Championship.
Bayag runs track, competing in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and long jump. He won the 200m in 2025 at the FHSAA District 16-2A meet in addition to finishing second in the 100m and third in the 4x100m, qualifying for regionals.
Anthony Vera
Vera won gold medals with the 15U U.S. boys’ national team at the 2023 and 2024 Junior International Cups in Charlotte and Los Angeles, making him one of the sport’s most decorated junior athletes.
Vera plays quarterback for Westminster Christian School’s tackle football team. He also competes in 7-on-7 and plays flag football for the RYAN Football program.
Vera earned All-Dade Honorable Mention honors from the Miami Herald for his play at quarterback. He’s also found success in flag football, winning an NFL Flag National Championship in 2022 alongside U.S. national team teammate Britton Bayag.
When asked what it means to see so many Miami locals coming through the U.S. Junior National Team program, Vera said: “I like it because we get to represent Miami here and all around the world. It makes me happy to see my friends and I succeed.”
Champs Smith III
Smith won a bronze medal at the Junior International Cup in 2024 with the 17U U.S. boys’ flag football national team.
Smith competes in varsity tackle football, basketball and track & field for Gulliver Prep.
Smith and Gulliver Prep won the district championships in football in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He also won a district championship in basketball in 2023.
Smith is half Greek and comes from a large family.
Colton Smith
Smith was an alternate on the 2024 17U U.S. boys’ national team.
Smith plays varsity tackle football and runs track for Ransom Everglades High School and competes for club teams Miami Immortals and Checkmate in 7-on-7. He has been playing flag football for 12 years. He also has a background in baseball, soccer, basketball, and wrestling.
Smith credits flag football with helping him practice his skills in a quicker environment to make him a stronger tackle player.
Smith has won more than a dozen championships combined across his time in flag football and 7-on-7. He entered high school after a decorated youth career, earning All-Dade Youth Football honors three times.
Smith was a Class 2A All-State selection for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) in 2024 and was All-Dade Honorable Mention for the Miami Herald.
Smith was on the silver medal winning 4x100 relay team at the 2016 AAU Nationals in track. His speed has translated to high school as he was on the third place 4x100 relay team at the Falcon Relays Invitational Track Meet in March.
He said: “I am an ambassador at the WOW Center, a forever school for adults with developmental disabilities, which allows me to give back to adults with unique abilities. It’s seriously the best place to go when I need a moment to feel good. They’re the best people.”
OT7 football
Raw Miami and SFE (South Florida Express) competed in the OT7 football playoffs at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Davie.
During the four-day event, Raw Miami went 3-3 and SFE was 2-2.
Head-to-head, SFE beat Raw Miami 38-21.
SFE also beat (Arizona) Tucson Turf 31-28 but lost to (Atlanta) C1N 38-17 and (Houston) RG3 Takeover 42-24.
Raw Miami beat (Florida) 24k 28-14 and (Los Angeles) Trillion Boys twice (28-21 and 21-14). Raw Miami lost to SFE and (Utah) Cold Hearts 28-7. With a 3-2 record, Raw Miami advanced to the quarterfinals where they were eliminated by (Las Vegas) Lo-Pro in a close battle 36-35.
Lo-Pro eventually won the tournament, finishing undefeated at 7-0.
Dia Bell (Plantation American Heritage), Tre Bell (Barbara Goleman), Trezevant Boyd (Booker T. Washington), Jermiyah Douglas (St. Thomas Aquinas), Zayden Gamble (St. Thomas Aquinas), Samari Howard (St. Thomas Aquinas), Tromon Isaac Jr. (Chaminade-Madonna), Jaylyn Jones (McArthur), Josh Joseph (Jackson), Tedrick Lee (South Dade), Nick Lennear Northwestern), Quartavious Lyons (South Dade), Karon Maycock (Central), Robert Ortega Jr. (Western), Calvin Russell (Northwestern), and Amir Sears (West Broward) were members of Raw Miami.
Jabari Brady (Monarch), Kareem Brown (True North), Jaden Carey (St. Thomas Aquinas), Kenton Dopson (Norland), Tedarius Hughes (South Dade), Neimann Lawrence (Ransom Everglades), and Tari Miller (Southridge) played for SFE.
On the sidelines leading squads of electrifying athletes featured NFL QB Geno Smith, RGIII, Cam Newton, Torrey Smith, all bringing their elite experience to coach the next generation of playmakers. Also Shedeur Sanders supporting RGIII, Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Patrick Peterson in the booth calling the games.
The OT7 Championship was sponsored by adidas, Advance Auto Parts, Gatorade, State Farm, Subway, and Invisalign. Games are also distributed on the NFL Network and NFL+.
Overtime’s football league, OT7, is a content-first, fast-paced, helmet-off football league that spotlights the electric personalities and insane athleticism of 400-500+ of the best football players in the country. OT7 gives teams the opportunity to play against the best teams and athletes from across the country instead of just those in their state or region. In 2024, OT7 social media channels generated 890MM views, marking a third consecutive year of growth since launching in 2022.
Follow OT7 on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and OTSeven.com to keep up on the latest happenings.
Bobby Curtis Tennis
Robert Bouzi of Miramar and Melanie Constandache of Coconut Creek were big winners during the 2025 Bobby Curtis Junior State Championships for 12s and 14s at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona/Orlando.
USTA Florida’s most prestigious junior tournament drew hundreds of athletes.
,%20Robert%20Bouzi%20%20June%202025.jpg "USTA Florida Bobby Curtis 14s B David Bender (Left), Robert Bouzi June 2025.jpg")
▪ BOYS: 14s: Championship: Robert Bouzi (Miramar) d. David Bender (Indian Harbour Beach) 6-0, 6-4
Third/Fourth Place: Nikola Bogojevic (Lake Worth) d. Geet Pondala (Pembroke Pines) Wo.
Fifth/Sixth Place: Oliver Zinaja (Bradenton) d. Andreas Paun (Hallandale Beach) 6-3, 2-1 Ret.
Consolation Final: Patricio Zarazua Tascon (Boca Raton) d. Matues Barbosa (Boca Raton) 7-6, 6-2.
▪ GIRLS: 14s: Championship: Melanie Constandache (Coconut Creek) d. Annalyn McKee (Clermont) 7-6, 6-3
Third/Fourth Place: Saraswati Gowda (Boynton Beach) d. Amey Brielle (Boca Raton) 6-3, 7-5
Fifth/Sixth Place: Sofija Dimitrievic (Sarasota) d. Addyson Munroe (West Palm Beach) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5
Consolation Final: Sophie Zakrzewski (Naples) d. Sienna Somrock (Delray Beach) 6-4, 3-6, 10-6.
▪ BOYS: 12s: Championship: Daniel Levine (Wellington) d. Maxim Kerbikov ( Satellite Beach) 6-2, 6-2
Third/Fourth Place: Miguel Valencia (Pinecrest) d. Zachary Burunov (Hollywood) 6-1, 6-2
Fifth/Sixth Place: Ethan Kim (Wesley Chapel) d. Keanu Agbulos (Port Saint Lucie) 6-1, 6-4
Consolation Final: Alexander Ligman (Gainesville) d. Daniel Brik (Boca Raton) 6-3, 6-3.
▪ GIRLS: 12s: Championship: Emma Dobrean (Palm Beach Gardens) d. Sophia Ikwueme (Delray Beach) 6-1, 7-5
Third/Fourth Place: Abigail Sewell (North Palm Beach) d. Vasiana Christopoulos (Tampa) 6-3, 7-6
Fifth/Sixth Place: Vihana Thasen (Weston) d. Reese Gluck (Miami) 6-3, 6-3
Consolation Final: Lauren Chang (Winter Park) d. Nevette Turner (Wellington) 6-1, 7-5.
Send sports results
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They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
New athletic directors, coaches
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
