Broward’s best are honored at Miami Herald’s All-Broward Awards banquet
Coconut Creek’s Binjimen Victor and St. Thomas Aquinas’ Dominic Thieman excelled catching passes on the football field and later soared great distances on the track..
Dillard’s Brittany Gill became one of the best runners in her school’s tradition-rich history.
And American Heritage’s Zandy Soree triumphed on the soccer field because of her perseverance.
On Tuesday morning at the Signature Grand in Davie, the quartet joined a long list of Broward County’s all-time greats when they were selected as the Miami Herald’s Athletes of the Year at its annual awards banquet.
The ceremony, sponsored by Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Baptist Health South Florida, the Orange Bowl and the Florida Panthers, was attended by a crowd of approximately 900 and honored the top athletes and coaches in 17 sports and the top overall programs in the county.
Victor, a U.S. Army All-American, signed with Ohio State and became his school’s first-ever recipient of the Athlete of the Year award, winning in the Class 5A-1A Boys’ category.
A wide receiver and defensive back on a talented Cougars football team that went 6-4 this season, Victor shined on the track as well as posting a pair of top-six finishes at state in the long and triple jumps.
Thieman, who signed with the University of Illinois, won the Class 9A-6A Male Athlete of the Year trophy.
Thieman was one of Broward’s top receivers this season on a potent St. Thomas Aquinas’ offense that won the Class 7A state championship. Thieman later won the state triple-jump championship in Class 4A to cap a stellar track season.
Gill, a senior, ran cross-country for the first time at Dillard in the fall. The daughter of a three-time former track and field state champion at the school, Gill made her family and the Panthers proud by winning an individual state cross-country championship.
Gill followed that in the spring by posting the top times in the county at state in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
On Tuesday, Gill won the Class 9A-6A Female Athlete of the Year award as well as Girls’ Cross-country Runner of the Year.
Soree, who also won the Girls’ Soccer Class 3A-1A Player of the Year award, missed seven months prior to the season while dealing with blood clots in her leg. After an intense recovery period, Soree came back and led Heritage to a fourth consecutive state championship in girls’ soccer, which ranks as the third-longest streak in state history.
“It’s been a crazy year,” Soree said. “I didn’t even know if I was going to play this season. Just being able to play and having my teammates support me really meant the world to me, and the fact that we all worked so hard and were able to get that fourth title was just amazing.”
Soree’s coach, Cindy Marcial, was honored as the Overall Female Sports Coach of the Year as well as the Coach of the Year for 3A-1A Girls’ Soccer.
A pair of coaches who achieved exclusive milestones took home Male Sports Coach of the Year honors.
St. Thomas Aquinas football coach Roger Harriott and Stoneman Douglas baseball coach Todd Fitz-Gerald each became the first coaches in their respective sports to win state titles at two different Broward County schools.
Harriott won a state title at University School before winning one this season at St. Thomas, his alma mater. Fitz-Gerald, who won a state and national title at American Heritage in 2008, led Douglas to its first state title on Saturday.
In addition to its sport-by-sport awards, The Miami Herald also honored South Broward girls’ basketball standout Mackenzie Sadaka with the Leo Suarez/Walter Krietsch Courage Award.
The award is given annually to one or more individuals in the local athletics community who exhibited extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.
Sadaka’s father, Mike, passed away before this past season after a battle with cancer. She maintained a 4.8 GPA while taking care of her father during his struggle and later helped the Bulldogs advance to the state final four.
Longtime St. Thomas Aquinas assistant coaches David Shepherd and Jay Connolly were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Connolly has coached the offensive linemen at St. Thomas Aquinas for more than three decades and been a part of all nine of the school’s state championship teams.
Shepherd has mentored some of the best track and field athletes to ever come out of Broward County, including Olympian Sanya Richards.
Pine Crest swept the Scholar-Athlete category as three-time state diving champion Austin Fields and cross-country individual state champion Alyssa Pujals won the boys’ and girls’ awards respectively.
St. Thomas Aquinas swept the All-Sports Awards for Classes 9A-6A, also winning the Boys’ and Girls’ Major Awards. American Heritage won the Classes 5A-1A All-Sports and Girls’ Major awards. Archbishop McCarthy won the 5A-1A Boys’ Major Award.
Andre C. Fernandez: 305-376-4997, @AndreMHsports
2015-16 Miami Herald All-Broward Awards winners
OVERALL
9A-6A Male Athlete of the Year: Dominic Theiman, St. Thomas Aquinas (football, track and field).
Other finalists: Jordan Wright, Dillard (basketball, football), Myron Dewar, Coral Springs (basketball), Jordan Johnson, Plantation (football, wrestling), Louie Yovino, St. Thomas Aquinas (lacrosse, football), Damion Thomas, Northeast (track and field).
9A-6A Female Athlete of the Year: Brittany Gill, Dillard (cross-country, track and field).
Other finalists: Brooke Bauer, St. Thomas Aquinas (volleyball), Alexa Cruz, St. Thomas Aquinas (cross-country, track and field), Mikiah Harrigan, Flanagan (basketball), Jan’Taijah Ford, Northeast (track and field), Bella Dorosy, St. Thomas Aquinas (soccer).
5A-1A Male Athlete of the Year: Binjimen Victor, Coconut Creek (football, track and field).
Other finalists: Bradley Clement, American Heritage (football, wrestling), James Scasserra, Westminster Academy (soccer, football, water polo), Tyler Huntley, Hallandale (football), Nick Eubanks, American Heritage (football, basketball), Storm Sims, Calvary Christian (football, track and field), Anthony Rey, Archbishop McCarthy (football, wrestling, track and field).
5A-1A Female Athlete of the Year: Zandy Soree, American Heritage (soccer).
Other finalists: Tia Strackman, Hallandale (track and field, volleyball, cross-country), Alyssa Pujals, Pine Crest (cross-country), Ambresha Long, Coconut Creek (basketball, flag football), Allison Muraskin, Coral Springs Charter (softball), Madison Canby, American Heritage (softball).
Male Sports Co-Coaches of the Year: Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas football and Todd Fitz-Gerald, Douglas baseball.
Other finalists: Devin Bush, Flanagan football, Devin Barta, Coral Springs basketball, Melvin Randall, Blanche Ely basketball, Darryl Burrows, Dillard basketball.
Female Sports Coach of the Year: Cindy Marcial, American Heritage soccer.
Other finalists: Marty Cooper, American Heritage softball, Mark Montimurro, Coral Springs Charter softball, Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball, Kathryn Reeber, Cardinal Gibbons volleyball, Carl Phillips, Archbishop McCarthy golf.
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Dave Shepherd, St. Thomas Aquinas track and field assistant coach and Jay Connolly, St. Thomas Aquinas assistant football coach.
Leo Suarez/Walter Krietsch Courage Award: Mackenzie Sadaka, South Broward girls’ basketball player.
Boys’ scholar-athlete: Austin Fields, Pine Crest
Girls’ scholar-athlete: Alyssa Pujals, Pine Crest
BROWARD
FOOTBALL
8A-6A Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxson Kincaide, St. Thomas Aquinas
8A-6A Defensive Player of the Year: Devin Bush, Jr., Flanagan
8A-6A Co-Coaches of the Year: Devin Bush, Sr., Flanagan AND Roger Harriott, St. Thomas Aquinas
5A-Ind. Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Huntley, Hallandale
5A-Ind. Defensive Player of the Year: Brian Burns, American Heritage
5A-Ind. Coach of the Year: Dameon Jones, Hallandale
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
8A-6A Player of the Year: Brook Bauer, St. Thomas Aquinas
8A-6A Coach of the Year: Lisa Zielinski, St. Thomas Aquinas
4A-2A Player of the Year: Daniella Molinari, Cardinal Gibbons
4A-2A Coach of the Year: Kathryn Reeber, Cardinal Gibbons
GOLF
Boys’ Golfer of the Year: Ty Strafaci, American Heritage
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Brandt Moser, American Heritage
Girls’ Golfer of the Year: Jillian Bourdage, American Heritage
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Carl Phillips, Archbishop McCarthy
SWIMMING
Boys’ Swimmer of the Year: Julien Pinon, American Heritage
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Nobutaka Tan, American Heritage
Girls’ Swimmer of the Year: Jessica Nava, Westminster Academy
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Jay Fitzgerald, Pine Crest
CROSS-COUNTRY
Boys’ Runner of the Year: Danny Ferro, Calvary Christian
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Joe Hazera, St. Thomas Aquinas
Girls’ Runner of the Year: Brittany Gill, Dillard
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Paul Baur, Pine Crest
BOWLING
Boys’ Bowler of the Year: Nathan Samuels, Coral Springs
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Brittney Kubashky, Coral Springs
Girls’ Bowler of the Year: Harmony Romano, Coral Springs Charter
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Nelson Martin, Coral Springs Charter
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
8A-5A Co-Players of the Year: Myron Dewar, Coral Springs and Jordan Wright, Dillard
8A-5A Co-Coaches of the Year: Devin Barta, Coral Springs and Darryl Burrows, Dillard and Melvin Randall, Blanche Ely
4A-2A Player of the Year: Zach Scott, Westminster Academy
4A-2A Coach of the Year: Ehren Wahloff, Westminster Academy
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
8A-5A Player of the Year: Ta’Kala Austin, Northeast
8A-5A Coach of the Year: Zach Gillion, Northeast
4A-2A Player of the Year: Deja Antoine, Cardinal Gibbons
4A-2A Coach of the Year: Kevin Gordon, Cardinal Gibbons
WRESTLING
Co-Wrestlers of the Year: Josiah Gittman, St. Thomas Aquinas AND Grant Aranoff, St. Thomas Aquinas
Coach of the Year: Allen Held, Cypress Bay
BOYS’ SOCCER
5A-4A Player of the Year: Sofien Mebrek, South Broward
5A-4A Coach of the Year: Phil Lamarre, Douglas
3A-1A Player of the Year: James Scassera, Westminster Academy
3A-1A Coach of the Year: Diego Cardona, North Broward Prep
GIRLS’ SOCCER
5A-4A Player of the Year: Bella Dorosy, St. Thomas Aquinas
5A-4A Coach of the Year: Kate Dwyer, Cypress Bay
3A-1A Player of the Year: Zandy Soree, American Heritage
3A-1A Coach of the Year: Cindy Marcial, American Heritage
CHEERLEADING
Co-Coaches of the Year: Annette Goldstein, Coral Springs AND Kayley Ingle, South Plantation
BASEBALL
9A-7A Pitcher of the Year: Brandon Kaminer, Douglas
9A-7A Player of the Year: Colton Welker, Douglas
9A-7A Coach of the Year: Todd Fitz-Gerald, Douglas
6A-2A Pitcher of the Year: Christian Scott, Calvary Christian
6A-2A Player of the Year: Max Guzman, Calvary Christian
6A-2A Co-Coaches of the Year: Alan Kunkel, Calvary Christian AND Rich Bielski, Archbishop McCarthy
SOFTBALL
9A-7A Pitcher of the Year: Sydney Bates, Western
9A-7A Player of the Year: Thais Gonzalez, St. Thomas Aquinas
9A-7A Coach of the Year: Jeffrey Poole, Western
6A-2A Pitcher of the Year: Madison Canby, American Heritage
6A-2A Player of the Year: Allison Muraskin, Coral Springs Charter
6A-2A Co-Coaches of the Year: Marty Cooper, American Heritage and Mark Montimurro, Coral Springs Charter
TRACK AND FIELD
Boys’ Athlete of the Year: Anthony Schwartz, American Heritage
Girls’ Athlete of the Year: JanTaijah Ford, Northeast
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Greg Barnes, American Heritage
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Duchane Thomas, Northeast
TENNIS
Boys’ Player of the Year: Andrew Heller, Cypress Bay
Girls’ Player of the Year: Sibel Can, Cypress Bay
Boys’ Co-Coaches of the Year: Vincent Grossi, Cypress Bay and Steven Browne, Sagemont
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Marina Andreoni-Stewart, Cypress Bay
WATER POLO
Boys’ Player of the Year: Andres Schmidt, Cypress Bay
Girls’ Player of the Year: Hayley Hill, Fort Lauderdale
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Debbie Cavanaugh, Fort Lauderdale
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Chris Bloese, South Broward
LACROSSE
Boys’ Player of the Year: Louie Yovino, St. Thomas Aquinas
Girls’ Player of the Year: Tara Shecter, Pine Crest
Boys’ Coach of the Year: Terry Crowley, St. Thomas Aquinas
Girls’ Coach of the Year: Sammy McCurdy, St. Thomas Aquinas
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Year: Michael Moreiras, Archbishop McCarthy
Coach of the Year: Karen Frank, Archbishop McCarthy
FLAG FOOTBALL
Player of the Year: Ambresha Long, Coconut Creek
Coach of the Year: Robert Carradine, Coconut Creek
This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Broward’s best are honored at Miami Herald’s All-Broward Awards banquet."