The Miami Herald to honor Miami-Dade’s best at awards banquet

A tradition that began nearly six decades ago will continue Thursday morning when the Miami Herald will host its annual All-Dade Athletic Awards sponsored by Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Baptist Health South Florida and the Orange Bowl.

The event begins at 8 a.m. at Jungle Island in Miami and will once again honor excellence in 18 sports.

Dade County teams had another successful season, bringing home 15 state championships this past season, along with numerous other individual titles.

The Miami Herald will honor the Players and Coaches of the Year individually for each sport as well as announce its Overall Athletes of the Year and the Overall Coaches of the Year.

The top athletic programs also will be honored with the Miami Herald’s All-Sports Awards and Major Sports Awards.

The Miami Herald’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award and Leo Suarez-Walter Krietsch Courage Award also will be presented. The latter is handed out every year to one or more individuals with ties to the local athletic community who have exhibited extraordinary courage while handling adversity.

For more information on the events, visit mhathleticawardsdade.com.

SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

Pine Crest swept the Scholar-Athlete category at Tuesday’s All-Broward Athletic Awards banquet at the Signature Grand in Davie.

Three-time state diving champion and U.S. All-American Austin Fields won the boys’ award and cross-country individual state champion Alyssa Pujals won the girls’ award.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "The Miami Herald to honor Miami-Dade’s best at awards banquet."