Belen Jesuit boys capture District 23-2A golf title
Belen Jesuit has had plenty of athletic accomplishments over the years but one trophy missing from the school’s trophy case was a district championship in boys’ golf.
That all ended on Monday afternoon at Miami Springs Country Club when the Wolverines, in a tense and close match, edged out favored and rival Columbus to win the District 23-2A title.
How close? The top four finishers for each school had the exact same score, leaving both teams deadlocked at 308. All eight players headed for the first hole to play a sudden-death aggregate playoff and when Belen players recorded a pair of pars and two bogeys for an 18 and Columbus players had two pars, and bogey and a double bogey for 19, the Wolverines had their first district golf title.
“It really was a great electric atmosphere out there because I knew our kids were playing well and you always know Columbus is going to play well,” said Belen coach Mario Avello. “I told the kids, when you get out there, just try your best because Columbus is a very talented team and very tough to beat. But if you play good, you never know what’s going to happen and it happened for us today and we couldn’t be more excited. Our kids really performed well under pressure.”
How close were things between the two schools? When Belen’s Andrew Cecol and Columbus’ Rafael Martinez tied for medalist honors with three-over par 74s, they headed out for a sudden death playoff to decide the matter.
Two and half hours later, the two were still at it after nine holes (each had 7 pars and two birdies), and Avello and Columbus coach Mike Marinelli agreed to declare the two golfers co-medalists.
Leo Herrera (75), A.J. Martinez (79) and Kristian Lastre (80) rounded out the Belen scoring. Julio Betancourt (75), Joaquin Trigueros (79) and Jake Moscoso (80) were Columbus’ matching scores.
The two teams won’t be strangers as they’ll see each next week as both qualified for the regional tournament to be held at Weston Hills in Broward County.
“The best part is that everything is so tight-knit at our school with the support each sport gives the other,” Avello said. “So it feels great to be able to bring a new district trophy home to the school.”
Miami Beach placed third with a score of 344 and also qualified for regionals (top three teams advance). Miami Springs’ Brent Cates (80) and American’s Gustavo Hernandez (84) were the top two individual finishers outside of the three qualifying teams and thus advance to regionals individually.
On the girls’ side, Miami Beach already had the title won even before the team left for the tournament since they were the only girls’ team competing. The Lady Hi-Tides were led by Elizabeth Hopkins with an 86.
▪ Belen Jesuit 308, Columbus 308, Miami Beach 344, Krop 480: Andrew Cecol (BEL) 74, Rafael Martinez (COL) 74, Leo Herrera (BEL) 75, Julio Betancourt (COL) 75, Carl Tegel (MB) 78, A.J. Martinez (BEL) 79, Joaquin Trigueros (COL) 79, Kristian Lastre (BEL) 80, Jake Oscoso (COL) 80, Brent Cates (MS) 80.
MORE GOLF
District 24-2A boys: Palmetto secured the team championship by shooting a team score of 322 at the Redland Golf and Country Club. Coral Gables’ Thomas Nieves won the individual championship with a score of 74 to edge Palmetto’s D.J. Burnham, who shot a 76. TERRA’s Logan Bryant (77) and Nicholas Invernizzi (81) were the individual qualifiers at the meet.
Boys’ team results: 1. Palmetto 322; 2. South Dade 339; 3. Coral Reef 340; 4. TERRA 341. Individuals: 1. Thomas Nieves (CG) 74; 2. D.J. Burnham (PAL) 76; 3. Logan Bryant (TERRA) 77; 4. Cole Castro (SD) 79; 5. Fellipo Pilutti (SD) 80; 6. Nicholas Invernizzi (TERRA) 81; Daniel Hasty (PAL) 81; 8. Gareth Williams (PAL) 82; 9. Roberto Giorgetti (PAL) and Danny Worcester (CR) 83.
District 23-1A: University School’s boys’ golf team secured the championship of its district by shooting a 332 at Jacaranda Country Club East Monday.
Sagemont’s Kade Cannon won the individual championship by shooting an 80 and winning a playoff over Chaminade-Madonna’s Travis Still, who also shot an 80.
Miami Country Day was the only advancing team on the girls’ side. University School’s Tori Bien won the individual title.
Boys’ team results: 1. University School 332; 2. Chaminade 347; 3. Miami Country Day 350; 4. Sagemont 377; Individuals: 1. Kade Cannon (Sage) 80; 2. Travis Still (CM) 80; 3. Blake Maier (US) and Sergio Escalante (CM) 81; 5. Samuel Bennett (US) and Spencer Berens (MCD) 82; 7. Jared Barclay (US) 83; 8. Val Salemi (Sage) 84.
Girls’ results (Only advancing team): Miami Country Day 519. Individuals: Tori Bien (US) 82; Emma Persinger (CM) 94.
▪ Girls, Miami Beach 463 (at Miami Springs CC): Elizabeth Hopkins (MB) 86.
▪ Boys, MAST vs. Key West (at Crandon, Key Biscayne GC): Patrick Roesser 42, Jacey Hartfield 51, Lucas (Luke) Schnieder 51, Thomas Biggs 56, Keenan Samway 56, Michael Jensen 56, Hunter Hovan-Quidor 60, Eran Kornfeld 69.
BOYS’ BOWLING
▪ Miami Christian 7, Coral Reef 0: High Games: Alex Yaniz (MC) 273, 224. Jeffrey Yaniz (MC) 222. High Series: Alex Yaniz (MC) 667. MC12-0.
▪ Ferguson 7, South Dade 0: High Game: Liam Reloba (FER) 226. High Series: Brian Brown(SD) 560. FER 10-0.
▪ Palmetto 7, Reagan 0: High Game: Diego Mateluna (RR) 163. Ryan Stoler (PAL) 158. High Series: Ryan Stoler (PAL) 449. Rafael Chang (RR) 443. PAL 1-7.
▪ TERRA 7, Coral Park 0: High Games: Josh Munoz (TER) 235, Kevin Morrissey (TER) 221, Chris Bacallao (TER) 187, Kevin Bimonte (CP) 168. High Series: Josh Munoz (TER) 630. Kevin Morrissey (TER) 568. TER 9-0.
GIRLS’ BOWLING
▪ Braddock 4, Killian 0: High Game: Jenny Cortez (BRA) 147, Nicole De La Paz (KIL) 127. High Series: Jenny Cortez (BRA) 404, Nicole De La Paz (KIL) 319 BRA 5-3.
▪ Ferguson 7, South Dade 0: High Game Kristin Smith (SD) 191, Angela Chapman (FER) 173. High Series: Kristin Smith (SD) 518. FER 10-0.
▪ Reagan 4. Palmetto 3: High Game: Andrea Keeler (PAL) 154. Flor Casanas (RR) 146. High Series: Andrea Keeler (PAL) 399. Flor Casanas (RR) 368.
▪ Coral Reef 5, Gilliver 2: High Game: Sofia DeSoto (GP) 166. Carolina Colli (CR) 148. High Series: Sofia DeSoto (GP) 380. Ammanda Grullon (CR) 380. CR 8-2.
▪ TERRA 7, Coral Park 0: High Game: Melanie Serrano (TER) 184, Kristi Perlberg (TER) 171, Solimar Alvarado (CP) 142. High Series: Kristi Perlberg (TER) 462, Melanie Serrano (TER) 451. TER 9-0.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
▪ Palmer Trinity d. Gulliver 25-14, 25-23, 22-25, 27-25: PT 17-5: Ellie Nosich, 9 kills, ace, 3 block, 24 digs. Daniela Diaz 4 block, 5 aces, 5 kills, 8 digs. Grace Seide 7 kills, block. GP: Lauren Potter 20 kills, 3 aces, 2 digs. Blanca Mengotti 8 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs. Sarah Lobo 38 assists, 2 kills, 3 aces, 1 dig.
▪ Hillel d. Posnack (25-17, 25-23, 26-24): Nikki Scheck 15 kills. Lauren Rub 5 kills. Dani Scheck 9 kills. HIL 2-7.
▪ Archimedean d. Everglades Prep (25-8, 25-23, 25-21): Gabriela Blandino 4 aces, 6 kills. Bianca Pinto 3 aces, 3 kills. Jacqueline Garcia 6 kills, ace. Linned Gomez 8 aces, kill. Laura Rodriguez 4 aces, 2 kills. Lorena Roman 2 kills. Madeleine Molinares 2 kills, ace. ARC10-6.
▪ Mourning d. Doctors Charter (25-9, 25-12, 25-11): Amanda Rey 13 assists, 8 kills, 7 aces. Erin Donahue 6 kills, 3 aces, 15 digs, 1 assist. Mary Shelow 6 kills, 3 aces, 4 digs. ATM 17-2.
▪ TERRA d. La Salle (25-1, 25-18, 25-20): Grace Cope 4 kills, 7 aces, dig. Gabriella Aquino-Martinez 9 kills, aces, 2 digs. Katelyn Barrow (24 assists, 8 aces, 2 kills, 6 digs. TER 15-3.
TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
GMAC championship at Ferguson – Quarterfinals: Hialeah Gardens vs. Southwest, 2; American vs. Miami High, 2; Coral Reef vs. Mourning, 3:30; Ferguson vs. TERRA, 3:30; Semifinals: 5; Final:6:30 or 7.
BOYS’ GOLF
District 20-3A at Delray Dunes: 8 a.m.
District 21-3A at Jacaranda CC: 8 a.m.
District 24-2A at Grand Palms GC: 8 a.m.
District 24-1A at Biltmore: 8 a.m.
GIRLS’ GOLF
District 20-3A at Delray Beach GC: 8 a.m.
District 22-3A at Bonaventure CC: 8 a.m.
District 23-3A at Miami Springs GC: 8 a.m.
District 24-3A at Palmetto GC: 8 a.m.
District 24-2A at Grand Palms GC: 8 a.m.
District 22-1A at Palm Aire CC: 8:30 a.m.
District 24-1A at Biltmore: 8 a.m.
This story was originally published October 13, 2014 at 10:43 PM with the headline "Belen Jesuit boys capture District 23-2A golf title."