07-05-2025
Hialeah Gardens' Peralta and Palmetto's Slazas are Dade Badminton Players of the Year
All-County Sports Hialeah Gardens' Peralta and Palmetto's Slazas are Dade Badminton Players of the Year
Miami Palmetto High School's Katarina Slazas won the Greater Miami Athletic Conference badminton girls' singles championship at Braddock High School in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
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Palmetto's Katarina Slazas dominated the badminton scene in Miami-Dade County for all four years of high school.
It was fitting Slazas, a senior, capped her career with a fourth consecutive GMAC girls' singles championship.
Meanwhile, Hialeah Gardens' Joshua Peralta gradually overcame a longtime nemesis to secure his first GMAC boys' singles championship.
As such, Slazas and Peralta are the Miami Herald's Badminton Players of the Year.
Slazas, who also played soccer during her career at Palmetto, wins the award for the fourth consecutive season after dominant victories throughout the season as she went unbeaten once again and helped the Panthers win their fourth consecutive GMAC team title.
Slazas beat Hialeah Gardens' Annabelle Calles 21-5, 21-1 in the final and None of her opponents in this year's tournament reached double-digits in points against her.
Slazas, who lost her first match and then was never beaten since, became one of the most dominant players in the sport in recent memory. She was one of three division champions for Palmetto.
'I can't believe it's over,' said Slazas after winning her GMAC title. 'I'm really grateful to coach (David) Zarco. I couldn't have made it this far without his help.'
Hialeah Gardens High's Joshua Peralta won the Greater Miami Athletic Conference badminton boys' singles championship at Braddock High School in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ
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Peralta, meanwhile, had lost the past two major tournaments to Coral Park's Leandro Villalobos, a former GMAC champion who beat Peralta at this year's Youth Fair tournament.
But Peralta flipped the result at GMAC, beating Villalobos in three sets, 18-21, 21-11, 21-11.
Peralta said after winning GMAC that the loss at the Youth Fair tournament was a turning point for him.
'Last year, I lost and got second place and was very disappointed with myself and unmotivated,' Peralta said at GMAC. 'But I kept on playing and training and even though I lost to him at Youth Fair, I had another battle I had to go through. I won, but I feel like it was bittersweet. I hope I can come back and win it again next year.'
COACH OF THE YEAR
As Palmetto won its fourth consecutive GMAC title, its coach David Zarco was grateful to see how his team responded from a tough challenge from runner-up Coral Park at this year's meet.
Palmetto finished with 17 points and only six points ahead of the Rams.
In recognition of that triumph, Zarco is once again the Miami Herald's Badminton Coach of the Year.
Miami Palmetto High School's badminton coach David Zarco speaks with athletes Katarina Slazas, at left and Frederick Landsea, at right, during the Greater Miami Athletic Conference badminton finals at Braddock High School in Miami, Florida on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ
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Zarco has maintained a high standard for the Panthers, which has kept them as the top team in Miami-Dade County in recent years.
Andre C. Fernandez
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Andre Fernandez is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Miami Herald and has covered a wide variety of sports during his career including the Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, University of Miami athletics, and high school sports.
