Latest news with #Chaminade
Miami Herald
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Chaminade's Lopez and N. Broward Prep's Schwartz are Broward 3A-1A Athletes of the Year
Even before transferring to Chaminade-Madonna before last football season, junior Jasen Lopez was known for his versatile talents in both football and basketball. And at North Broward Prep, senior Alexa Schwartz has long established herself as a standout in basketball and track and field. Both athletes put together tremendous efforts for their respective teams this past season, which added to their impressive athletic resumes. And so, Lopez and Schwartz are the Miami Herald's Broward County Overall Athletes of the Year for Classes 3A-1A. Lopez, who had already enjoyed three fantastic seasons as a prolific wide receiver and shooting guard at True North Classical Academy in Miami, he took things up a notch this season upon his move north to Broward. Against a national schedule, Lopez caught 87 passes for over 1,300 yards and caught 14 touchdown passes while rushing for two more scores and returning a punt for a touchdown. Lopez, a 5-10, 165-pound receiver who is being recruited by several schools including Miami and Florida State, was a steady presence during a turbulent start to the Lions' football season. Eventually, Lopez was a big reason Chaminade kept its state championship streak going with its fourth in a row. He carried the momentum to the basketball court where he elevated Chaminade's program to secure its first ever bid in the BCAA Big 8 tournament. He then led the Lions to the Class 2A regional semifinals. 'This is very special,' Lopez said after the football team's state win. '...It's great for me being my first and for the guys who have been here, it's a four-peat. It's very special.' Schwartz etched her name in the state record books this past season in track, setting a new state meet record and winning the Class 2A state title in the javelin with a throw of 47.04 meters. Schwartz was a two-time state champion and three-time district champion in the event. On the basketball court, Schwartz heads to the college level as North Broward Prep's all-time leading scorer with over 1,000 points and single season assists leader. Schwartz, who recorded the school's first triple-double in a game. Schwartz, who was a Miami Herald Silver Knight nominee and this year's Broward Girls' Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was part of her school's Honor Roll every semester, and is a member of seven different National Honor Societies. Schwartz is heading to FSU after graduating with a 4.7 GPA and scoring a 30 on her ACT. BOYS' FINALISTS ▪ Brandon Bennett, American Heritage (football, track and field): Bennett played a huge role once again in leading the Patriots to their first state title since 2020 in football and followed that up with a strong performance in track and field, helping the Patriots' 400-meter relay win a state title and break a state meet record. ▪ Jonathan Pena, Westminster Academy (cross-country, track and field): Pena placed fourth at the Class 1A state championships in cross-country and ran the fastest time in the county (15:14). Pena, the Herald's Boys' Runner of the Year, was also a state qualifier in track in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. ▪ Shon Abaev, Calvary Christian (basketball): Abaev earned McDonald's All-American honors and led the Eagles to a state championship and a top 5 national ranking. Abaev, the Herald's 3A-1A Boys' Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 20.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. ▪ Michael Mocco, Cardinal Gibbons (wrestling): Mocco proved to be one of the most dominant wrestlers in the nation once again as he went undefeated (43-0) and repeated as a state champion - this time in the 215-pound weight class. He was also the Herald's Broward Wrestler of the Year. GIRLS' FINALISTS ▪ Bradee Boyd, Calvary Christian (indoor and beach volleyball): After transferring to the Eagles, Boyd immediately made an impact as one of the top players in the state. Boyd, a 5-10 sophomore outside hitter and the Herald's 4A-1A Girls' Volleyball Player of the Year, totaled 488 kills, 274 digs and 415 receptions to lead the Eagles to the Region 4-3A semifinals. She also earned first team All-Broward honors in beach volleyball with teammate Vitoria Belfort, a junior, after leading that squad to regionals. ▪ Lydia Berent, Cardinal Gibbons (softball): Berent became an even more dominant pitcher this past season, going 20-6 with 243 strikeouts and a 1.11 ERA. Berent, a Stanford University commit, was also a force at the plate, hitting .500, three home runs, 11 doubles and scoring 39 runs. ▪ Isabella Sangha, Pine Crest (volleyball, basketball): Sangha was a prolific scorer in basketball and a strong presence on the Panthers' regional finalist volleyball team. Sangha averaged 27 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game in basketball and finished with 199 kills in volleyball to earn All-Broward second team honors.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Legendary Chaminade lacrosse coach Jack Moran retiring after 45 years
After 45 years, this frequent flyer is finally landing. Chaminade head lacrosse coach Jack Moran announced he's stepping down from his role — 21 championships and 629 wins later. 'I'm just going to miss the banter,' Moran, 73, told The Post. 'Most of the time with the kids, I can just give a look to them … whatever we do, do it at 100 percent effort 100 percent of the time. And I'm going to miss being able to say that to those guys every single day.' After Moran announced the end of his tenure, he received '178 text messages and about 100 emails' from former players wishing their old coach well. 'I know them all,' Moran said of those he instructed since 1979. 'I probably have a story for every one of them.' It's not his final flight, however. Moran will hold an advisory role with the prestigious Catholic program, where students cut from varsity teams are often still recruited for college. His focus will be on player development and team depth with enthusiastic second- and third-stringers as 'sulkers find out by sophomore year they aren't in the right sport.' Chaminade head lacrosse coach Jack Moran announced he's stepping down from his role — 21 championships and 629 wins later. Courtesy of Chaminade High School 'I'm not going to make every road trip. I'm going to spend time watching my grandkids play on the weekends, but I'll probably be at the Delbarton game,' he said of the New York-New Jersey rivalry. Assistant coach Gregory Kay, the school's chief academic officer and 1998 grad, will fill the coach's huge shoes next spring. Moran, whose Flyers last won it all in 2018, ended his career on a championship loss to the school's respected archrival, the St. Anthony's Friars, by a score of 16-12 last month. 'In fact, I was happy it was St. Anthony's,' Moran said. 'Because from going out, that's a team I want to go out with.' Jack Moran poses for a picture with some of his Chaminade players earlier in the season. Heather Khalifa for New YorK Post Semis are Place to be for Carle Place These Frogs don't want to croak in the big game. Carle Place's softball team is heading to the state semifinals and could bring home the Nassau County town's first state title in the sport. The 19-5 LI champions face 20-3 Chatham in the semifinals Friday night. 'We don't know anything about them, we're going in blind,' said sophomore third basemen Alexa Mifsud. Nevertheless, the squad is keeping cool and calm. Junior Isabella DeGroot, a first baseman who also pitches and plays the outfield, recalled pregame jitters of playing Cold Spring Harbor in the first round of the Nassau County games. They conquered CSP 18-0 and then 20-0 in the best-of-three series, and the Frogs used the moment to know the team can hang with the best of any competition thrown their way. 'We're going to have to be ready for all different kinds of pitches now — and we've done a lot of hitting drills for that,' DeGroot added. The USA Patriots amputee softball team, better known as the National Wounded Warrior squad, is traveling to Long Island to take on two local teams, the LI Senior All-Stars and LI All-Stars, at noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Moriches Athletic Complex. Admission is free.
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Chaminade's Krasner and American Heritage's Rich are Broward 4A-1A Players of the Year
American Heritage's Jordan Rich made a choice to commit full-time to baseball. He was one of the most dynamic players in Broward County long before he even made that decision. Spencer Krasner, a former teammate of Rich's at Heritage, was one of the most outstanding pitchers in the state long before making the decision to transfer to Chaminade-Madonna. Both ended up having career seasons this year for their respective teams. And so, Krasner is the Miami Herald's Broward County Pitcher of the Year for Classes 4A-1A while Rich is the Herald's Player of the Year for that same group. Krasner, a dominant left-hander and University of South Carolina commit, went a perfect 9-0 on the mound this past season, striking out 100 batters in 59 innings and compiling an 0.95 ERA. Krasner, who had already been a vital part of a state championship team at American Heritage as a freshman and state runner-up team as a sophomore, led Chaminade to a 24-5 record and a district championship. Although the Lions were eliminated in a best-of-3 Region 4-2A quarterfinal series by Miami Westminster Christian, Krasner threw a three-hitter, striking out nine for Chaminade's lone win in the series. Krasner had five games where he struck out 12 or more batters and eight games where he struck out eight or more. Krasner figures to be a potential MLB draft prospect in addition to his potential opportunity to become an impactful pitcher in the Southeastern Conference in college. Rich, formerly a standout on the Patriots' football team, is developing into one of the most versatile players in the state and showed it this season while guiding Heritage to its second state title in three seasons. 'I really feel really great about the decision to play baseball, and wish I had made the decision even sooner,' Rich said. 'I couldn't be happier.' Rich, a senior outfielder, hit .393 and showed his power with seven home runs and eight doubles; his consistency as he drove in 26 runs; and his speed as he stole 38 bases. A Miami-Dade College signee for baseball, Rich also showed his resilience returning from a season-ending injury last year to become a full-time starter on a state championship team. 'Two years ago, that 2023 state championship team, I feel, was similar to this team,' Rich said. 'It was a group of selfless guys who gelled at the right time and everything clicked. We just wanted to prove to ourselves we could do it. That's how we approached this season and ultimately finished it.'
New York Post
06-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Long Island students travel to Normandy, honor long-forgotten alum who died in D-Day invasion
Chaminade High School students prayed for hours at the gravesite of a long-forgotten alum who heroically died after the D-Day invasion of Normandy during a recent trip to France. Officials at the Long Island Catholic school had just found out about the tragic death of 1935 graduate John J. McDonald a week before an annual spring trip to the country. They learned of the Mineola man killed in action two days after Allied forces stormed the beaches in June of 1944 — and found out he's one of the thousands laid to rest at the massive cemetery there. Advertisement 5 Chaminade High School students visited France and prayed at the graveside of an alum who died after the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Courtesy Chaminade High School 'We never even thought that one of our alumni was buried over in France,' Chaminade president Brother Thomas Cleary told The Post. 'We know he married, had no children…I don't know if anyone has ever visited his grave.' Advertisement The school scrambled to rearrange its Easter break travel plans and had all 30 students, taking turns in small groups, pray for nearly an hour at the grave of the Army Air Corps lieutenant who was shot down two days after D-Day. 'It really set in. This man, he's buried here — alone in a foreign country without his family,' said junior Andrew Kerr, who was part of the sobering moment that paid respect to the bombardier who flew 71 missions with the Ninth Air Force. 'I just can't even imagine what it would be like, that one day you just get up, go to war, you don't see your family again.' 5 John J. McDonald graduated Chaminade High School in 1935. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post Advertisement A hero's legacy — 81 years later Although many details about McDonald's life remain unclear, it is known that he was a track athlete at Chaminade who had a love for model airplanes before flying in one. McDonald even threw one he spent weeks building onto the school's football field during a homecoming game. 'You hear about it and you feel like it's so distant from you,' Kerr added. Advertisement 'But then you see his picture on the wall with the class of 1935 at school, and it all of a sudden it becomes 'wow, this really does relate to me.'' The 1918-born warrior first entered the Marines in 1937 and, after a medical discharge, re-enlisted in the Army in the thick of World War II. He wed while on leave in 1943. Brother Cleary is now trying to track down a member of McDonald's family to connect with and share the experience and learn more about him. 5 McDonald was a track athlete at Chaminade High School and loved planes. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 5 Students Dylan Stampfel, Gianni Bono, Andrew Kerr and Maximilian Matuszewski posed for a portrait next to a plaque honoring McDonald. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'They were people like us, exactly like us,' junior Gianni Bono, whose brother is a Marine, said. 'It's an insane thing to think about.' Advertisement Being at the gravesite steps from the once bloody beaches of the Great Crusade to liberate Europe also gave the students a perspective not viewed in even an advanced placement curriculum. 'When you learn about this in history class, it's just a number,' said junior Dylan Stampfel. 5 Many details about McDonald's life remain unclear. Courtesy Chaminade High School 'But when you go there and you see the over 9,000 graves just lined up on the perfectly manicured lawn… it's very humbling.' Advertisement The teens also visited on a gorgeous day with polar opposite conditions to the notorious rain and fog that the beach storming is remembered for. 'What struck most of the students was that most of the beaches are now used recreationally,' said Marta Agosti, the school's world language chair who planned the trip. 'But I thought that is the best way in which you can say thank you to all the people that actually died there — so that we could continue with life.' Advertisement Junior Maximillian Matuszewski, who watched 'Saving Private Ryan' ahead of the trip, said Tom Hanks' core-shaking final words of 'earn this' have new meaning to him. 'It means to put my best foot forward always, and work as hard as I can,' he said. 'And to be thankful that I would never have to experience something that McDonald would.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York Legislative Candidate Petros Krommidas Goes Missing
A New York legislative candidate named Petros Krommidas has been reported missing. Krommidas's Facebook page says he is a "Democrat Running for Nassau County Legislator for the 4th District." Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Louis Imbroto wrote on Facebook, "Petros Krommidas has been missing. He is a Chaminade alumnus and works in government. He was last seen in Baldwin on Wednesday night at 9:00PM and was reported to NCPD as missing at 7:35PM last night." He added, "Petros is described as 6'2 tall, 230 lbs, with brown hair & brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage print sweatshirt & gray sweatpants. He is believed to be in the Long Beach area. If anyone has any information on his whereabouts, please contact NCPD Missing Persons Squad at 516-573-7347 or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous." According to The New York Post, Krommidas's family has revealed he "likely swam in the sea while training for an upcoming triathlon." The Post reported that he was last seen when he left for the swim, and his locked car was found at a local hotel. "He locked his car, took a towel, and around 10:30 p.m. walked onto the beach to exercise, just as he had done many times before,' his family wrote on social media, according to The Post. 'The police found his towel, clothes, and phone left on the beach. Since then, search efforts have been ongoing, but we need the public's help.' Krommidas's last post came on April 22, 2025. "I had the opportunity to speak at last night's Nassau County Young Democrats' monthly meeting alongside Joe Scianablo, who's running for Town of Hempstead Supervisor. Thank you to the Nassau County Young Democrats for having me—always great to be with such a thoughtful, engaged group committed to making a difference in our community," it reads. A person wrote on his page comment thread before he went missing, "I knew when I first met you that you were destined for great success. I'm proud of you Petros." A post in the Long Beach City Facebook group reads, "My friend Maria is looking for her son Petros Krommidas and is hoping for extra eyes and volunteers to assist in any way they can. She is unconsolable and desperate to find her boy and bring him home."
