Latest news with #FelixVarela
Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami boys' volleyball all-star game celebrates 20th anniversary. Plus softball and track
The North came from behind to edge the South 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-20, 15-10) in the 20th anniversary of the Miami-Dade High School Boys' Volleyball All-Star Game at Barry University in Miami Shores. The event, organized by Daniel Benitez, features the top high school senior boys' volleyball players in the county. The North showcased Roman Garcia (Barbara Goleman), Nico Delgado-Gonzalez (Coral Gables), Mariano Beytia (Coral Gables), Dante Munecas (Columbus), Joseph Gonzalez (Miami High), Carlos Miranda (Miami High), Evan Alcron (Miami High), Nicholas Navarro (Hialeah), Giovanni Gonzalez (Hialeah-Miami Lakes), Ibrahim Perez (Mater Lakes), Elayan Soto (Mater Lakes), Diego Cobena (Ronald Reagan Doral), Yeison Gonzalez (Ronald Reagan Doral), Santiago Lopez (Divine Savior), Ernesto Alvarenga (JC Bermudez), Lucas Barragan (LaSalle), Christian Bagshaw (LaSalle), Head Coach Josh Garavito (Ronald Reagan Doral), Honorary Coach Camilo Guerci (Columbs - 2006 All-Star). The South showcased Gabriel Perez-Malo (Braddock), Alvaro Perez (Ferguson), Oliver Cerna (Homestead), Jake Bedoya (Palmetto), Lucca Santana (Palmetto), Dereck Ocasio (Southwest), Jaime Dominguez (Southwest), Luke Diaz (Belen Jesuit), Max Klemick (Belen Jesuit), AJ Garrido (Belen Jesuit), Jose Santos (Felix Varela), Luke Ieremia (Felix Varela), Makquiel Velez (Sunset), Uziel Chaparro (Sunset), Head Coach Sebastian Abreu (Felix Varela), Honorary Coach Matthew Kanakis (Palmetto - 2015 All-Star). To celebrate this historic match, 20-years-old, some former all-stars attended, including 2014 - Johnny Benitez - Florida Christian School; 2017 - Daniel Thews - SLAM Miami; 2017 - Alejandro Escobar - Palmetto; 2022 - Charlie Oriana - Felix Varela; 2023 - Thomas Santos - Miami High; 2023 - Elio Martin - Hialeah-Miami Lakes; 2024 - Yusdel Martinez - Felix Varela; 2024 - Lucas Perez-Malo - G Holmes Braddock; 2024 - Matthew Webb - Hialeah-Miami Lakes; 2024 - Seth Bohler - Palmetto. College coaches in attendance included: Pedro Davila (Warner University men's volleyball coach); Imanol Davila (Oakland City men's volleyball assistant coach); Charles Norman (Barry University men's volleyball coach); and Breno Ertty (St. Thomas University men's volleyball coach). Event photographers were John Benitez (@Johnnybenitez_) and Dania Montejo (@themontejos). North d. South 20-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-20, 15-10: Yeison Gonzalez 14 Kills, 7 Digs, 1 Ace; Carlos Miranda 7 Digs; Nico Delgado-Gonzalez 3 Digs; Giovanni Gonzalez 1 Dig, 2 Assists; Ibrahim Perez 2 Kills, 2 Digs, 1 Assist, 3 Blocks; Santiago Lopez 1 Kill; Elayan Soto 1 Kill, 1 Block; Marianno Beytia 1 Dig, 9 Assists; Diego Cobena 5 Kills, 3 Digs, 1 Ace, 1 Block; Nicholas Navarro 4 Digs, 2 Aces; Ernesto Alvarenga 1 Dig, 5 Assists; Roman Garcia 1 Kill; Christian Bagshaw 1 Kill, 1 Block; Evan Alcron 1 Dig, 2 Blocks; Lucas Barragan 2 Assists; Dante Munecas 3 Kills, 9 Blocks; Jose Santos 1 Dig, 6 Assists; Luke Diaz 3 Kills, 4 Digs, 5 Assists, 1 Ace; Lucca Sant'anna 1 Kill, 4 Digs, 3 Assists; Derek Ocasio 5 Kills, 2 Digs, 2 Blocks; Gabriel Perez-Malo 9 Kills, 1 Dig, 2 Aces; Luke Ieremia 5 Kills, 3 Digs, 2 Aces, 1 Block; Jaime Dominguez 2 Blocks; Max Klemick 2 Blocks; Jake Bedoy 3 Kills, 1 Dig, 1 Block; Oliver Cerna 2 Kills; AJ Garrido 2 Digs; Uziel Chapparo 2 Digs, 4 Assists; Alvaro Perez 1 Kill. State track awards The Florida Diary Farmers announced the state's classification winners for FHSAA boys' and girls' track & field. Each is eligible for Mr. and Miss Track & Field honors, respectively, representing the best of the best. Coach of the Year recipients were also announced. They are eligible for the state's overall Coach of the Year accolades. Here are locals who won classification honors. ▪ Class 3A Girls' Track Athlete of the Year: Tyra Cox, Senior, Miami Northwestern: The 2024 Florida Miss Track swept the 200-meter (22.99) and 400-meter (51.44) state titles for the second consecutive year. Her time of 51.44 in the 400 meters was the second fastest among USA high school runners in 2025. Signed with the University of Florida. ▪ Class 2A Girls' Track Athlete of the Year: Arianna Garcia, Junior, Carrollton: Swept the 100-meter hurdles (14.09) and 400-meter hurdles (58.97) championships. ▪ Class 3A Girls' Track Coach of the Year: Davidson Gill, Dillard: Led his team to its second straight state title with a 96-85.5 point victory over Miami Northwestern. ▪ Class 2A Girls' Track Coach of the Year: Dylan Hermelee, Carrollton: Led his squad to the school's first state title, edging 2024 champion Montverde Academy by a narrow 65-64.5 point margin. ▪ Class 4A Boys' Track Coach of the Year: Danny Areces, Miami Columbus: Led Columbus to its second straight state title with 74 points. ▪ Class 3A Boys' Track Coach of the Year: Victor Arrieta, Belen Jesuit: Led his team to the state title with 69 points, finishing ahead of runnerup Niceville (67). State softball nominees The Florida Dairy Farmers announced the list of nominees for FHSAA top state softball honors, and the stellar group includes some local athletes and coaches. They are: ▪ 7A: Krystal Martinez (Hialeah Gardens) Sr C .722 BA, 11 2B; 2 3B, 4 HR, 30 R, 31 RBI, 21 SB; Ali Solo (Western) Sr P 18-4, 2.10 ERA, 153 IP, 175 K; .298 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI; Chloe Junco (Coral Reef) Jr INF .387 BA, 19 R, 28 RBI, .933 Fielding %; Coach John Bradshaw (Western) 20-6 State Final Four; Coach Kyle Davis (West Broward) 18-8 Regional Finalist; Coach Zach Segal (Coral Reef) 20-7. ▪ 6A: Megan Villazone (Doral Academy) Sr P 26-1, 0.63 ERA, 145 IP, 261 K, 39 BB ; .475 BA, 45 RBI; Coach Willie Viruet (Doral Academy) 31-1 State Champion; Coach Robyn Handler (South Plantation) 14-12 Regional Finalist. ▪ 5A: Victoria Brunette (St. Thomas Aquinas) Sr INF .341 BA, 8 2B, 3 HR, 20 R, 22 RBI; Summer Givens (St. Thomas Aquinas) Sr INF .346 BA, 7 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 18 R, 26 RBI; Coach Bryan Baucom (St. Thomas Aquinas) 16-13 State Final Four. ▪ 4A: Lyric Rodriguez (American Heritage) 8th P 14-2, 1.26 ERA, 100 IP, 91 K, 26 BB; Sienna Garcia (Archbishop McCarthy) Sr P 9-5, 2.17 ERA, 113 IP, 169 K, 43 BB; 3 HR, 17 R, 19 RBI; Coach Jason Garcia (Key West) 16-8 Regional Finalist; Coach Sergio Fernandez (American) 15-9; Coach Samantha Banister (American Heritage) 23-3 State Runner-Up; Coach Jean Ferrier (Archbishop McCarthy) 15-8. ▪ 3A: Lydia Berent (Cardinal Gibbons) Jr P 20-6, 1.11 ERA, 157 IP, 243 K, 26 BB; .500 BA, 11 2B, 3 HR, 39 R, 12 RBI, 20 SB; Gio Gurgel (Coral Springs Charter) Jr C/3B .494 BA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 26 R, 35 RBI; Taylor Rebhan (Somerset Academy Silver Palms) Jr INF .430 BA, 7 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 36 R, 24 RBI, 19 SB; Coach Mark Montimurro (Coral Springs Charter) 23-4 Regional Finalist; Coach Gator Rehban (Somerset Academy Silver Palms) 24-6 State Champion. ▪ 2A: Kinsey Cerda (Palmer Trinity) Soph SS .508 BA, 7 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 29 R, 15 RBI, 24 SB; Gigi Khoury (Westminster Christian) Sr 3B .519 BA, 16 2B, 5 HR, 27 R, 26 RBI; Coach Nic Varsi (Westminster Christian) 20-8 State Final Four; Coach Stephen Hager (Florida Christian) 19-9 Regional Finalist. ▪ 1A: Camila Holguin (Miami Christian) Sr P/OF .453 BA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 24 R, 30 RBI; 3-1, 3.08 ERA; Mia Gonzalez (AIE) Jr SS/P .608 BA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 32 R, 27 RBI; 4-3, 2.12 ERA; Coach Henry Laurido (Schoolhouse Prep) 15-10 Regional Finalist; Coach Kelly Gonzalez (AIE) 10-8; Coach Pio Herrera (Miami Christian) 16-9 State Final Four. Send sports results For high school and middle school athletes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have summer sports results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@ They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online. New athletic directors, coaches For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade, if you have new sports administration and/or coaching hires to announce, email hssports@ --- Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone jvarsallone@
Miami Herald
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Results are in. Varela volleyball standout voted Miami Herald High School Athlete of the Week
Miami Felix Varela boys' volleyball player Aquiles Lorenzo is the Miami Herald's High School Athlete of the Week, as voted on by readers in our weekly poll. The sophomore had 38 kills, 9 digs and 1 block as the Vipers (8-0) beat Weston Cypress Bay in 4 sets. They've also beaten Miami Belen Jesuit, Miami Palmetto, Miami Coral Reef, and Miami Hialeah Gardens, where he has recorded 20 kills in 4 of his last 6 matches. Nicholas Heyna, Miami Columbus water polo; Maya Feller, Miami Palmetto lacrosse; Lucas Riva, Miami Columbus boys' volleyball; Kaley Dyer, Miami Westminster Christian softball; Matthew Preston, Miami Gulliver Prep water polo; Isabella Cardenas, Miami MAST water polo; and Luke Swadener, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas boys' volleyball rounded out the nominees. The Miami Herald Athlete of the Week poll opens Sunday every week and closes around 10 p.m. Thursday.
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Felix Varela Senior High student goes from debilitating disease diagnosis to defying odds in sports
It was just four years ago that a Felix Varela Senior High School senior went from being diagnosed with a debilitating disease to defying odds through sports. Sofia Motta might look like an ordinary student athlete, but the Felix Varela senior is actually dealing with an almost invisible disease. "I was almost wheelchair-bound," Motta said. "I had a lot of people not believe me that I had this because they don't know what it is, they're not familiar with it. But her disease, while rare, is very much real. It's called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic condition that makes her body's connective tissues weaker, including her joints. Diagnosed at age 13, Motta decided she wouldn't let EDS control her life. "Not taking care of my body, I could risk a lot more things, faster," Motta said. "So I decided to join as many sports as I could - I tried out for soccer, decided I wanted to become a trainer, to look at the joints themselves, work with all of the muscles." Motta is also on her school's wrestling and flag football team - she knows she has to work twice as hard to build muscle, to be strong enough to be on the wrestling mat. Despite all the extra work though, she wouldn't have it any other way. "Now, I'm able to do things that I never thought I was able to do because I went from putting on a seatbelt in the car, my shoulder came out of place, to now I could go to tackle or jump up for the football and it's still stable," Motta said. "There were a few times when you see her trying to do her moves and you kind of squint, but [it's] her mindset I believe that got her to all the things today," said Felix Varela Head Wrestling Coach Eric Hughes. Sofia didn't stop there: Jumping to create a nonprofit organization called Motta's Helping Hand, providing kids with other invisible diseases with blankets, stuffed animals and more. "So I was like, what about those young kids that they try to say something that they're feeling pain and people don't believe them, how do they feel?" Motta explained. "Because I was 13 at the time, I felt terrible so I can't imagine what younger kids were feeling." "l think it's amazing for someone with that disease but she also helps everyone else around her and she doesn't really bring it up but she also gets what she has to get done and she's still active in sports," said Motta's wrestling teammate Jordan Pineda. While Sofia was the first to be diagnosed with EDS in her family, her mother and two younger siblings discovered they also had the disease. She encourages them not to let it control their lives either. "So I told them, 'try these sports, try running, I know it's going to hurt at first - it will, I'm not going to lie, it will hurt at first but I promise you'll get through it and you'll feel amazing after, you'll be proud of yourself and everything' and they're working towards it, so it's amazing," Motta said.
