Latest news with #Girls'CoachoftheYear
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Belen, Columbus, Carrollton coaches are Dade Track and Field Coaches of the Year
It had been close to two decades since the Belen Jesuit track and field team had won a state championship. Longtime rival Columbus hadn't waited nearly as long to win a boys' title, but didn't want to share the crown this time. And for Carrollton's girls, it was a brand new experience when they stood on the top step of the podium for the first time ever. The coaches of those three programs all led their respective squads to state championships this season. And so, Belen's Victor Arrieta, Columbus' Danny Areces and Carrollton's Dylan Hermelee are this year's Miami Herald Miami-Dade County Track and Field Coaches of the Year. Hermelee wins the Girls' Coach of the Year honors after leading Carrollton to its first team state championship. For Hermelee, it's his second coaching honor within the same school year as he was also the Dade Girls' Cross-Country Coach of the Year this past fall after leading the Cyclones to a fourth-place finish at state. There was no settling for anything short of first place in track season, and every point was needed. With a group of nine competitors overall which was led by individual state champions Arianna Garcia and Grace Aldrich, Carrollton edged Montverde Academy by half a point to capture the Class 2A state title. On the boys' side, Arrieta and Areces split the Boys' Coach of the Year honors. Arrieta led the Wolverines to their first state championship since 2007 as their squad found the balance needed to edge some of the state's best teams in Class 3A. Arrieta had watched prior Belen teams come close, but just short to a title in recent years as the Wolverines finished second in 2021 and 2023. Belen's distance runners, led by Tiago Socarras and Marcelo Mantecon, propelled the team to the top spot. A season after sharing the team title, Areces helped guide the Explorers to an outright victory in Class 4A. Columbus' sprinters such as Alec Cruz, Shaddai Carter, Bryce Fitzgerald and Zamarion Lawson, under the guidance of veteran coach James Hardwick, led the way. But the Explorers' depth in the field events with top performers such as javelin state champion Remington Goins made a huge difference.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
True North's Chow and Usina and Palmetto's Gibson are the Dade Tennis Coaches of the Year
Miami Palmetto has long been one of the premier programs in the state for tennis. Longtime coach Kelly Gibson saw their girls add to that rich history this season when they won the Class 4A state team championship. Meanwhile at True North, it was a milestone season for both tennis programs. The Titans girls, coached by Andre Chow, have become a powerhouse with some of the top players in the state. They added to their trophy case by winning another Class 1A team championship. But this season, there was more for True North as its boys, under the tutelage of Wilson Usina, secured their first team championship. As such, Gibson, Chow and Usina are this year's Miami Herald Tennis Coaches of the Year for Miami-Dade County. Gibson and Chow share honors for Girls' Coach of the Year after each led their teams to state titles. Gibson watched her girls dominate in Class 4A as they rolled their way to their eighth state championship and second in the past three seasons. Palmetto's girls are now tied for the fourth-most state titles in Miami-Dade County history with Ransom Everglades and behind Miami Beach (13), Miami Sunset (10) and Miami Gulliver Prep (10). Led by No. 1 singles player Catherine Cardona, the Panthers topped Coral Gables, Doral and Cypress Bay to advance to state and then took down Wellington and a tough Orlando Lake Nona squad, 4-3 in a tough overall match. Cardona and Camille Chellas also ended up winning the team brackets to qualify for the overall finals. In Class 1A, True North's girls were their usual dominant selves. It was the Titans' third consecutive state title on that side. True North did not drop an individual match in team play at state, sweeping Maclay and Boca Raton Grandview Prep. The Titans were led in both singles and doubles by the powerful duo of Daniela Chica and Alba Martinez. Chica has signed with Rice University, and Martinez is going to the Air Force. Usina, the Boys' Coach of the Year, guided the True North boys to their first state title after beating perennial powerhouse Boca Raton's St. Andrew's and ending the Scots' impressive streak of five straight state titles. Miami Herald Player of the Year Gabriel Valdes and Caleb Chow, who is Andre Chow's nephew, led the Titans.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Cypress Bay's Brunt and Heritage's Croke are the Broward Tennis Coaches of the Year
Both American Heritage's Toby Croke and Cypress Bay's Michael Brunt have presided over two of the premier tennis programs in the state in recent years. For Croke, it had been a little bit since one of his Patriots' squads had finished the season at the top. That changed this season when American Heritage's girls secured the Class 2A team state championship. On the boys' side, Cypress Bay didn't come away with a state team title. But the Lightning maintained their standard with top performances both individually and as a team in Class 4A. As such, Croke and Brunt are the Miami Herald's Tennis Coaches of the Year for Broward County. Croke wins the Girls' Coach of the Year honors after leading the Patriots girls to their first state title since 2021 and their seventh overall. Senior Tina Liu and junior Angelina Lin led the way as a doubles team and at the top of Heritage's singles' rotation. After losing in districts to rival Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, American Heritage bounced back with a huge team win over the Panthers in the rematch a week later to secure a regional title. Heritage carried that momentum to the state meet where it swept Orlando Lake Highland Prep and followed that with a 4-2 win over Naples Barron Collier to secure the championship. Brunt wins the Boys' Coach of the Year honors after leading Cypress Bay to the Class 4A state final four. Although the Lightning lost in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Orlando Lake Nona, Cypress Bay dominated the competition throughout the season in Broward County. The Lightning won district and regional championships led by Pablo Alunni-Cobo at the top of its singles rotation. Alunni-Cobo then teamed up with senior Rolando Torrellas and sometimes with junior Sebastian Elias to win some clutch matches throughout the season.
