4 days ago
Northwestern's Cox voted state's top track athlete. Plus boys' volleyball, softball honors
Seniors Tyra Cox of Miami Northwestern High School and Jason Atwood of Tallahassee Chiles High School have been named the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss and Mr. Track, respectively, following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school track and field coaches and media representatives.
Cox swept the Class 3A 200-meter (22.99) and 400-meter (51.44) state titles for the second consecutive year. Her time in the 400 meters was the second-fastest among USA high school runners in 2025. She has signed with NCAA Division I University of Florida in Gainesville.
For the state's Miss Track honors, Cox, the state's Class 3A girls' track athlete of the year, finished ahead of the state's Class 4A track athlete of the year and 2023 Miss Track winner Chelsi Williams of Lakeland George Jenkins, Class 2A award winner Arianna Garcia of Miami Carrollton and Class 1A award winner Cai Culpepper of Tampa Prep.
Atwood won the Class 3A state discus title with a record-setting throw of 218 feet 5 inches, shattering the mark of 210-5 set in 2017 by Sebastian River's Jarez Parks. Earlier in the season, Atwood had a national-leading throw with a mark of 225-4 ¾, the fifth-longest throw in U.S. high school track history. Atwood has signed with NCAA Division I Florida State University in Tallahassee.
To be eligible for the state's Mr. Track honors, Atwood was named the state's Class 3A boys' track and field athlete of the year and finished ahead of Class 4A winner Nickiah Wilkinson of Palm Bay Bayside, Class 2A winner Zamarii Sanders of West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman and Class 1A track athlete of the year Justin Woulard of Melbourne Central Catholic.
More track state honors
Carnell Coleman of West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman High School and Stephon Gallon of Port Orange Spruce Creek High School have been named the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Boys' and Girls' Track Coaches of the Year, respectively, following a final round of voting by a panel of state high school track and field coaches and media representatives.
Coleman, the state's Class 2A Coach of the Year, led his team to the school's first state track championship with a 53-41 point margin over runner-up West Florida.
Other class winners were 4A Coach of the Year Danny Areces of Miami Columbus, 3A COY Victor Arrieta of Miami Belen Jesuit and 1A COY Marcus Bailey of Melbourne Holy Trinity.
Gallon, the Class 4A Coach of the Year, led his girls' team to the program's first state championship with 49.5 points over Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (43) and Lakeland George Jenkins (41).
Gallon finished ahead of Class 3A COY Davidson Gill of Fort Lauderdale Dillard, Class 2A COY Dylan Hermelee of Miami Carrollton and Class 1A COY Barrett Saunders of North Palm Beach The Benjamin School.
Boys' volleyball state honors
Senior outside hitter/setter Jacob Little-Phillips of Winter Park High School has been named the Florida Dairy Farmers 2025 Mr. Volleyball, and Winter Park's Jesse Day has been selected the 2025 Boys' Volleyball Coach of the Year in voting by a panel of Florida high school boys' volleyball coaches.
Little-Phillips won his second consecutive Mr. Volleyball award, leading his team to the Class 3A state title by recording 837 assists, 72 kills, 145 digs, 41 aces and 40 blocks. He was recently named a member of the USA Volleyball U21 National Team and has signed with NCAA Division I Stanford University in California.
Day, who won the top state coaching award last year, led Winter Park to a 22-5 record and its third consecutive state title in the past four years by sweeping all 21 sets in its seven-match state title run.
Softball state honors
The Florida Diary Farmers announced the state's classification winners for FHSAA softball, following balloting by a statewide panel of high school softball coaches and prep media representatives.
Each is eligible for Miss Softball honors, representing the best of the best.
Coach of the Year recipients were also announced. They are eligible for the state's overall Softball Coach of the Year accolades.
Here are locals who won classification honors.
▪ Megan Villazon, Senior, Pitcher, Doral Academy, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led her team to the state title with a 26-1 record, an 0.63 ERA and 261 strikeouts in 145 innings pitched. She also hit for a .475 average with 45 RBI. Signed with NCAA Division I Florida International University in Miami.
▪ Willie Viruet, Doral Academy, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 31-1 record and the state championship. It was Doral's sixth consecutive Final Four appearance, including another state title in 2021.
▪ Gator Rehban, Miami Somerset Academy Silver Palms, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 24-6 record and the school's first state championship after finishing as the state runner-up in 2023 and making it to the state Final Four last season.
▪ Other locals who were in the top 3 in voting for top classification honors:
5A: 3. Coach Bryan Baucom (St. Thomas Aquinas). 4A: 2. Coach Samantha Banister (Plantation American Heritage). 3A: 3. Taylor Rehban (Miami Somerset Academy Silver Palms). 1A: 3. Camila Holguin (Miami Christian).
The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers' commitment to the state's youth. This is the 33rd year of these unique awards honoring the state's top athletes and coaches in sanctioned FHSAA sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
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@
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@
