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Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
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. adiaz@ 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 adiaz@ 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 adiaz@ 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 Miami Herald Go to X Email this person 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.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rodeo Hall of Famer Roy Cooper Dies in House Fire: ‘We're All in Shock,' Says Son
Rodeo legend Roy Cooper died in a Texas house fire earlier this week. He was 69. 'It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of our Dad, The Super Looper, Roy Cooper," Tuf Cooper, Roy's youngest son as well as a 4x World Champion Cowboy, wrote in a Facebook statement. "We're all in shock and at a loss for words from this tragedy at the moment." The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) also confirmed the sad news. Local authorities responded to a call about the fire around 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 29, fire officials confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. Cooper's body was found inside about 30 minutes later. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Related: Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei's Neighbor Recalls Her 'Running Towards My House on Fire' Before Her Death According to the PRCA, Cooper's roping skills earned him the nickname "Super Looper" and he was inducted into the inaugural class of the PRORODEO Hall of Fame in 1979. During a recent appearance on Ty Harris' Lets Freakin' Rodeo podcast, the legendary cowboy reflected on the origin of the moniker, the PRCA shared in their tribute. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "In Oklahoma City at the Finals a guy from Sports Illustrated hung it on me," Cooper said. "I don't know if I'm Super Looper. I'm just Roy. I'm not one to brag on myself and there are so many good ropers today. You can't compare me to Toots Mansfield or Dean Oliver because we were in different eras. I had my time for 10 years there." Related: 'Talented' Bull Rider, 24, Dead After Being Thrown Off a Bull at a Youth Fair in Texas: 'Once a Cowboy, Always a Cowboy' In 1983, Cooper won the PRCA All-Around World Title and became one of 10 people to ever secure rodeo's elusive Triple Crown: three world titles in the same year. Decades later, he spoke to PRORODEO Sports News in March 2023 about the special buckle, saying, "It's the only one I wear. Since I won it, I've never taken it off.' However, he admitted there's one person he would let wear his prized possession. "Actually, I would give it to George Strait if he would wear it. I would because he's one of my very best friends," he said. The country star expressed his condolences on X, writing, 'We lost our good friend and my hero Roy Cooper yesterday. He's with our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ now. God please be with the Cooper family and friends. We'll miss you amigo. I'll come find you one day.' Related: Teen Rodeo Champ 'Fighting For His Life' After Bull Stomps on His Chest Cooper was also remembered in a tribute from the National Cowboy Museum, which remembered him as 'a true game-changer in tie-down roping, from his rookie year in 1976, when he won his first world title, to becoming the first cowboy to earn $2 million in ProRodeo history.' The museum added that Cooper will be honored with the Ty Murray Top Hand Award at this year's PBR Heroes & Legends event in July. They added, "Our thoughts are with the Cooper family and the entire rodeo community." Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Palmetto continues badminton dominance with fourth consecutive GMAC championship
When senior Katarina Slazas first played a badminton match for Miami Palmetto High, she lost. It was a wake-up call and a turning point for Slazas, who would spend the next four years becoming one of the best players in Miami-Dade County history. 'It was an eye-opener,' Slazas said about that loss to open her career. 'I put in a lot more effort and time to get where I am now.' Slazas wrapped up her high school badminton career on Wednesday the way she has every time she stepped on the court since - a winner. Slazas completed a career sweep, winning her fourth girls' singles individual GMAC championship in four years while leading the Panthers to their fourth team title in a row. Slazas, who has also played soccer during her career at Palmetto, dominated the field once again and beat Hialeah Gardens' Annabelle Calles 21-5, 21-1 in the final. None of Slazas' opponents in this year's tournament even reached double-digits in points against her. 'I can't believe it's over,' Slazas said. 'I'm really grateful to coach (David) Zarco. I couldn't have made it this far without his help.' Although Gardens didn't get the victory in the matchup with Slazas, the Gladiators had a champion in boys' singles when junior Joshua Peralta outlasted Coral Park's Leandro Villalobos, a former GMAC champion who beat Peralta at this year's Youth Fair tournament. Peralta prevailed in three sets, 18-21, 21-11, 21-11. 'Last year, I lost and got second place and was very disappointed with myself and unmotivated,' Peralta said. '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.' Peralta said his loss at Youth Fair actually helped him calm his nerves and prepare himself for a possible rematch with Villalobos on Wednesday. 'That flipped everything for me,' Peralta said. 'I think I got over the fear of losing and playing Leandro and I just relaxed and composed myself when I played games.' Zarco guided Palmetto to another team victory, although this year, the Panthers were tested by runner-up Coral Park. Palmetto finished with 17 points and only six points ahead of the Rams, who were led by mixed doubles champions Danny Hernandez and Aaliyah Soto. Hernandez and Soto beat Palmetto's team of Joshua Cohen and Ilana Damski 19-21, 21-15, 21-9 in the mixed doubles final. As has become almost traditional at Palmetto, its boys' and girls' doubles teams put together strong performances to win those two divisions. Nicholas Jagers and Frederick Landsea paired up this season and finished off a strong year by beating Braddock's tandem of Leonardo Pinera and Yeitzon Matos 21-16, 21-17. On the girls' side, Khanh Duong and Alexandra Morgado beat Coral Park's Isabella Morales and Julie Vital 16-21, 21-16, 21-11, which helped Palmetto cement the team championship. RESULTS Team scores: 1. Palmetto 17; 2. Coral Park 11; 3. Hialeah Gardens 7; 4. Sunset 6; 5. Braddock 3; 6. Southwest and Coral Gables 2; 8. Goleman and Reagan 1. Individual results - Boys' singles: Joshua Peralta (HG) d. Leandro Villalobos (CP) 18-21, 21-11, 21-11; Girls' singles: Katarina Slazas (Pal) d. Annabelle Calles (HG) 21-5, 21-1; Boys' doubles: Nicholas Jagers/Frederick Landsea (Pal) d. Leonardo Pinera/Yeitzon Matos (Brad) 21-16, 21-17; Girls' doubles: Khanh Duong/Alexandra Morgado (Pal) d. Isabella Morales/Julie Vital (CP) 16-21, 21-16, 21-11; Mixed doubles: Danny Hernandez/Aaliyah Soto (CP) d. Joshua Cohen/Ilana Damski (Pal) 19-21, 21-15, 21-9.
