By Dave Brousseau

PLANTATION – The Cypress Bay boys swimming team was quite convincing on just how dominating they can be at the 28^th annual BCAA championships this past Saturday.

With a strong performance from sophomore Noah Mejias from his victories in the 200 Individual Medley and 100-butterfly, the Lightning overpowered the rest of the field to capture their second team title at the Plantation Aquinas Center.

Mejias set a new meet record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:50.61 eclipsing the previous time set by Javier Colmenares (Everglades) in 2023. He also shattered the meet record in his 100-fly victory (48.52) that stood since 2004 by Bradley Alley (St. Thomas Aquinas) and three-time Olympian for Barbados.

“My success comes from working really hard at practice and it showed today,” said Mejias, who has a dual nationality between the United States and Spain. “This was one of my best meets ever.

This Cypress Bay team could be the best there ever will be. The boys’ team is amazing.”

The Lightning boys cruised to the team title with 671.5 points, which was 226.5 points better than second place St. Thomas Aquinas.

“I’ve been here since 2022 and never seen a Cypress Bay team so strong,” said Lightning coach Rodrigo Mendes. “We have the best team over the past decade probably. I’m so proud I have a boys’ team like this.” 

In addition, the boys’ team smashed the previous record in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:06.78. Fort Lauderdale’s time of 3:10.02 had stood since 2015.

When the meet was complete, the boys finished with nine overall individual and relay events.

The Cypress Bay girls team also captured the championship with 483 points, 105 points better than second place Western.

The Lightning, though they fell short of any individual titles on Saturday, they won the 200 Medley Relay (1:50.90) and finished second 400 Freestyle Relay (3:38.89).

Gianna Martin placed third in the 100-breaststroke (1:09.52).

Laila Harran of West Broward was the only double winner in the girls’ competition. She was victorious in the 200 freestyle (1:50.16) and 50 freestyle (23.30).

BOYS

Team scores

1. Cypress Bay 671.5; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 445; 3. Fort Lauderdale 259.5; 4. Coral Springs Charter 247; 5 (tie). Douglas 213, Pompano Beach 213.

Individual results

200 Medley Relay: 1. Cypress Bay 1:34.45; 2. Coral Springs Charter 1:36.96; 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 1:38.75; 200 Freestyle: 1. Persten (CB) 1:41.12; 2. Alvarez (CB) 1:42.34; 3. Denevi (CGL) 1:42.96; 200 Individual Medley: 1. Mejias (CB) 1:50.61; 2. Albornoz (CSC) 1:53.48; 3. Menacho (DB) 1:55.28; 50 Freestyle: 1. Hamilton (CSC) 21.21; 2. Fothergill (CB) 21.68; 3. Ruytenbeek (MSD) 21.86; 100 Fly: 1. Mejias (CB) 48.52; 2. Menacho (DB) 50.23; 3. Alvarez (CB) 50.98; 100 Freestyle: 1. Persten (CB) 46.58; 2. Hamilton (CSC) 46.68; 3. Mantilla (CB) 48.12; 500 Freestyle: 1. Bass (STA) 4:41.06; 2. Kondrashov (MSD) 4:45.77; 3. Herran Garcia (STA) 4:46.29; 200 Freestyle Relay: 1. Cypress Bay 1:27.09; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 1:29.77; 3. Cooper City 1:31.90; 100 Back: 1. Ives  (CB) 52.57; 2. Lennington (CB) 54.76; 3. Paz-Villada (FTL) 54.83; 100 Breast: 1. Albornoz (CSC) 57.19; 2. Diaz (WB) 57.32; 3. Ivanof (SB) 57.61; 400 Freestyle Relay: 1. Cypress Bay 3:06.78; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 3:15.30; 3. Coral Springs Charter 3:18.43; Diving: 1. Drysdale (CB) 315.25; 2. Silva (CGL) 159.45.

GIRLS

Team scores

1. Cypress Bay 483; 2. Western 378; 3. Fort Lauderdale 330; 4. Coral Springs Charter 328; 5. Douglas 261.

Individual results

200 Medley Relay: 1. Cypress Bay 1:50.90; 2. Western 1:51.88; 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 1:54.81; 200 Freestyle: 1. Harran (WB) 1:50.16; 2. German (FTL) 1:51.91; 3. Rodriguez (PB) 1:53.38; 200 Individual Medley: 1. Scott (STA) 2:10.42; 2. Schnoeller (FTL) 2:12.45; 3. Henriquez (WEST) 2:14.29; 50 Freestyle: 1. Harran (WB) 23.30; 2. Abijo (WEST) 24.29; 3. Rashard (CSC) 24.73; 100 Fly: 1. Rodriguez (PB) 57.05; 2. Schnoeller (FTL) 59.37; 3. Henriguez (WEST) 59.78; 100 Freestyle: 1. Lumsden (EVGL) 52.75; 2. Harrypersad (MSD) 53.01; 3. Almeida (FTL) 53.98; 500 Freestyle:1. German (FTL) 5:03.56; 2. Gardner (CSC) 5:13.08; 3. Blanco (PB) 5:18.91; 200 Freestyle Relay: 1. Fort Lauderdale 1:37.98; 2. Douglas 1:42.21; St. Thomas Aquinas 1:42.63; 100 Back: 1. Montes (CSC) 1:01.78; 2. Almeida (FTL) 1:01.82; 3. Brancati (PPC) 1:02.73; 100 Breast: 1. Scott (STA) 1:04.85; 2. Lumsden (EVGL) 1:06.71; 3. Martin (CB) 1:09.52; 400 Freestyle Relay: 1. Fort Lauderdale 3:38.52; 2. Cypress Bay 3:38.89; 3. Western 3:42.40 Diving: 1. Krasnopolskit (STA) 247; 2. Mock (CSC) 215; 3. Mortensen (WEST) 214.50.

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Since the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) Week began, there have been many detractors.

Adding game to the schedule that were not planned at the start of the season is like playing a conference championship contest – and while the majority of the teams won’t be affected by the outcome of these games, there are a few that could alter their post season plans – at least for the seeding.

This week was originally planned to give the conference an identity by all the teams playing each other and shining the spotlight – not just on the elite programs – but all the teams. In that context, mission accomplished as programs that normally don’t play one another will have the chance over the three days to compete.

It would be untruthful to say that all eyes will be on Miami Central and Miami Christopher Columbus – two Miami-Dade teams who are currently considered as among the eight programs seeded in the inaugural “Open Division”. The loser has two losses, and while you can use the defense that their losses were to elite teams, there are programs across the state – like defending state champion Jacksonville Raines – who hasn’t lost a regular season game in three years – that are going to be left out. Forget some of the others that south Florida fans have never watched or have no clue about but have strong opinions.

THE ACTION BEGINS THIS EVENING

Miami Carol City (4-3) vs. Miami Palmetto (6-1), 7 (Tropical Park). Even with some players out, the Chiefs, who will not be eligible for post season play, are a tough opponent, and while the Panthers lost that one game early in the season to Christopher Columbus, it was enough to keep them out of the Open Division. They still will be one of the favorites in a crowded 6A classification to win a first ever state title.

MIAMI CAROL CITY CHIEFS

Daytona Beach Mainland, L Forfeit

Lee County, Georgia, L 23-20

Miami Norland, W 43-0

Miami Edison, W 58-0

Miami Booker T. Washington, W 42-0

Grayson, Georgia, L 10-9

Miami Northwestern, W 17-7

10/15 - @Miami Palmetto

10/23 - @Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy

10/30 – Miami Central

MIAMI PALMETTO PANTHERS

Miami Killian, W 35-0

Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy, W 42-7

Miami Southridge, W 28-6

Miami Christopher Columbus, L 34-7

Coral Gables, W 28-6

Southwest Miami, W 72-0

Homestead, W 48-8

10/15 – Miami Carol City

10/22 - @Homestead South Dade

10/30 - @Naples

North Miami Beach (5-2) vs. Hialeah American (5-3), Traz Powell, 7. Here are two schools who were enjoying their best years in quite some time, and while both are still on course to make the post season, key losses to programs that they had no reason to lose to have dampened what appeared to be a season that was one that saw both programs turn the corner. The great thing here is team is coached by alumni of the schools – with Jeff Bertani in his 30^th year with the Chargers – and Tim Neal trying to restore the Patriots.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH CHARGERS

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, W 61-3

North Miami, W 27-7

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace, L 21-7

Miami Jackson, W 31-0

Miami Springs, W 26-19

Miami St. Brendan, W 41-0

Key West, L 23-13

10/15 - @Hialeah American

10/22 - @Miami Central

10/30 - @Naples St. John Neumann

HIALEAH AMERICAN PATRIOTS

Homestead, W 29-0

Miami Booker T. Washington, W 24-6

North Miami, W 33-25

Miami Archbishop Carroll, L 28-27

Hialeah, W 41-9

Miami Edison, W 50-14

Miami Northwestern, L 17-13

Miami Beach, L 23-12

10/15 – North Miami Beach

10/30 - @Homestead South Dade

In addition to those two games tonight, here is the rest of the Thursday schedule:

Hialeah at Miami Varela, 3:30

Hialeah-Miami Lakes at Miami Dr. Krop (Ives Park), 7

Hollywood Hills at Coral Springs Taravella (Coral Springs), 7

Miami Braddock at Homestead (Harris Field), 7

Miami Coral Park at Miami Sunset, 3:30

Miami Norland at Miami Southridge (Sam Burley Stadium), 7

North Miami at Miami Ferguson, 3:30

Somerset Academy at Somerset Silver Palms, 7

West Palm Beach Forest Hill at Parkland Douglas, 6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

Boca Raton St. Andrews at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, 7

Coconut Creek Monarch at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, 7

Cooper City at Hollywood South Broward, 6:30

Coral Springs Charter at Coconut Creek North Broward Prep, 7

Coral Springs Coral Glades at Boca Raton, 7

Coral Springs Parkridge Christian at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, 7

Davie Nova at Lake Worth Park Vista, 7

Doral Academy vs. Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy (Milander), 7

Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons at Pembroke Pines Flanagan, 7

Fort Lauderdale NSU University School at Miami Ransom Everglades, 7

Fort Myers Evangelical Christian at Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy, 7

Hallandale at Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson, 7

Hollywood McArthur at Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, 6:30

Miami Archbishop Carroll at Fort Myers Evangelical Christian, 7

Miami Belen Jesuit at Miami Gulliver Prep, 3:30

Miami Booker T. Washington at Coral Gables, 4

GMAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Miami Christopher Columbus at Miami Central (Traz Powell Stadium), 7:30

Miami Coral Reef at Miami High (Curtis Park), 7

Miami Edison at Hialeah Gardens, 3:30

Miami Florida Christian at Tampa Cambridge Christian, 7

Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace at Naples Lely, 7:30

Miami Immaculata LaSalle at Miami St. Brendan, 7

Miami Jackson at Doral Ronald Reagan (Doral Legacy Park), 3:30

Miami Killian at Miami Beach (Memorial Field), 7

Miami True North Classical Academy at Plantation American Heritage, 7

Miami Westminster Christian at Naples Palmetto Ridge, 7:30

Oakland Park Northeast at Pompano Beach, 7

Pembroke Pines Charter at Miramar Everglades, 7

Pembroke Pines West Broward at West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, 6:30

Plantation at Miramar, 7

Southwest Miami at South Miami (Tropical Park), 3:30

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy at Coconut Creek, 7

Sunrise Piper at Davie Western, 7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

Homestead South Dade vs. Miami Northwestern (Traz Powell), 7

WEDNESDAY

Miami Springs 42, Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman 0

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 56 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Dave Brousseau

SUNRISE – David Lazo of South Plantation High and Kendall Parrott of St. Thomas Aquinas, a pair of distance runners for their respective schools will forever be connected.

What linked them together is they both became winners at the BCAA Cross Country Championships on Friday at Markham Park.

Lazo, clearly one of the best in Broward County over the past three years, successfully defended his title with a convincing victory with a winning time of 16:20.04 that distanced himself over top challenger Malcolm Spence IV of Flanagan (16:55.03).

“Coming out I want to stay concentrated on staying smooth in the race as soon as I could,” said Lazo who began running cross country as a freshman. “I wanted that first spot and open a gap and finish strong.

My goal is to keep improving and getting faster and as the competition increases to go with it.”

His career best time of 15:43 is Lazo’s goal before the season is complete.

“David started off in the low to mid 20’s when her started a freshman,” said former South Plantation coach Andre Henry, who still helps train Lazo. “Each year he has progressively gotten better, and his present goal is to run in the low to mid 15 minutes.”

Parrott was a second-place finisher as a freshman at 19:50.6 and needed a late push in the final third of Friday’s race to cross the finish line alone at the top with a time of 20:08.16.

“I felt really negative before the race and kept reminding myself the race is never over until it’s over,” said Parrott. “I’m proud of myself because I passed four girls near the final lap. I’m really proud of myself today.”

Her performance, along with top 10 finishers Taylor Gold and Charlotte Lee helped Aquinas win the team title over second place Cardinal Gibbons.

Along with Spence, Flanagan got solid times from Sabastien Gonzalez and Brayden Hall to win the boys team title. West Broward finished second.

BOYS TEAM SCORES (Top 5)

Flanagan 86, West Broward 102, Cypress Bay 133, Pembroke Pines Charter 153, St. Thomas Aquinas 182

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20)

1 Dave Lazo (SP) 16:20.04; 2. Malcolm Spence IV (FLAN) 16:55.03; 3. Grant Evans (SP) 16:59.62; 4. Adam Stewart (PPC) 17:07.83; 5. Sabastien Gonzalez (FLAN) 17:10.24; 6. Carlo Baylon (CB) 17:11.56; 7. Marcus Gentilhomme (CS) 17:40.33; 8. Job DeOjeda (CG) 17:43.83; 9. Miguel Casiano (WB) 17:49.29; 10. Steven Joseph (PB) 18:09.98; 11. Luke Lambert (WB) 18:10.30; 12. Leonardo Ponce (WB) 18:12.88; 13. JahRee Pierre (TARA) 18:14.89; 14. Ryu Young-sang (DILL) 18:16.34; 15. Brayden Hall (FLAN) 18:22.44; 16. Andre Ambroise (NE) 18:23.34; 17. Fernando Galindo (NE) 18:24.25; 18. Fabio Castillio (CGL) 18:25.17; 19. Logan Nadanam (CB) 18:32.47; 20. Aiden Garcia (COOP) 18:34.21.

GIRLS TEAM SCORES (Top 5)

St. Thomas Aquinas 47, Cardinal Gibbons 81, Dillard 96, Coral Springs Charter 106, Taravella 101.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top 20)

1. Kendall Parrott (STA) 20:08.16; 2. Raejanae Ebanks (DILL) 20:17.27; 3. Claire Chanon (CG) 20:23.14; 4. Molly Murphy (CG) 20:45.59; 5. Camila Castillo (TARA) 20:55.86; 6. Taylor Gold (STA) 21:00.48; 7. Lily Richardson (CSC) 21:06.34; 8. Charlotte Lee (STA) 21:11.73; 9. Olivia Huggins (CS) 21:33.28; 10. Shynah (DILL) 21:34.66; 11. Giulia Campos (PB) 21:39.94; 12. Valentine Castillo (TARA) 21:41.43; 13. Peyton Williams (DILL) 21:49.44; 14. Olivia Noel (TARA) 21:53.99; 15. Giuliana Serra (CG) 22:01.42; 16. Angelica Cardenas (STA) 22:07.72; 17. Alyson Thomas (CSC) 22:13.51; 18. Caoimhe McConville (STA) 22:20.11; 19. Emiliana Anzures (MSD) 22:22.37; 20. Shirley Mullins (SP) 22:26.42.

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Dave Brousseau

DAVIE – After the completion of the first half of football between South Planation and Nova in a District 14-6A game on Friday the Titans seemed poised for a victory.

Then Nixon Kalish, the Paladins 6-4 senior quarterback, gave his team a needed shot in the arm to turn a10-point first half deficit into a 22-10 victory.

Momentum from a safety with 5:42 left in the third quarter turned the direction of the game.

Despite trailing 10-2, Kalish needed one play to tie the score following the ensuing kickoff. He completed a 55-yard scoring pass to sophomore Travis Williams 17 seconds later. A successful two-point conversion ties the score at 10-10.

“We’ve been a second half team all year,” said South Plantation coach Rod Williams. “Because we’re so young it takes a couple of quarters to get warmed up.

Our quarterback struggled mightily in the first half. That’s his story. Second half he came out, and he led us to victory.”

The game was all South Plantation (5-3) from there.

Kalish completed his second scoring pass, a 35-yard strike to Khyree Miller, with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. The point after was blocked and the Paladins lead stood at 16-10.

“We came out strong in the second half and responded quick,” said Kalish. “The momentum started piling up. The offense started doing good and we had it from there.”

Zayvean Fulmore scored on a two-yard run with 5:35 left in regulation for the Paladins.

All the Titans (3-4) points came in the opening half on a Tyler Dawson 30-yard field goal in the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Deangelo Plese completed an eight-yard scoring pass to Darvens Jeanlouis with less than a minute remaining in the first half for the 10-0 lead. 

Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.