MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Dolphins hosted the Junior Dolphins Fall Donations visiting ten high school varsity football teams in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties to deliver Dolphins gear, cleats, meals and Guardian Caps for the student athletes in September and October.
“We greatly thank the Miami Dolphins for their visit and contribution to our football program,” Miami Springs Head Coach Mario Montoya said. “You have no idea the impact that the Junior Dolphins donations have had not only on the school, but to each individual student-athlete. The kids where so grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue working hard this football season.”
In the continued effort to impact high school football in South Florida, the Junior Dolphins also donated new and lightly used football equipment to select football programs in need from the Dolphins’ former training facility in Davie, FL.
Through this season’s initiative, the Junior Dolphins Fall Donations engaged with more than 500 student athletes, donated more than $50,000 in equipment and contributed in-kind financial assistance averaging 800 pieces of equipment per school.
The Junior Dolphins Fall Donations engaged with:
- P. Taravella High School on Wednesday, September 1.
- Miami Norland Senior High School on Wednesday, September 8.
- Hollywood Hills High School on Thursday, September 9.
- Miami Carol City Senior High School Thursday on September 16.
- Western High School on Wednesday, September 22.
- West Boca Raton High School presented by Baptist Health on Monday, October 4.
- Westland Hialeah Senior High School presented by Baptist Health on Tuesday, October 5.
- Miami Springs senior High School presented by Baptist Health on Tuesday, October 12.
- Miami Jackson Senior High School on Thursday, October 14.
- Miami Palmetto Senior High School presented by Pollo Tropical on Tuesday, October 19.
The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to teach, learn and play football in a fun and safe environment. As stewards of the game, Junior Dolphins strive to grow participation in the game, impact the football community and build the next generation of Dolphins fans. Through strong community partnership and strategic resource distribution, all aspects of the Junior Dolphins program work to emphasize character building to increase the overall experience in youth football.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
Ever since losing to the now No. 1 team in the state, Tampa Jesuit, this has been a much different St. Thomas Aquinas football team.
While the Raiders had beaten Plantation American Heritage (24-16), Miami Monsignor Pace (56-6), Western (31-21), Cooper City (69-0), South Plantation (62-0) and Cardinal Gibbons (39-14) last week, the focus was on last Friday – a meeting that this program took serious.
When the football classifications were made for this year by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), all eyes were on a district where two Broward powers would have a chance to clash for the first time in many years.
With national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas winning the past two 7A state titles, and have a stronghold on the class, along comes Fort Lauderdale’s Dillard High.
Perhaps the theme of the past two weeks in south Florida high school football is how many points you can score on the opponent to make them look bad.
Let’s face it, you can tell the schools who pour it on are the ones who are frankly NOT used to the winning spotlight and believe that the only way they can continue to gain acceptance is to make sure that they rub it in. Remember, paybacks are often hell – and have no chill when trying to get even!
Here we are again as the season is winding down and football talent is taking over in south Florida.
From freshmen to seniors, athletes are turning heads and programs are making that final stretch run for the playoffs, which will begin in the next three weeks.