By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer

CORAL SPRINGS – There was a common denominator among a handful of athletes competing in this year’s annual BCAA Track and Field Championships held at Coral Springs High last Friday.

By the time the Pembroke Pines Flanagan boys and Fort Lauderdale Dillard girls were awarded the team titles, six athletes were double winners for their respective school’s if not repeat winners from the previous year.

Alexia Reid of Dillard won 100 and 400 hurdles for the second consecutive year to help the Panthers successfully defend the county championship. The Panthers with 153 points, while St. Thomas Aquinas had 132.5 points.

“I feel like I’ve done a lot better than in previous years,” said Reid, who is a University of Central Florida signee. “I’m still working on my start. I’ve worked hard and the results are amazing.” 

Reid’s performance was duplicated when she won both events last year. But it wasn’t until the Panthers swept the 800-meter run did they took the team lead for good. Dillard finished with 

“We came in here to defend with a championship mentality,” Dillard coach Davidson Gill. “I wanted to see where we were at from a mental standpoint and get ready for a that championship mentality.”

As for other double winners, Patchnalie Compere of Oakland Park Northeast successfully her 100- and 200-meter titles.

Idorenyin Essiet of Pompano Beach, who was awarded the top female performer of the meet after she won long jump (18-1.50) and triple-jump (35-3.75) and second in the high jump (5-1.75). She helped the Tornadoes to a surprising third place finish with 61 points.

Jonathan Carter won the 110 (14.96) and 400 Hurdles (53.98) to lead the Falcons and was named the top Male Athlete of the meet.

Flanagan finished in the top three places in nine events, which was key to becoming a repeat champion.

“Everybody had to do their part,” said Flanagan coach Jessica Carter. “I told them if everyone plays their role and let the chips fall where they may. If they win by collectively doing their part and ran for each other as a team.”

Joshua Gammage, who was coming off a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for several weeks, was a winner of the 1600 (4:15.75) and 3200-meter races (9:32.43).

Christian Moreau of St. Thomas Aquinas won shot put (55-8.50) and discus (143-3).

Boys team scores (Top 5)

1. Flanagan 97; 2. Dillard 91; 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 64; 4. Coral Springs 62.5; 5. Boyd Anderson 57.

Individual results

4x800 relay: 1. Dillard (Delgado, Hamilton, Joseph, Sewel) 8:01.08; 2. Taravella 8:05.70; 3. Northeast 8:10.97; 110 hurdles: 1. Carter  (FLAN) 14.96; 2. Tommie (BA) 14.96; 3. Marrero (CS) 15.00; 100: 1. Smith (DILL) 10.72; 2. Thomas (FLAN) 10.77; 3. Stewart-McLaren (BA) 10.89; 1600: 1. Gammage (DILL) 4:15.75; 2. Moise (MCA) 4:23.88; 3. Spence IV (FLAN) 4:28.91; 4x100 relay: 1. Flanagan (Harris, Thomas, Newby, Hawkins) 41.28; 2. Dillard 41.38; 3. Cardinal Gibbons 41.68; 400: 1. Joseph (DILL)  47.92; 2. Jewell (DB) 48.39; 3. Thomas (PLAN) 48.58; 400 hurdles: 1. Carter (FLAN) 53.98; 2. Campbell (NE) 54.03; 3. Carroll (NOVA) 55.35; 800: 1. Belizaire (CS) 1:55.34; 2. Sewel (DILL) 1:55.65; 3. Spence IV (FLAN) 1:56.25; 200: 1. Thomas (FLAN) 21.82; 2. Smith (DILL) 21.83; 3. Boucard (MIR) 22.08; 3200: 1. Gammage (DILL) 9:32.43; 2. Moise (MCA) 9:57.07; 3. Stewart (PPC) 10:03.80; 4x400 relay: 1. Dillard (Joseph Jennings, Sapp, Smith) 3:15.22; 2. Miramar 3:16.25; 3. Flanagan 3:18.29; Shot put: 1. Moreau (STA) 55-8.50; 2. Cadet (BA) 45-5.75; 3. Dickenson (SB) 44-6.25; Discus: 1. Moreau (STA) 143-3; 2. Ruskin (NE) 137-4;  3. Yuan (CS) 136-3; Long jump: 1. Hawkins (FLAN) 22-7.75; 2. Adras (STA) 21-4; 3. Tommie (BA) 21-3.25; Triple jump: 1. Tommie (BA) 44-8.25; 2. Joseph (TARA) 42-0; 3. Monpas (BE) 41-10.75; High jump: 1. D’Oleo (STA) 6-5.50; 2. Prien (NE) 6-3.50; 3. Cadet (BA) 6-3.50; Javelin: 1. Ruskin (NE) 157-2; 2. Huggins (CRK) 137-11; 3. Thomas (MIR) 130-6; Pole vault: 1. Sammuels (CS) 13-1.50; 2. Hawkins (STA) 11-5.75; 3. Ross (STA) 10-11.75.

Girls team scores (Top 5)

1. Dillard 153; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 132.5; 3. Pompano Beach 61; 4. Coral Springs Charter 48; 5. Flanagan 37.

Individual results

4x800 relay: 1. Dillard (Greene, Simpson, Williams, Gammage) 9:39.04; 2. Taravella 10:04.97; 3. Pompano Beach 10:16.86; 100 hurdles: 1. Reid (DILL) 13.85; 2. Samuel (FLAN) 13.88; 3. Allen (STA) 14.27; 100: 1. Compere (NE) 11.81; 2. Griggs (DILL) 11.86; 3. Woolcock (STA) 12.15; 1600: 1. Finneran (STA) 4:58.09; 2. Collins (DILL) 5:05.81; 3. Gore (DILL) 5:10.09; 4x100 relay: 1. Pompano Beach (Richardson, Christie, Hunt, Colon) 47.98; 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 48.10; 3. Douglas 48.71; 400: 1. Frazier (DILL) 54.43; 2. Barbary (FLAN) 55.13; 3. Morgan (STA) 56.33; 400 hurdles: 1. Reid (DILL) 1:00.38; 2. Allen (STA) 1:01.17; 3. Jackson (STA) 1:02.25; 800: 1. Collins (DILL) 2:13.84; 2. Gore (DILL) 2:15.49; 3. Greene (DILL) 2:16.32; 200: 1. Compere (NE) 23.83; 2. Griggs (DILL) 24.03; 3. Woolcock (STA) 24.5; 3200: 1. Parrott (CSC) 11:25.88; 2. Gold (STA) 11:33.14; 3. Williams (DILL) 11:33.84; 4x400 relay: 1. Dillard (Reid, Christian, Bryant, Frazier) 3:51.81; 2. Northeast 3:59.54; 3. Cypress Bay 4;02.06; Shot put: 1. Harris (CSC) 36-6.75; 2. Dorvil (CSC) 35-8.50; 3. Powell (FTL) 34-1.50; Discus: 1. Joseph (MIR) 117-1; 2. Watt (CGL) 109-2; 3. Harris (CSC) 108-4; Long jump: 1. Essiet (PB) 18-1.50; 2. Morgan (STA) 16-9.25; 3. Robinson (BA) 16-8.75; Triple jump: 1. Essiet (PB) 35-3.75; 2. Robinson (BA) 35-0.25; 3. Pridgen (STA) 34-6.25; High jump: 1. Westley (CG) 5-3.75; 2. Essiet (PB) 5-1.75; 3. Marley (STA) 4-9.75; Javelin: 1. Lewis (FTL) 110-10; 2. Lacaria (CG) 101-6; 3. Maniscalco (CSC) 89-6; Pole vault: 1. Newkirk (DILL) 8-6.25; 2. Koontz (STA) 8-6.25; 3. Orris (STA) 8-0.50.

 Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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Each year when Miami-Dade high school wrestling programs head to the state tournament, dozens of team and individual medals are brought back to the #305.

Being able to produce such impressive wrestlers and programs must begin somewhere, and for the past 56 years, the secret was all about the junior high schools (7-9) and then later the middle school (6-8) programs who continued to feed those programs every year.

Elite coaches and programs that were built on hard work and little – if any – pay. They traveled with these young men, wearing school names on their singlets such as Palmetto, Southwood, John F. Kennedy, Highland Oaks, North Miami, West Miami, Henry Filer, Richmond Heights, Norland, Riviera, Cutler Ridge, Howard Doolin, Redland, Alapattah, Jorge Mas Canosa, Homestead, Campbell Drive and many other junior high/middle schools.

From the early years with Miami Norland, Miami Carol City, Miami Southridge, Miami Coral Park, and Miami Palmetto carrying the flag – with legends such as Jim Husk, Rick Tucci, Craig Thomas, Dwight Witty, Tony Zucco, Barry Zimbler, Ron Balazs, George Zeck, Ron Hollon, Chuck Almeida, Mike McCoy to the current day dynasty that head coach Vic Balmeceda and his South Dade Bucs have maintained, junior high/middle school wrestling has more than been responsible.

Last Saturday at Miami Palmetto High School some new faces joined familiar as talented and athletic Richmond Middle School beat out Riviera Middle School and others to capture the team title.

Here are the final results:
1 Richmond 190.0

2 Glades 168.0

3 Jorge Mas Canosa 135.0

4 Cutler Bay 129.0

5 Palmetto 105.0

6 Hialeah Gardens 97.5

7 Riviera 83.5

8 Nautilus 76.0

9 Southwood 65.5

10 FC Martin 48.0

11 Ruben Dario 36.0

12 Highland Oaks 29.5

13 WR Thomas 9.0

Far away from the spotlight, the number of schools no longer reach 20 plus, but the objective is indeed the same – produce winners and keep the fires burning at the next level!

Here is a look at the results of this year’s event – with 75 Pounds (Dominic Moc (10-0, 6^th Grade), Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School), 83 Pounds (Gregory Coley (7-2, 6^th Grade), Richmond Middle School), 91 Pounds (Carlos Rodriguez de Cespedes (12-1, 7^th Grade), Glades Middle School), 99 Pounds (Logan Montero (15-1, 8^th Grade), Glades Middle School), 107 Pounds (Ricky Rizzo (15-2, 6^th Grade), Glades), 115 Pounds (Micah Thomas (14-1, 8^th Grade), Palmetto Middle School), 123 Pounds (Ezekiel Ingraham (8-0, 8^th Grade), Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School), 131 Pounds (Javauris Ross (7-4, 8^th Grade), Miami Beach Nautilus Middle School), 139 Pounds (Ryan Rivera (13-2, 8^th Grade), Palmetto Middle School), 147 Pounds (Jacob Figueroa (12-1, 8^th Grade), Riviera Middle School), 155 Pounds (Paul Moore (15-1, 7^th Grade), Richmond Middle School), 170 Pounds (Yadiel Lazo (15-1, 7^th Grade), Hialeah Gardens Middle School), 195 Pounds (Travis Godbolt (10-0, 8^th Grade), Frank C. Martin K-8) and Heavyweight (Samuel Pavon (10-1, 8^th Grade), Jorge Mas Canosa).

QUITE A HISTORY

With just two years that the Miami-Dade Middle School didn’t host a county tournament because of Covid, since 1966, every year the middle school/junior high schools set the table for the future.

Here is a list of teams and coaches who made it all possible:

1966 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1967 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1968 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1969 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1970 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1971 Palmetto, Walt Allison

1972 Palmetto, Don Dorshimer

1973 Palmetto, Don Dorshimer

1974 Richmond Heights, John Davis

1975 Richmond Heights, John Davis

1976 Richmond Heights, John Davis

1977 Norland, Lonnie Hill

1978 Palmetto, Don Dorshimer

1979 Richmond Heights, John Davis

1980 Richmond Heights, Wilbert Johnson

1981 Richmond Heights, Wilbert Johnson

1982 North Miami, Sam McWoodson

1983 Palmetto, Bob Mack

1984 Norland, Frank Presentation

1985 North Miami, Sam McWoodson

1986 North Miami, Sam McWoodson

1987 Riviera, Jose Mendez

1988 Southwood, Clint Riley

1989 Highland Oaks, Pat McNamara

1990 Palmetto, Bob Mack 

1991 Cutler Ridge, Tony Carroll

1992 Highland Oaks, Pat McNamara

1993 Highland Oaks, Pat McNamara

1994 North Miami, Sam McWoodson

1995 Palmetto, Michael Graham 

1996 Palmetto, Michael Graham 

1997 Palmetto, Michael Graham 

1998 Richmond Heights, Aaron Washington

1999 Howard A. Doolin, Monroe Owen

2000 Richmond Heights, Aaron Washington

2001 John F Kennedy, Ron Osorio

2002 Redland, Doc Holloway

2003 Campbell Drive, Pat Lugo

2004 Campbell Drive, Pat Lugo

2005 Glades, Jose Mendez

2006 Palmetto, Miguel Dominguez

2007 Palmetto, Miguel Dominguez

2008 Allapattah, Matt Greene

2009 Jorge Mas Canosa, Steve Morejon

2010 Jorge Mas Canosa, Steve Morejon

2011 Palmetto, Miguel Dominguez

2012 Jorge Mas Canosa, Steve Morejon

2013 Cutler Ridge, Tirso Valls 

2014 Richmond Heights, Aaron Washington

2015 Homestead, Rudy Trevino

2016 Richmond Heights, Aaron Washington 

2017 Jorge Mas Canosa, Oswaldo Benitez

2018 Glades, Jacob Woodrome/Lorenzo Walker

2019 Jorge Mas Canosa, Steve Morejon

2020 COVID cancelled

2021 COVID cancelled

2022 Richmond Heights, Johnny Silva

2023 Cutler Bay, Manny Sevilla/Melvin Roberts

2024 Cutler Bay, Melvin Roberts

Courtesy of Coach Miguel Dominguez, Miami Coral Reef High & Wrestling Historian

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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer

LAKELAND – The Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas boys’ basketball team has spent the previous 24 years without winning a state championship.

Led by senior forward and Florida State signee Dwayne Wimbley’s 22 points, and key baskets by K.J. Sandi, D.J. Sandi and Clarence Westbrook Jr. late in the fourth quarter, Aquinas overcame a third quarter 15-point deficit to defeat Orlando Evans 71-63 for the Class 6A championship at the RP Funding Center on Saturday.

The state title extended ended the season with a 14-game winning streak.

With the drought over, the celebration has just begun for the lifetime of memories.

St. Thomas Aquinas (30-2) had been here before, trailing to Coral Springs by 15 points, in a regional playoff game for before rallying.

St. Thomas coach Julius Sandi prepared his team for games and moments like Saturday.

“We created a tough schedule knowing it would prepare us for this moment,” said  Sandi. “We had a great year and built the pressure. Every team from south Florida had won a state championship and we had to make sure we got the sweep. We knew we had to be calm and do what we do.”

Entering the decisive fourth quarter the Raiders had already cut into the deficit and inched to within a point of Evans lead following a K.J. Sandi three-pointer with 3:47 to play.

“We did what we had to do,” said Aquinas sophomore guard K.J. Sandi. “It was win it or nothing. We had to stay calm, stay ready, stay locked in or it wouldn’t have worked.”

At three points down, Sandi tied the game at 60-60 with another trey. D.K. Sandi added to the 10-2 run rally with a pair of baskets, following three more point by Westbrook.

The Raiders ended the dramatic comeback with the 22-7 fourth quarter rally for the  ages.

“It’s the best feeling ever because this is exactly what I came here to do,” said Wimbley Jr., who also had 11 rebounds. “This was our goal from the beginning, and we did it. We’ve been in that situation; I don’t know how many times. That just shows the determination these guys have. I love these boys. Almost every tournament we’ve been in, we’ve been down. It shows you how bad we wanted it.”

Despite trailing for three quarters, St. Thomas Aquinas showed signs a comeback was in the making. The Raiders field-goal percentage after the first quarter was 21.4, while Evans each a high of 70 percent in the second quarter.

In the end the Raiders improved dramatically from the field, while Evans (25-7) shot just 18.2 percent from the field in the deciding fourth quarter.

Westbrook finished with 15 points, D.J. Sandi with 13 points and Nate Accius 10 points.

The comeback was complete as was the long drought dreaming for a championship.

The Raiders lone championship came in 2001 under former coach Steve Strand when they defeated Belleview 69-57 for the Class 5A title.

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer

LAKELAND – Perhaps it was the most significant 16.2 seconds in Fort Lauderdale Stranahan High boys’ basketball history.

Down by six, a miraculous series of events change the outcome in the Class 4A state championship at the RP Funding Center on Thursday.

Isaiah Brown, the Dragon’s 6-9 junior center, tipped ball at the rim scored the winning points with four seconds left for a 63-62 victory over St. Petersburg Gibbs.

On the inbounds Gibbs desperation attempt fell short, as the Dragons celebration went into high-octane mode.

The Stranahan (25-7) victory is the school’s fourth state championship, joining three other BCAA boys’ basketball teams with titles, joining Blanche Ely, Dillard and Fort Lauderdale High.  

“It feels good to sit at the big table and eat a steak sometimes,” said Stranahan coach Edward Schuler said. “We ate catfish for a long time, but since 2019, we’ve now got four…Wow, I get emotional just thinking about it. We always teach them there’s always time on the clock and to never give up.”

The improbable comeback went into high gear with 16.2 seconds left to determine Stranahan’s fate.

Sophomore guard Damari Foster kick-started the Dragons when connected on a three-pointer with 16.2 seconds left, cutting the deficit to 62-59. After a Stranahan timeout.  

Gibbs turned the ball to Stranahan on the inbound pass, giving the comeback addition life.

Foster was fouled while shooting a three with 11.8 seconds left, giving him three free throw attempts. He made the first two of three attempts.  

Junior Christian Yeargin, who led Stranahan with 21 points, came up with the rebound and as he falling out of bounds tossed it back to Brown, who stood underneath the basket.

He positioned himself for the winning shot, dropping the ball right through the hoop.

“I really didn’t know how much time we had left so I just went up and put it in and the rest is history,” Brown said. “Biggest shot of my life.”

“The lights were getting real dark, but we had to keep moving and turn them back on,” added Brown. “We did it.”

Brown’s score won it, but Stranahan didn’t get there without Foster’s heroics, which capped an 18-point, five-assist game.

Without Foster’s late game heroics, the Stranahan rally likely would have fallen short.

“All season we knew we might be in a situation like that, and we were ready,” Foster said. “I wasn’t that nervous at the foul because my coach just said to lock in, and I did. This feels amazing.”

David Nealy added 11 points for the Dragons. Jacob Daniels led Gibbs (27-5) with a team-high of 19 points.

Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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