A local group of student-athletes won top honors for The Miami-Herald’s Male and Female Athlete of the Year as well as local coaches, and some athletes made the All-Dade teams in baseball, softball, tennis, volleyball, water polo, track and field.
American High’s student-athlete Lenysse Dyer was among the finalists for the Class 8A-6A Female Athlete of the Year; she played volleyball, soccer, track and field and cross-country.
For Class 5A-1A Female Athlete of the Year, Pace student-athlete Destiny Wilson was among the finalists, playing basketball and flag football.
Mater Academy’s baseball star Danny Ryes won the 8A-6A Player of the Year for baseball, while American’s Ari Cogdell won Boys’ Athlete of the Year in track and filed, and his coach, Enrico Knowles won Coach of the Year honors.
Pace’s Sabrina Cabrera won Player of the Year for Flag football, and her coach John Rodriguez won Coach of the Year.
In addition, American was ranked 6 overall in The Miami Herald’s 2014-2015 Miami-Dade All-Sports rankings for Classes 8A-6A, with Barbara Goleman ranked at number 20.
Making The Miami Herald's All-Dade 8A-6A First Team in baseball were Mater Academy's senior pitcher Kevin Fuentes (8-1, 80 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA), American's designated hitter Romy Gonzalez (.410, four home-runs and 26 RBI), and Mater Academy's senior outfielder Danny Reyes, who recorded a .370 batting average, nine homers and 23 RBI.
All-Dade Second Team players included Goleman’s senior shortstop Erick Delgado, American’s senior third baseman John Ham and Mater Academy’s utility player Tyler Perez.
All-Dade Third Team players included Mater Academy’s senior first baseman Chris Cabrera; his teammate, junior second baseman Alex Rodriguez and Goleman’s senior utility player Kevin Gomez.
Honorable mentions included Goleman’s Michael Avendano, Brandon Paez, Kevin Perez and Michael Palaez; Hialeah Gardens’ players Chris Clara, Allan Berrios, Jose Gaston and Arthur Cordovez; and Mater Academy players Joey Jimenez, Deyvid Silva, Michael Escarra and Lazaro Rodriguez.
Making the All-Dade 4A-2A baseball team was Mater Lakes’ senior pitcher Jesus Hernandez (5-2. 62 strikeouts and a 0.88 ERA), and the All-Dade Second Team included Pace’s senior shortstop Jorge Arenas, and his teammate, senior utility player Lorenzo Hampton.
The All-Dade Third Team members were Mater Lakes' senior pitcher Rene Arauz, Pace's senior pitcher Ricky Rodriguez and his teammate, sophomore catcher Andres Sanchez.
Honorable mentions included Pace players Nick Fusco, Eddie Cutillas, Anthony Boix and Peter Diaz.
For softball, earning a spot on the All-Dade Second Team was American’s senior pitcher Alexis Castroman; her teammate, senior infielder Kayleen Romero and Goleman’s senior outfielder Jessica Costero and sophomore utility player Natalie Costero.
Honorable mentions included American players Tyenna Colon and Yanelys Fernandez; Goleman’s Michelle Oliva, Emily Bacallao, Natalie Perez and Kourtney Lohn; and Hialeah Gardens’ Kristy Veiga, Alexa Lavernia and Gynger Morales and Amanda Hernandez.
Making the 4A-2A softball First Team were Pace’s junior pitcher Sofia Dominguez (11-1, 105 strikeouts, 1.80 ERA and a .452 batting average), and her teammate, sophomore infielder Monica Marquez (.567 batting average, 2 homers, 37 RBI and 20 stolen bases).
Second Team members include Pace’s sophomore infielder Natalie Rodriguez and her teammate, freshmen designated hitter Kathleen Rios.
Honorable mentions included Pace players Cassidy Ziegler and Helen Rios.
For boys' tennis honorable mentions included Pace's Josvany Lesende.
For girls’ water polo, honorable mentions included Goleman players Sarah Zeno, Jasmine Delsierra, Morgan Pena and Wendy Ortiz.
For boys’ volleyball, honorable mentions included Hialeah Miami Lakes’ players Ariel Centurion, Kenneth Cardona, Abraham Castillo and Diego Vera.
For track and field, making the All-Dade First Team for boys was Pace junior Alvin McCray in the high jump who recorded a 6-8 in the state tournament.
For the girls’, American’s senior Lenysse Dyer who recorded a 11.44 in the 100 meters race.
For flag football, making the All-Dade First Team were Mater Academy’s junior player Emily Acosta (49 catches, 667 yards, 6 touchdowns, 23 plus, 15 interceptions, three for touchdowns); her teammate, sophomore quarterback Angelica Gutierrez (2,014 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 1,334 yard rushing and 19 touchdowns); Pace senior quarterback Sabrina Cabrera (2,398 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, 478 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns); Pace senior running back and linebacker Daizsa Jones (12 pulls, 6 sacks, three punt returns for touchdowns, 28-238, and seven touchdown receptions; Pace junior linebacker Thammar Petit-Car (45 pulls, two sacks, 13 pass deflections, five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns); Pace junior linebacker Keshara Samuels (47 pulls, 19 sacks and one interception); and Pace junior player Destiny Wilson (52 receptions for 966 yards and 23 touchdowns, nine pulls, nine interceptions and nine pass deflections).
Second Team members included Pace senior running back and linebacker Lina Amazas, Pace sophomore center Starlia Dabady, Mater Academy’s freshmen player Mercy Gonzalez, Mater Academy’s linebacker Melanie Hernandez, Mater Academy players Melanie Hernandez and Alexis Rodriguez, and Pace players Vernisha Jenkins, Simi Olowodola and Tamira Smalls.
Honorable mentions included Pace player Jenny Darbouze.