Auburn pitcher Lauren Schmalz–an Everglades alum–returns to South Florida, honored by SEC February 28th, 2012
It’s been a big week for Auburn pitcher Lauren Schmalz, a former Everglades High standout.
Schmalz, who is the daughter of Cooper City softball coach Phil Schmalz, was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week after helping lead the Tigers to victories over No. 15 Oklahoma State and No. 23 Georgia Tech.
The senior is currently has a 4-0 record with a 0.36 ERA. In 19.1 innings, she has struck out 25 and allowed just five walks.
Just days after being honored by the SEC, Schmalz will be returning to South Florida as Auburn takes part in FAU’s Strike Out Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton this weekend.
The Tigers, ranked No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Softball top 25, will play five games in the tournament–two Friday, two Saturda and one on Sunday. Their opponents will include FAMU, FAU, Michigan State, FIU and Loyola Marymount.
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McCarthy baseball coach honored July 7th, 2011
Archbishop McCarthy baseball coach Rick Bielski was named the All-USA Today Coach of the Year.
He led the Mavericks to a 29-3 record and a second consecutive Class 4A state title.
Top senior girls basketball players honored June 12th, 2011
If there weren’t enough All State teams already here’s another
The SheCanPlay.org Inc. put out a list of the top girls senior basketball players for the 2010-11 season. Locally here is who was listed: Class 6A: Chanlir Segarra (Cooper City); Takhari Jones (Miramar); Jasmine King (Boyd Anderson): Kari Roberson (Boyd Anderson); Class 5A: T’Keyah Williams (Dillard); Clarissa Coddington (Nova); April Carson (Nova); Lauren McGraw (Dillard); Class 1A: Danielle McCray (Trinity Christian).
The full list of players can be viewed on SheCanPlay.org. The list was established using data from CBSSports.com via maxpreps and SheCanPlay.org
Longtime South Florida wrestling official Rick Tucci honored March 8th, 2011
Rick Tucci, a wrestling official from Pembroke Pines, has been a tireless pioneer for the sport of wrestling for decades.
On Monday, the Florida High School Athletic Association announced that Tucci was in line to receive a very special honor: induction into the National High School Hall of Fame.
According to the FHSAA, Tucci has been officiating at the state, national and international level for more than 30 years. He has officiated 23 FHSAA Wrestling Finals events and has been the state’s rule interpreter 1976.
He has also served as president of the USA Wrestling Officials Association since 1986 and officiated at seven Olympics and more than 60 world championships. Tucci was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
This year’s National High School Hall of Fame induction is scheduled to take place in July in Philadelphia. Tucci is one of 12 national honorees–and is the only inductee in this class that hails from Florida.
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Dillard’s Wayne Lyons honored prior to U.S. Army All-American Bowl January 15th, 2011
Dillard’s Wayne Lyons has been in San Antonio all week preparing for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and on Friday night, the Panthers defensive back received a special honor.
During the game’s annual awards banquet, Lyons was named the Felix “Doc” Blanchard Award recipient.
Each year, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl honors two All-Americans who, accoring to the press release, “epitomize the Army’s high standard of excellence in community service, education and athletic distinction.”
Lyons was named the East Team’s honoree while kicker Ben Pruitt of Texas’ Woodlands High, was the West Team’s honoree.
Lyons, who is expected to announce his college commitment during this weekend’s game, was a first-team All-County selection despite missing time this season with a knee injury. He had 40 tackles and deflected six passes before being sidelined.
Off the field, Lyons is a candidate for valedictorian. He’s a member of the National Honor Society and is involved in several community service programs, including the Dillard RAM Buddy Mentoring Program, the YMCA L.I.F.T Student Mentor Program for special needs children and the city of Fort Lauderdale’s “Fit Kidz” Progam.
He collected offers from dozens of major college programs, including Stanford, Michigan and UCLA.
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Cardinal Gibbons’ Jessica Wynn, Kathryn Farland honored as 4A Player, Coach of the Year November 27th, 2010
Less than a week after winning its 19th state championship, the Cardinal Gibbons volleyball team has another reason to celebrate.
Wednesday, outside hitter Jessica Wynn was named the Class 4A Player of the Year and Chiefs coach Kathryn Farland was named 4A Coach of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
Wynn is now a finalist for the Miss Volleyball award and Farland is a finalist for the state’s overall Coach of the Year award.
Wynn, a senior, finished the season with 392 kills, 221 digs, 58 blocks and 51 aces. In Gibbons’ 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 victory over Fort Myers in the state championship match, the Pittsburgh signee recorded a match-high 18 kills and 10 digs.
Farland, meanwhile, led Gibbons to a 25-1 record and the state title in her third year as coach.
Also honored by the Dairy Famers were 6A Player of the Year Alex Johnson (Tampa Plant), 5A Player of the Year Nicole Walch (Martin County), 3A Player of the Year Jordan Burgess (Tampa Berkeley Prep), 2A Player of the Year Julie Trembley (Westminster Christian) and 1A Player of the Year Tina Toghiyani (Gainesville Oak Hall).
The other finalists for Coach of the Year include Warner Christian’s Vanessa Tress, Orlando First Academy’s Michele Moreman, Berkeley Prep’s Randy Dagostino, Martin County’s Krissy Schmidt and Dr. Krop’s Julie Priester.
Coach of the Year and Miss Volleyball should be announced later this year.