Palm Beach County’s very best high school student-athletes celebrated a night at the SoFi Center on Thursday, May 28.
More than a hundred students, coaches and parents attended the Palm Beach Post High School Sports Awards Show, sponsored by Baptist Orthopedic Health Care, TMRW Sports and Palm Beach State College.
The Palm Beach Post revealed its award winners for the 2025-26 school year.
Superlatives
Team of the Year: Cardinal Newman football
Cardinal Newman football pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the state last year. After an impressive regular season, the Crusaders stormed to the FHSAA state championship game, where they stunned the four-time reigning state champions at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. It was the first state title in the program’s decorated history and the latest feather in the cap for one of Palm Beach County’s best football coaches of all time.
Coach of the Year: Jason Powell, Suncoast basketball
Powell has been with the Suncoast basketball program for nearly two decades and the team has been nothing but a winner during that time. They’ve been knocking on the state championship door in recent years and finally enjoyed a breakthrough in March. It was only fitting that he’d bring home the title on the 40th anniversary of the school’s legendary back-to-back state champions.
Boys Athlete of the Year: Andreas Da Silva, Wellington swimming
Da Silva pulled off quadruple perfection at the Class 4A state swimming championships. He was a four-time state champion in 100 freestyle , 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. He was a region champion in 100 freestyle and also swept his events at the district championship meets. Da Silva’s achievements at state vaulted his recruitment and he’ll now swim collegiately at LSU.
Girls Athlete of the Year: Aubrey Fogel, Seminole Ridge flag football
What can’t Aubrey Fogel do on the football field? The junior has risen just as rapidly as the sport of flag football has the last two years, not just in Palm Beach County, but across the state of Florida. After guiding Seminole Ridge to a state title last year, she helped the Hawks repeat this season, passing for 5,185 yards and 78 touchdowns. With her leadership, Seminole Ridge spent much of the season as the nation’s top-ranked program, with no signs of slowing down ahead of her senior year.
Courage Award: Cody Wexler, Park Vista baseball
Park Vista baseball’s Cody Wexler was one of the top aces in Palm Beach County this season, compiling an 8-1 record with a 0.81 ERA.
Wexler’s emotional performance in the district championship game was one that few of us will ever forget.
FPL Power Play: Muck Bowl 2026
This year’s winning highlight comes from the 2026 Muck Bowl. Glades Central head coach Omar Haugabook is rebuilding the Raiders’ legendary football program into a playoff contender. They’ve now won back-to-back rivalry games against their old nemesis Pahokee.
Fall Sports
Swimming and Diving
Andreas Da Silva – Wellington
Da Silva pulled off quadruple perfection at the Class 4A state swimming championships. He was a four-time state champion in 100 freestyle , 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. He was a region champion in 100 freestyle and also swept his events at the district championship meets. Da Silva’s achievements at state vaulted his recruitment and he’ll now swim collegiately at LSU.
Feagin Kaminski – Benjamin
Kaminski was the only local girls swimmer to stand atop the Florida podium this year. She was a state champion in the 100 backstroke and runner-up in the 100 butterfly. She also took fifth in the 200 medley relay and fifth in 400 freestyle relay at Class 1A meet. At regionals, Kaminski was champion in 100 fly, runner-up in 100 back and 400 free relay and third-place in 200 medley relay. Just a sophomore, Kaminski is sure to be one of Palm Beach’s top swimmers in years to come.
Bowling
Jayden Brown – Dr. Joaquín García
Brown has been Palm Beach County’s top bowler the last couple years. He once again led the county at the FHSAA state championships, taking ninth place overall. He was defending a historic bowling state title from last season, which was the first state championship in Dr. Joaquín García history. Brown also scored well at the District 14 tournament to help the Bulldogs win a team district title.
Carly Perrin – Somerset-Canyons
Perrin finished 51st at the state championships, the best of any girls bowler from Palm Beach County. She was the individual champion from District 14 with 485 score. Perrin also won the Palm Beach County championship.
Girls Volleyball
Small school: Hannah Vanzwieten – Boca Raton Christian
Vanzwieten had a great regular season but it was Boca Raton Christian’s playoff run that really cemented honors for the hybrid player. With the Blazers lamenting an ankle injury to star hitter Caroline Wright, Vanzwieten became the go-to hitter in both the state semifinals and state championship games, including a 22-kill performance that led the Blazers past rival Seacrest Country Day. Her all-around skills produced 254 kills, 53 aces, 30 blocks, 270 digs, 157 assists, and 221 serve receptions on the year.
Large school: Macy McAmis – Jupiter
Jupiter’s roster this year was full of elite volleyball players, but McAmis was the glue that pinned it all together for the 23-5 Warriors. The team’s captain has been stellar her entire career for her program. McAmis is said to be willing to take a dig off of anywhere she could get one, and she proved it with multiple digs off of her own head in Jupiter’s playoff run. Auburn University will certainly be grateful to have such a dedicated talent next fall.
Football Offense
Small school: Jyron Hughley – Cardinal Newman
Hughley has been an electric quarterback at Cardinal Newman the last few years and he capped his varsity career by leading the Crusaders to their first state championship in an upset over Class 1A juggernaut Chaminade Madonna. The West Virginia signee threw for 2,018 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding another 1,528 yards and 19 scores on the ground. He even contributed four tackles in the state final at defensive back and was later named championship game MVP.
Large school: Javian Mallory – West Boca Raton
Javian Mallory was a monster this year for West Boca Raton, his 1,258 rushinhg yards and 22 total scores led for the Bulls’ championship encore. The Miami signee missed last year’s title victory with an injury, but West Boca would not have been the same team without his skillset this year. He’ll leave behind a decorated legacy and potential dynasty at West Boca.
Football Defense
Small school: Adam Balogoun-Ali – Cardinal Newman
Adam Balogoun-Ali finally got his ring, and his body of work during his senior season certainly helped Cardinal Newman make program history. The Auburn signee accumulated 123 tackles, 17 for a loss, and his forced turnovers always seemed to come at pivotal points in key games, such as his pick-six against Carrollwood Day. A special teams nightmare, Balogoun-Ali also blocked several kicks and was a massive reason why the Crusaders were able to finish 12-3 with a state title amid the best season in team history.
Large school: Damari Jerry – West Boca Raton
Jerry was all over the field for West Boca Raton, playing a significant role in the Bulls’ repeat state championship. The junior tallied 79 tackles, including 11 for a loss, adding three sacks, two fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, including more than a few important plays in the state championship game. Jerry is just a junior and should be one of the top local defensive players next fall.
Cross Country
Katelyn O’Brien – Boca Raton
O’Brien finished her senior campaign with some of the best performances of her varsity XC career. She won championships at the Palm Beach County, district and regional meets, setting a personal record (17:21.50) along the way. She placed fourth at Class 4A state, the best of any local girls runner.
Boys: Preston Sangely – Spanish River
Sangely enjoyed a historic 2025 season: He won the Class 4A state championship to become Palm Beach County’s first boys cross country state champion since 2015 and first from a public school since 2010. It was the first boys cross country state title ever by a Spanish River runner. Sangely won eight total races, including a sweep of the county, district and region championships.
Boys Golf
Small school: Andrew Tsar – Benjamin
Tsar was exceptional for Benjamin this year. He led the Bucs in overall scoring at the Class 1A state championship, marked by five birdies on the back-nine of Day No. 1. He tied for second place in the district championship with a 69 (3-under) and tied for fourth place at regionals with a 72. Tsar is committed to play college golf at SMU.
Small school: Charlie Woods – Benjamin
Woods needs little introduction. Nonetheless, Charlie stepped into his own last year as the No. 1 line on Benjamin’s state championship team. He helped the Bucs mount a comeback at the Class 1A state championship with a team-best effort on the final day. In addition, he won the Palm League Invitational at the Baltimore. Woods committed to Florida State earlier this year.
Large school: Hampton Beebe – Dwyer
Beebe paced the entire field at the Class 3A state championship, shooting a two-day total of 140 to win the individual state championship. His performance the fueled the Panthers’ dominant team victory, the first boys golf state title in school history. Beebe tied with teammate William Cui for the second-best score at regionals (66) and won the district championship with a 3-under 69. Auburn is clearly recruiting the Palm Beaches well as Beebe is also set to join the Tigers next year.
Girls Golf
Large school: Jaime Baker – Dr. Joaquín García
Baker was stellar yet again in her sophomore campaign, placing second overall in the Class 2A state championship by shooting a 141. Baker added a regional championship (69) and a district championship (67, 5-under) to cement her place as a burgeoning Palm Beach talent.
Small school: Kayla Bryant – FAU High
Bryant was ranked as Florida’s top female golfer by the FHSAA and she helped FAU High finish as runners-up in the Class 1A state championship. She led her team in scoring at the state championships, finishing seventh overall, and also led the Owls to wins at regionals and districts. She’ll continue her golf career at Florida State.
Winter
Boys Basketball
Large school: Aaron Horton – Suncoast
Horton was the leading scorer in Suncoast’s run to the Class 4A state championship. He averaged 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Horton posted a season-high of 24 points against Victory Rock Prep in November. He and his teammates wrote the latest chapter in Suncoast’s esteemed basketball history by winning the program’s first state title since 1990.
Small school: Xander Gerard – Saint Andrew’s
Gerard was one of Florida’s top scorers in averaging 24.3 points per game, No. 22 overall in the state. He dropped a season high 47 points against Archbishop McCarthy and racked up seven 30-point performances as the Scots reached the Class 3A region final. Gerard is a talented multi-sport athlete who also starred for the Scots’ elite lacrosse team and has played for the school’s varsity golf team. He’ll continue his athletic career with Marquette lacrosse.
Girls Basketball
Large school: Devyn Godfrey – Jupiter
Talk about a splash freshman. Godfrey averaged a team-high 16.0 points per game to lead the Warriors to a 19-7 record and appearance in the second round of the FHSAA regional playoffs. She scored in double digits in all but three games, including a season high of 32 points.
Small school: Jasleen Green – Grandview Prep
Green did not leave much left to accomplish after her first and final season with The Pride. The Arizona commit averaged a team-high 17.5 points to lead Grandview Prep to its second straight Class 1A state title. She was named Florida Player of the Year by MaxPreps and Gatorade for her efforts.
Boys Soccer
Large school: Enzo Kunz – Olympic Heights
Touted by head coach Keith Fries as Palm Beach County’s best midfielder, Enzo Kunz was the engine for a strong Olympic Heights squad this year. Kunz played all over the field, even dropping back into a defensive role when necessary, and the senior contributed eight goals and three assists in offense. He helped guide the Lions to a 12-8-2 record against some of South Florida’s best competition, including wins over American Heritage-Delray, Spanish River, and Vero Beach.
Small school: Kingston Alexis – Somerset-Canyons
Kingston Alexis was the catalyst for much of Somerset Canyons’ firepower this season, with his 13 goals and seven assists guiding the Cougars to a 16-3-2 record. Despite losing the district title game, Somerset Canyons rebounded for a regional championship and made it all the way to the program’s first-ever state title game. Alexis’ finishes were a big reason for the success year, as evidenced in wins against teams like King’s Academy, American Heritage-Delray, and Sante Fe.
Girls Soccer
Large school: Mia Ciezak – Wellington
Mia Ciezak made a name for herself in an attacking role last year, but she really found her offensive footing this season, leading the Wolverines with 16 goals and four assists. Ciezak was dominant on the defensive side as well, knowing when to step up and when she was needed to drop back. Wellington relied on her sound instincts to finish 15-3-1 and reach the regional championship.
Small school: Lola Hathorne – King’s Academy
The King’s Academy offense often moved through Lola Hathorne. The midfield star’s technical ability racked up 14 goals and 13 assists in a historic season for the Lions, who went 23-1 and won the first state championship in program history. Hathorne shined brightest on the big stage and was the best offensive player on the pitch in both the state semifinal and the state championship match. She’s headed to play college soccer at FAU.
Wrestling
Large school: Shawnley Clervoyant – Wellington
Clervoyant won a lot of matches and tournaments en route to a state runner-up finish at in the Class 3A 113-pound division. He was the champion at the region, district and Palm Beach County Wrestling Hall of Fame meet. He finished the season with a 45-9 overall record.
Girls Weightlifting
Large school: Amelia Ciriaco – Wellington
Palm Beach County had a number of talented girls weightlifters this year but none had a better postseason than Ciriaco. She finished as state runner-up finish in the Class 3A 119-pound Olympic lift and took fourth place finish in the Traditional lift. She swept the Olympic and Traditional lifts at the regional and district championship meets.
Spring
Baseball
Large school: Max McDougall – West Boca Raton
McDougall was one of Palm Beach County’s best two-way players. The senior pitched to a 2.09 ERA, allowing just a .201 batting average against him with 52 strikeouts. At the plate, McDougall often helped his own cause, hitting .374 and pacing West Boca Raton with 37 hits, 34 RBIs, and six home runs. He guided the Bulls on a late-season surge that featured a nine-game win streak propelling them into a regional run.
Small school: Alec Cabrera – King’s Academy
Cabrera was one of the few hitters that appeared to be virtually matchup-proof this season, forcing opposing pitching staffs to game-plan around him. The King’s Academy sophomore hit for an eye-popping .506 average with over half of his 41 hits going for extra bases, including 11 doubles, three triples, and eight home runs. Just give him first base on a walk, many would say, and they’d be right. At just a sophomore, Cabrera has two more years to terrorize pitchers.
Softball
Large school: Avalowe Fitzgerald – Jupiter
It’s hard to believe that Fitzgerald is just a freshman. Wrapping up her first year on varsity at Jupiter, Fitzgerald impressed as one of the county’s leading two-way players. She combined with Sasha Seider for an effective one-two punch in the circle, pitching to a sparkling 1.63 ERA with 135 strikeouts in 66 innings. She helped her own cause with a .500 batting average, highlighted by 11 doubles and two home runs, one of which helped clinch the team’s district title victory. With her help Jupiter reached the state semifinals, with the promise of more success in coming seasons.
Small school: Gracyn Needle – King’s Academy
Needle has been putting up head-turning numbers her whole high-school career and the 2026 season was no different. The junior hit. 667 this season with 36 hits and RBIs apiece, highlighted by five doubles, three triples, and 11 home runs. She was equally effective defensively at shortstop, churning out plays with machine-like efficiency to help King’s Academy to a 19-5 record and a district title. Needle has one more year to impress at the high-school level before taking her talents to Tennessee on an even bigger stage.
Boys Lacrosse
Large school: David Druhot – Jupiter
Druhot was exceptional for Jupiter boys lacrosse this season, leading the Warriors with 54 goals and 34 assists, pacing his team in both categories. Druhot helped his team establish statewide notoriety with wins over Benjamin, Ponte Vedra, and St. Thomas, making the 2026 season one to remember. Jupiter gets one more encore season from their star attacker before he is set to attend Army following high school.
Small school: Nick Testa – Saint Andrew’s
Testa was a big part of why St. Andrew’s boys lacrosse spent most of the year ranked the top program in the nation. The senior shined with 52 goals and once again cracked triple digits with 100 assists to guide the Scots to the Class 1A state championship and a 20-4 record. The star midfielder will attend Johns Hopkins University next year after contributing over 100 points each of his four years at St. Andrew’s.
Girls Lacrosse
Large school: Kali Savage – Jupiter
Kali Savage was the driving force behind Jupiter girls lacrosse, and when she had the ball, good things tended to happen on offense. The junior tallied a team-high 52 goals this season, guiding the program to a 12-6 record against a tough schedule, by far the strongest large school girls program in Palm Beach County. Jupiter made it to the state tournament this season and Savage helped the Warriors put together their most complete season and highest ranking in a decade.
Small school: Madison Vargas – American Heritage-Delray
Playing on a team full of Division I recruits, Madison Vargas churned out a huge portion of the offense for American Heritage-Delray girls lacrosse. With 100 points on the season, including 52 goals and 48 assists, Vargas helped the Stallions navigate a brutal national schedule en route to a 20-2 record and yet another appearance in the Class 1A state championship. Following a tremendous high school career, Vargas will attend Florida State University.
Boys Track and Field
Large school: Preston Sangely – Spanish River
Sangely will go down as one of the county’s best distance runners of all time. He won state championships in the 800-meter and 1600-meter races this year and came within a second of achieving the quadruple after taking runner-up in the 4×800-meter relay and third in the 3200-meter. At one time, Sangely held the fastest 800-meter time in the United States this season. He’ll take his Olympic ambitions to Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina this fall.
Small school: Julian Luiz – Benjamin
Luiz has long been one of Florida’s top hurdlers and he returned to the summit during his senior season by winning a state championship in the 400-meter hurdles. It was his second career track and field state title after winning the event his sophomore year. Luiz was undefeated in the race during his senior season and also swept Palm League, county, district and region titles in the 110-meter hurdles.
Girls Track and Field
Large school: Alba Antunez-Perez – Spanish River
Spanish River churns out elite distance runners under veteran head coach Doug Horn and Alba Antunez-Perez is one of the most promising yet. A native of Spain, Antunez-Perez posted Florida’s fastest 3200-meter time this fall in winning the FSU Relays. She then won a state championship with the Sharks’ 4×800-meter relay team and placed top four in the 1600 and 3200-meter events.
Small school: E’tesia Forbes – Glades Central
Forbes is a burgeoning star in the Glades with three career Florida sprinting state titles through her sophomore season. She won state championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter races this season, successfully defending her title in the former. Forbes is also a talented long jumper, taking third at the state meet. We have no doubt that even faster times are on the way for Forbes as she writes the latest chapter in Glades Centlral’s esteemed track and field history.
Tennis
Rafael Bote – Saint Andrew’s
The player they call “Rafa’’ won the elusive “Triple Crown.” He anchored the Scots to the 1A state team title as first singles. Then the fiercely competitive righthander with Canadian roots went on to win his second straight individual singles championship and made it a triple treat with an individual doubles title. He’s only the second player from Saint Andrew’s to pull off the “Triple Crown” and did so in Florida’s toughest classification.
Sophia Osipova – Saint Andrew’s
Osipova was a key component to Saint Andrew’s 1A state-title winning season. The freshman, in her first year in the program after being home-schooled as an eighth-grader, finished 15-1 in the regular season, districts and regionals. Osipova also made it to the semifinals of the individual state singles tournament and was a state doubles finalist.
Water Polo
Damjan Roncevic – Saint Andrew’s
Saint Andrew’s slugged it out with some of the best teams in Florida this year with Damjan Roncevic often in the middle of it all. Roncevic led the Scots with 124 goals and 37 assists. Saint Andrew’s finished the year as the top-ranked team in Palm Beach County and reached the second round of the FHSAA state playoffs.
Ekaterina Malyshev – Palm Beach Central
Palm Beach Central was far and away the best girls water polo team in the county this year and Ekaterina Malyshev was once again the team’s best player. She led the Broncos with 122 goals and 69 steals to help Palm Beach Central finish with a 15-4 record and qualify for the FHSAA state tournament.
Boys Weightlifting
Maverick Davila – Dr. Joaquín García
Davila was a state champion in the Class 2A 139-pound Olympic lift. He also took state runner-up in Traditional lift. Davila swept through the regional and district meets with first-place finishes in the Traditional and Olympic lifts.
Manuel Hodgman – Jupiter
State champion in Class 3A 119-pound Olympic lift, runner-up in Traditional; Regional champion in Traditional, Olympic lifts; District champion in Traditional, Olympic lifts.
Beach Volleyball
Lyla Buser – Cardinal Newman
Ava Castro – Cardinal Newman
Castro and Buser were the dominant senior pair that Cardinal Newman needed this year, propelling the Crusaders’ newest athletic program into statewide relevance. Following a first-match loss to open 2026, Castro, Buser, and Newman reeled off 14 straight victories en route to the first regional final appearance in program history. The Crusaders’ playoff run was the deepest of any program in Palm Beach County this year. Castro is committed to Boston College, and Buser plans to continue her career with Providence College.
Boys Volleyball
Evan Holowecky – Seminole Ridge
Holowecky set the table for Palm Beach County’s top boys volleyball team, which returned to the FHSAA state tournament once again this season. He dished out 819 assists as the Hawks’ solo setter and Seminole Ridge is 47-14 overall across Holowecky’s freshman and sophomore seasons. Like others in his family, Evan is also a kicker with the football team and made a game-winning field goal as time expired against Palm Beach Gardens last fall. With so much high-level experience so early in his career, we know more big things are in store for Holowecky and the Hawks.
Flag Football
Aubrey Fogel – Seminole Ridge
What can’t Aubrey Fogel do on the football field? The junior has risen just as rapidly as the sport of flag football has the last two years, not just in Palm Beach County, but across the state of Florida. After guiding Seminole Ridge to a state title last year, she helped the Hawks repeat this season, passing for 5,185 yards and 78 touchdowns. With her leadership, Seminole Ridge spent much of the season as the nation’s top-ranked program, with no signs of slowing down ahead of her senior year.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: High School Sports Awards: Check out 2026 Player of the Year winners
Reporting by Eric J. Wallace and Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
