Archbishop Carroll High looks back on excellent sports year

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School’s basketball, baseball and softball teams enjoyed a fabulous 2016 season, playing for a state championship in one sport, as well as having one athlete named to the district’s first team and two coaches honored as Coach of the Year.

Juan Hernandez, ACC athletic director and head basketball coach, was recognized as Coach of the Year for the 4A-2A District. He led the Bulldogs to their first-ever state championship semifinal in Lakeland � the farthest ACC basketball has ever gone � and a 26-5 record overall, the best in school history.

The team scored high against top teams from throughout Florida and in South Carolina. Player Christian Anglada also was named to the 4A-2A Boys Basketball First team. 

"We really became like a family and it definitely improved the way we played," said junior basketball player Daniel Cordero.

Basketball was not the only winning team this year at the school.

Head Baseball Coach Andres Blanco was named HSBN Miami-Dade and Monroe 2016 3A-8 Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a District Championship.

Baseball player Alfredo Silva said he was very proud of what the team accomplished this year, adding that he expects the team to come back even better next year.

The ACC softball team also made it to the District Championship after working hard all summer to improve their skills with drills and practices.

Captain Nicole Kozak said, "We are going to work even harder than we already have been to make sure next season is even better than last season."

To congratulate all the athletes, ACC hosted its Athletic Banquet at the end of April, with Frank Martin, head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of South Carolina, as the keynote speaker.

Martin is a Miami native who coached the Miami Senior High team to back-to-back state championships in 1996 and 1997. He is a graduate of Florida International University. His talk motivated the ACC athletes by explaining the meaning of sacrifice, determination, and teamwork.

This article was submitted by Archbishop Carroll High student Victoria Silvera.