2012-2013 Varsity Athletic Awards Night May 3, 2013 5601 North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308 Phone: 954.771.4615, ext. 2468, Fax: 954.334.6160 Web: www.wacad.edu Westminster Academy is a Christ-centered, biblically-based college preparatory school dedicated to equipping covenant students to excel by using their gifts and talents for God’s glory. Invocation Jeff Jacques ’94 Admissions Director Dessert Video Slideshow Year-in-Review & Team Recognition Awards Presentation Men’s and Ladies’ Highest Team G.P.A. Scholar Athlete Award Freshman and Sophomore Athlete-of-the-Year Booster Club Award Harvey Martin Award Jack Mowday Award Carl A. Peterson Award C.L.A.S.S. Award Senior Recognition Benediction Jose del Pino Bible Teacher and Coach 2 Athletics Year-in-Review 2012-2013 Fall Sports Season Cheerleading This season’s varsity football cheer squad supported the varsity football team at almost every game this season—home and away. Whether winning or losing, the girls never gave up hope or school spirit. The homecoming pep rally was a success with the girls performing stunts and routines that far exceeded any expectations for this season. Cross Country The 2012 Cross Country season has been one filled with success, accomplishment, and celebration. The ladies’ team, in spite of losing their top two runners from last year to graduation and transfer, ran a winning season of 8 wins and only 1 loss. Sophomore Amanda Baker stepped up to the number one runner position throughout the regular season, until a leg injury ended her season early. In spite of that loss, the Lady Lions won their eighth straight district championship, and finished third in the regional meet. The men’s team showed significant improvement from 2011, with the transfer to WA of Junior Brandon Bejarano, and the return to running health of sophomore Casey McCracken. Brandon won the 2012 Individual Conference Championship, while Casey won the District Individual crown. With senior team captain David King following, the Lions won the WA Invitational, the Conference Championships, and also won their second straight district and regional championships, and capped a 10th place finish in the state championships. Football The Lions’ Varsity Football team finished up their season with a thrilling 29-22 overtime victory over Coral Springs Charter. The win evened the Lions’ record up at 5-5 for the season, and was the fourth consecutive victory. The 2012 football season was filled with copious lessons and the team all learned a little bit about each other and themselves. To end on a four-game winning streak was phenomenal. All credit goes to every player and coach for their commitment to coming to work each day with a purpose and a plan. The team could have packed it up with a record of 1-5, but instead of getting down, they got determined. It is a tremendous credit to the boys, especially the seniors, for their endurance and decision to turn their season around. Senior QB Ray Sharp led the way this season, amassing nearly 1,800 yards passing and throwing 19 TD’s (touchdowns). Junior Spencer Saliba led the Lions’ ground attack, rushing 144 times for 855 yards and scoring 6 TD’s. Sophomore WR (wide receiver)Andrew James caught 32 passes for 612 yards and scored six TD’s in only five games of action at WR. SeniorJonathan Merkle led the team in tackles on the defensive side of the ball, collecting 63 tackles . Finally, senior Ryan Rickel was the outstanding special teams player this season for the Lions. Rickel booted nine kickoffs for touchbacks, averaged 44 yards on 32 punts, was 16 of 17 on extra points and connected on six field goals. 3 Finally, the Southeastern Football Conference selected offenseive lineman Daniel Cocconcelli, quarterback Ray Sharp, and place kicker Ryan Rickel to its inaugural All-Conference Team. In addition, senior Max Bevill was selected to their All-Academic Team. Golf The 2012 Varsity Golf team has a successful season as they played in one of the toughest districts in the state. The team had a great start having won the first annual Westminster Academy/Calvary Christian Cup. They also finished fourth in the district and had two individual qualifiers for Regional play:Steven Lamay (11) and Ashley Malinchak (11). Malinchak advanced to the State tournament for the 6th consecutive year. The team’s overall record this season was 9-5. Head coach Jack Fleck looks forward to a promising season next year with the chance to compete in the well- respected district. Swimming and Diving This year’s swimming and diving teams outperformed expectations. Although this team is the youngest one in over a decade, they are deep in talent. The women’s team finished with an 11-2 dual meet record-which was highlighted by wins over Gulliver, Cardinal Gibbons, and South Florida Heat. The ladies also captured the Florida Christian Schools Championship and finished third at the 1A-District 10 meet. Sophomore Caroline Nava continued her already stellar career wth a district championship in the 50 and 100 freestyle and a regional championship in the 50 freestyle. At states, she finished second in the 50 freestye with an All-American consideration time. She also had an All-American qualifying time in the 100 free and finished 5th. Younger sisterJessica Nava just missed the school record in the 100 butterfly, but still made the District and Regional finals and also qualified for the state championship meet where she set a school record in the 100 fly and finished 11th. At the state championships in Orlando, the women’s swimming team rewrote much of the school record book while finishing 7th place as a team. The 200 medley relay set the first new school record of the night and finished 12th; the 200 freestyle relay shattered the old record in route to a bronze medal and an All-American consideration time and the 400 freestyle relay finally took down the oldest record on the board. The old record of 3:39.43 had stood since 1981 and included WA swim parent Kim Nava. The girls shattered the record with a time of 3:36.28 while finishing 9th. The Women’s relay swimmmers included Ashley Alfaro, Caroline Israels, Amy Kranz, Caroline Nava, Jessica Nava, Alexa Rivera, and Elizabeth Zubero. The men’s team finished with a 9-4 record despite losing two of the program’s all-time top swimmers. This included an exciting one-point victory at the Florida Christian School Championship which came down to the last relay of the meet. The men took fourth at the 1A-District 10 meet. Sophomore Alex Warters was a district and regional finalist. He also qualified for his third consecutve state championship meet where he had a great meet and scored points at the state level for the first time, finishing in 16th place. 4 The men also finished off their season on a high note. The 200 medley relay ofMicah Smith, Nicolas Shyne, and Jason Woodburn with Charlie Clemons and Daniel Zubero splitting the freestyle duties, had a season best time and finished 15th. With such a young team, the majority of whom are 7th to 10th graders, the future of our Westminster Swimming and Diving team is very bright. Volleyball This season was a successful one for the Varsity volleyball team, despite what the record shows. The team was a mix of 8th through 12th graders who came and evolved into a strong unit. Though a tough season on paper, the girls continued to work hard each day and learned how to persevere. The team will lose five seniors to graduation:Melissa Coningsby, Caroline Israels, Ashley Roughen, Georgia Smith, and Alyssa Stevenson. This group of seniors did a great job mentoring the younger players during the season. They were a valuable asset to the team not only because of their skill, but also for their Christ-like attitudes and leadership. Even with the upcoming loss of five seniors, the program looks strong for next season. Many young players are moving up with the talent and dedication needed to continue a strong tradition of volleyball here at Westminster Academy. 5 Winter Sports Season Cheerleading The 2012-2013 Varsity Cheer squad had an excellent winter basketball season! They enjoyed cheering on the Varsity Men’s Basketball team, in addition to competing themselves. They competed at The Ultimate State Bash Competition at Florida Atlantic University on January 12. The ladies hard work and energy paid off as they placed first in the Varsity Medium, Non-Tumbling Division. They are now looking forward to try- outs in May, team camp this summer and picking up their competition schedule in the fall. Ladies’ Basketball The ladies’ varsity basketball team had a successful season. The girls improved throughout the year and ended with an exciting win against Pope John Paul II. The team will lose one senior to graduation, Kaitlyn Stolley, who will be missed, but the future is bright with a young and upcoming group of athletes. Sophomore Brooke Oman and freshman Katie Ferraguti, two of the team’s leading scorers, will be back along with a determined and dedicated group of freshman consisting of: Savannah Kelmanson, Sofia Mastrorio, Maddie Pilch, Abby Quirk, Lia Raby, and Emma Zatorski and 8th graders Savannah Alday and Ali Sampo. We look forward to see what God has in store for the ladies’ varsity baketball program here at Westminster Academy. Men’s Basketball The 2012-2013 Varsity Men’s Basketball team finished another successful season with a record of 19 wins and 7 losses.