Benjamin HS wraps up school year with championships across the board

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Athletically speaking, the 2021-2022 school year was one of the most successful in Benjamin history top to bottom. Just take a look at some of the accomplishments:

• 15 team district championships
• 2 individual district championships
• 5 Regional Championships
• 2 State Runners Up
• 1 Team State Championship
• 4 Individual State Championship

The school also finished Runner Up for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Floyd E. Lay 3A Sunshine Cup All-Sports Award.

“We were thrilled to recently learn that we finished runner-up for the FHSAA Class 3A Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Award,” Athletic Director Ryan Smith ’93 said.  “This award recognizes the total achievement of all teams combined that participate in FHSAA sports. There are over 80 schools that compete in Class 3A throughout the entire state of Florida, therefore finishing in 2nd place is a huge accomplishment. This could not have been done without the tireless work and commitment of our student-athletes and coaches. By finishing so high in the standings, it demonstrates a commitment by the school to all our athletic teams and the entire athletic program.”

Boys soccer

• 11-6 Regular Season Record
• District 3A Championship
• Regional Championship
• State Semifinalist
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel Coach of the Year – Kris Steeves
• South Florida Sun Sentinel Player of the Year – Marco Chojnacki

“The varsity boys soccer team started the season off slowly, but came together towards the middle and end of season peaking at the right time leading into the state playoffs,” said Smith ‘93. “The coaching staff and senior leadership did an incredible job creating a culture of team unity. This team far exceeded our expectations for the year.”

Girls soccer

• 16-2-1 Regular Season Record
• District 3A Championship
• Regional Championship
• State Runner Up
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel Coach of the Year – Hillary Carney
• South Florida Sun Sentinel Player of the Year – Lily White

“The girls varsity soccer team was as fun and exciting to watch as any of the teams this past school year,” Smith ‘93 said. “They are a highly talented group who work tirelessly at their sports and they played with such enthusiasm and school spirit always having smiles on their faces. The few seniors we had on the team and the coaching staff did a great job cultivating team unity with such a young team. We are very excited to see what this team can do in the years to come as the roster is filled with young talent”.

Boys golf

• District 1A Championship
• State Participant – 4th Place Finish
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel Coach of the Year – Toby Harbeck

“Our boys golf program has an outstanding history of success as they have won three state championships in our school history and finished in the top 5 in the state many times,” Smith ‘93 explained. “The team pretty much qualifies for the state tournament every year in what is arguably the most talented state in terms of boys golf. The 2021-22 boys golf team continued with that history of success.”

Girls golf

• District 1A Team Championship
• Regional Team Championship
• Individual State Championship – Andie Smith
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel
• Golfer of the Year – Andie Smith
• Pathfinder Award – Andie Smith

“I played my very first golf tournament at the age of seven with my dad caddying for me,” said Andie Smith. “I vividly remember that day. A dream was born for me to play Division 1 golf and ultimately perform on the LPGA Tour. My Dad emphasized to me that I should take golf as far as I can and let it take me places I can’t go without it. He always promised to be my caddy from high school, onto college, and on tour if the opportunity presented itself. He even said I could keep the standard 10% caddy fee if I promised to save it for his grandchildren. His words motivated me then and even more in the past 6 years after his sudden passing in 2015.”

Boys track and field

• District 1A Championship
• County Championship (First private school ever to do this)
• Regional Championship
• State Championship (First in program history)
• 3 Individual State Champions
  • CJ Bownes – Discus
  • Micah Mays – Triple Jump
  • Micah Mays – 400 M
• Florida Dairy Farmers 2022 Class 1A Coach of the Year – Barrett Saunders
• Florida Dairy Farmers 2022 Class 1A Athlete of the Year – Micah Mays
• Palm Beach County Best of Preps Team of the Year
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel Runner of the Year – Micha Mays
• Palm Beach Post and South Florida Sun Sentinel Coach of the Year – Barrett Saunders

“Every student-athlete that participated in the meet was able to contribute to the victory,” Athletic Director Ryan Smith ‘93 said. “It was such an incredible and exciting night highlighted by Micah Mays and CJ Bowens winning individual state titles in their events. Head Coach Barrett Saunders and his staff are arguably as good as any in the state. What they did to develop the student-athletes and have the team peaking for the state championships was truly impressive.”

Boys lacrosse

• 18-4 Regular Season Record
• District 1A Championship
• Regional Championship
• State Runner Up

“Being a smaller school, we rely on our multi-sport athletes. With our boys soccer team, which consisted of many of our lacrosse players, going so far into the postseason, our boys lacrosse team did not get a chance to practice as a full team until two weeks into the season,” Assistant Athletic Director Alex Clarke shared. “It was just before spring break when the boys pulled off an overtime win over St. Thomas Aquinas that we knew they had something special. Led by a group of 16 seniors, the boys set their sights on the state championship. We are extremely proud of all that this team accomplished this season!”

Girls volleyball

• 16-8 Regular Season Record
• District 3A Championship
• Regional Championship
• State Semifinalist
• South Florida Sun Sentinel Coach of the Year – Alex Clarke

“Only graduating one senior from this talented team has us excited for what’s to come in the future,” Clarke said. “These girls are already hard at work preparing for their fall season. They are determined to get back to the state final four.”

Additional accomplishments/Honorable mentions:

District Champions

• Girls Swimming
• Girls Cross Country
• Boys Cross Country
• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Girls Tennis
• Girls Track and Field
• Girls Lacrosse
• Caden Quinn- Boys Swimming Individual District Champion
• Teresa Tuong- Girls Wrestling Individual District Champion

Regional Runners Up:

• Girls Cross Country

State Participants:

• Girls Cross Country- Finished 8th
• Boys Cross Country
• Sarah Napier- Girls Diving
• Girls Track and Field
• Girls Tennis- Jane Boyland and Ryan Wuhrman finished as doubles State Runners Up

Graduating Seniors

Addie Bounds – Cal Poly (Beach Volleyball) ‘22

CJ Bowens – United States Military Academy at West Point (Football) ‘22

Jareth Buccilli – North Greenville University (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘22

Mark Cueto – Mount Union (Football) ‘22

Gabe Griffith – Mississippi State University (Football – Walkon Tryout) ‘22

Danny Gonzalez – University of South Florida (Football) ‘22

Jake Haggard – University of Louisiana-Monroe (Baseball) ‘22

Jack Horgen – MIT (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘22

James Key – Bucknell University (Men’s Golf) ‘22

Dalton Lyons – Grambling State University (Football) ‘22

Kiley Malmberg – Emory University (Women’s Golf) ‘22

Logan McGruder – University of Arizona (Women’s Soccer) ‘22

Jack Regnery – Tufts University (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘22

Regan Rodriguez – Eckerd College (Women’s Soccer) ‘22

Brock Roe – Messiah University (Men’s Lacrosse) ‘22

Andie Smith – Duke University (Women’s Golf) ‘22

Sophia Smith – Brown University (Women’s Crew) ‘22

Michael Tadros – Southern Methodist University (Football – Preferred Walkon) ‘22

Mason Thomason – Stetson University (Football) ‘22

Lily Valentini – United States Military Academy at West Point (Women’s Lacrosse) ‘22

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.