Hello, ILS!

Here is your weekly sports flash and upcoming sports schedule.

Golf Teams: 

The Boys and Girls Golf teams competed in districts on Monday at Normandy Shores. The boys team ended an impressive season with a 4th place finish just barely missing the cut for Regionals. Seniors Hector Pires and Julien Bannel shot 82 and 85. Jeremy Agresti and Pablo Carpenter each shot 90. The star of the show was freshman Connor Heilemann who tied for 4th overall in the entire field with a score of 75. He went on to a dramatic one-hole playoff tiebreaker and advanced to Regionals as an automatic qualifier. He’ll be competing in Regionals on Monday at Miami Shores for a chance to advance to States.

The girls finished with a strong showing as sophomore Sophia Estrada shot an 87. Senior Gianna Cusano ended her outstanding career with a 95.

We’re extremely proud of our golfers this season as they had one of the best years ILS has ever had as a team.

Swim Teams: 

The Boys and Girls Swim Teams competed in their District Meet at Miami Country Day. The Girls Team earned District Runner-Up! This qualifies them for the Regional Championship this Friday at NSU University School.

Others who qualified for the Regional Meet:

• Mathias Elizondo: 3^rd in the 50 free; 2^nd in the 100 free.
• Joaquin Espinal: 1^st in the 200 IM; 1^st in the 100 back.
•  Valentina Oliva: 1^st in the 100 back.
• Kristen Bachmann: 1^st in the 100 back; 1^st in the 100 breast; 2^nd in the 100 free. 1^st in the 50 free.
• Rachel Larralde: 1^st in the 200 free. 1^st in the 100 breast;
• Emma Larralde: 1^st in the 100 free; 2^nd in the 200 free.
• Barbara Espinal: 2^nd in the 100 fly.
• Valentina Oliva, Emma Larralde, Rachel Larralde, Kristen Bachmann: 1^st in the 200-medley relay; 2^nd in the 200 free relay;

Cross Country Teams:

The Boys and Girls Cross Country teams competed at the District Championships this past Wednesday at Larry & Penny Thompson Park.

The girls were able to run their best race as a team yet and sneak into the Regional Championship race via a tie-breaking result! The girls were led by junior Andrea Echeverria and sophomore Arianna Armas. Senior Daysi Gonzalez, Sophomore Simone Prina, and Sophomore Luciana Gadala-Maria ran their best races collectively of the season to secure the crucial points needed to qualify.

The boys season unfortunately came to end with the team unable to qualify for the Regional Championship Meet. Despite their early end to the season, the boys ran well and improved collectively throughout the season. The boys will look forward to next season with each major contributor returning for the 2025 season.

Daniel Brito finished 10th overall, qualifying for the Regional Championship as an individual. He will attempt to qualify as an individual to the State Championship race this Friday at the Regional Championship.

The runners will compete this Friday morning at the Regional Championship at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton. 

Football: ILS 35 – Dr. Krop 6

Senior Joel Salien wore orange and green cleats on Friday night. He, as well as the entire team, looked the part as they dominated Dr. Krop all night long on both sides of the ball. The Lightning had no answer for the dominant Royals who put up 35 points en-route to a running clock before Krop scored a late TD with 2 minutes remaining and mostly backups on the field. The Royals are hitting on all cylinders the last 6 quarters of football, outscoring their opponents 60 – 6.

The running game really got things rolling on the 1^st drive of the game. However, for the 2^nd week in a row the offense turned the ball over in the redzone. This veteran team does not fold under adversity. The defense got the ball back, and the offense went back to work. Joel Salien caught a 40-yard pass from Dorian Mallary as time expired in the 1^st quarter to put the Royals up 7-0. Brandon Kinsey got in on the action with a 45-yard catch of his own with 6:20 remaining in the half, putting the Royals up 13-0.

The defense was flying around all night long, leaving the Lightning offense frustrated and confused. A well-timed blitz from Rashad Lee put the Lightning in a hole and got the offense the ball back in time for an end of the half drive. The Lightning defense started to tighten up, but QB Dorian Mallary can beat you in so many ways. On 3^rd and long he scrambled 17 yards to get the 1^st down. On the next play he did it again, this time for 20 yds and a TD as time was running out in the half. Alan Schael converted the 2-point conversion, and the Royals were in total control up 21-0 at halftime.

On the opening drive of the 3^rd quarter Schael scored again on a 15- yard TD reception, and a 28-0 lead. The final TD of the night came on a 35-yd pass to Tyrone Williams with :22 seconds remaining in the 3^rd quarter. 35-0 and a running clock for the 4^th quarter. Business as usual for the Royals who entered the game as the 2^nd seed in the Region and are looking to solidify a home playoff game as they take on longtime rival Ransom Everglades this Thursday at 7pm in the Jungle. The “Battle of the Bay Trophy” will be up for grabs as the long-time rivalry finally gets renewed.

Outstanding Performers:

Dorian Mallary: 10-19, 216 yds. 4 TDs, 1 INT. 6 carries, 58 yds, 1 TD. 274 all-purpose yds, 5 total TDs.

Terrance Smith Jr.: 7 carries, 64 yds

Brandon Kinsey: 4 recs, 91 yds, 1 TD (long 45).

Alan Schael: 1 rec, 15 yds, 1 TD, 1 2pt-conversion.

Joel Salien: 2 recs, 47 yds, 1 TD (long 40).

Tyrone Williams: 1 rec, 35yds, 1 TD.

Rashad Lee: 10 tackles, 1 sack.

Henry Jean-Simeon, Raul Alvarez, Andres Delgado: 1 sack each

This week’s schedule: 

Monday, November 4:

-Connor Hielemann competes in the Golf Regional tournament at Normandy Shores (All day).

-Girls Varsity Soccer away @ Westminster Christian, 3:30pm. (1pm dismissal).

Tuesday, November 5:

-Boys Varsity Soccer away @ Archbishop McCarthy, 4pm (1pm dismissal).

Wednesday, November 6:

-Girls Varsity Soccer away @ Doral Academy, 5pm.

-Boys JV Soccer away @ Belen, 5pm (2:15pm dismissal).

Thursday, November 7:

-Football home vs Ransom, 7pm. BATTLE OF THE BAY!

-Boys Varsity Soccer away @ American Heritage, 7pm.

Friday, November 8:

-Swim Team qualifiers @ Regional Championship Meet at NSU (all day).

-Cross Country Team qualifiers @ Regional Championship Meet in Boca Raton (all day).

-Girls Varsity Soccer away @ SLAM 2:30pm (Curtis Park, 1pm dismissal).

Good luck and Go Royals!