Looking back, to say the Miami Palmetto Senior High Panthers dominated sports on the fields, courts, mats and more in 2024 would be an understatement. However, from buzzer-beaters to state championships, some moments stood out as highlights for their teams and the entire year of MPSH sports. After careful consideration, here are the Panther’s top five most memorable sports moments of 2024.
Starting on the football field, the number five spot for athletic moments of this year goes to the football team and their 34-6 win against the South Dade Buccaneers.
“The South Dade game felt like it was the first time when the five of us came together and played as one unit, you can see it in the score,” senior and offensive lineman Daniel Fandino said.
Moving on with a bang — or, more accurately, a buzz — former varsity girl’s basketball athlete Sami Lipcon’s three-pointer buzzer-beater to crush rivals Ferguson last season takes our number four spot.
“Last season in a very tight game against our rival team, Ferguson High, our team was down by two with seconds remaining and Sami Lipcon pulls a three-pointer from three feet behind the three-point line and hits it and we win,” varsity girls’ basketball coach Donnie Martin said.
Spot number three belongs to junior and star golfer Trevor Tingle, specifically his hole-in-one at the regional district championship tournament.
“He had a 1 shot lead at a time, and went on to win the tournament by two shots and clinched his trip to the state championship,” varsity golf coach Ryan Ricke said.
In the runner-up spot, the varsity girls’ lacrosse team victory over Olympic Heights Community High to win their second district title in a row.
“Our best moment was winning our district championship against Olympic Heights,” Assistant girls’ lacrosse coach Julian Mendez said. “After many years of falling short, winning back-to-back district titles was so rewarding for our hard-working team.”
Finally, saving the best in the state for last, the Panther’s number one moment in sports of 2024 was the girls’ flag football team’s stellar state championship win on May 11. An action-packed game all around, the victory was a moment varsity flag football coach Kevin Mujica will never forget.
“We made a last minute comeback to win it all. It was a thrilling ending,” Mujica said.
With so many incredible achievements to choose from, however, a few honorable mentions remain. For example, senior and varsity basketball star Santiago Henriquez reached 1000 points in his game against Westminster Christian.
Another is sophomore swimmer and two-time regional championship winner Oliver Cannings’ breaststroke win during the Christopher Columbus High meet, which he clinched with, according to swim Coach Laken Darst, the most flawless breaststroke turn she has ever seen.
Finally, the varsity badminton team’s third title in a row. They accomplished the rare three-peat by winning three out of five events and placing second in the fourth.
