By David Dominguez

Journalism Class Reporter

                JV Baseball started off their season with a bang, shutting out Hialeah Educational on Feb. 15.

                This is the first time that Somerset has  had a JV baseball team. As they started their season with a win, they have won several  games against good teams. On Feb. 19, they beat Archbishop McCarthy twice at their home field during a double header.

                The Varsity Baseball team squared off against Coral Springs Charter on Feb. 16, winning 1-0. Andrew Dennis pitched an outstanding game shutting down Coral Springs.

                Coach Onel Garcia looks forward to see if his expectations are met, he said, “Kevin Abraham, Jadan Garcia and Andrew Dennis have a chance to have a big year.”

                As team captains, they will lead the team. They are struggling at 3-6.

                Looking forward, Coach Onel Garcia is looking to have a successful year and is proud to say that the team’s overall GPA has improved from last year’s 2.1 to a 3.1 this year. As head coach, Mr. Garcia said he feels that Mr. Monetero strongly supports the team.

By Jackie Nardo

Editor in Chief

                Somerset’s new head football coach, Brandon Walker, began conditioning recently and plans a more promising season next year.

                He said he will ensure improvement of the team, training them over the summer. He was a part of the American Heritage football team for over six years before coming to Somerset.

                He began playing football in middle school. His father, Byron Walker, was constantly encouraging him to start his football career. Byron Walker, a member of the Florida Football Association Hall of Fame, was Brandon Walker’s coach throughout his childhood.

                After Coach Walker played football for Illinois at Elmhurst College, he began coaching at the University of Delaware and won a national championship in 2003. He later returned to Florida.

By Carl-Frederick Francois

Contributor

                Coach Charles Hafley has left Somerset for family reasons, and now the school has found a new head coach: Brandon Walker.

                According to Coach Miller, the team already has its schedule for next year.

                Out of about 30 players on the team, 19 of them are seniors. Three juniors are also rumored to be leaving the school prior to their senior year.

                “Only time will tell,” said Coach Hafley, who led the team for three years.

                Tired of losing records with players who have been in the program since the beginning, Coach Hafley said, “This is our year, we go all the way.”

                However, the team ended the season 2-8 with wins against Summit Christian and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning High School.

                The Panthers started off the season with a major 50-13 win against ATM and followed it by beating Summit Christian 35-15. The losing record started again with a 42-6 loss to Pompano, and a 21-16 loss to Doral.

                Somerset did hold up against our old ‘nemesis” Chaminade Madonna till half time, then lost 25-20. It was the only game where coach said he was OK with the loss.

                “I’ll take that loss guys ‘cause y’all showed effort;[(a] few mistakes, but I’ll take it,” Coach Hafley said. During that game, junior Dofri Garcon made about 5 tackles in 2 quarters.

                After the Chaminade game, the team shocked everyone with the disappointing 41-0 loss against Archbishop.

                “I can’t play for [the team],” Hafley said. “I can’t teach effort. You gotta have it it.”

                During the homecoming game against Monsignor Pace, the team was met with former Somerset running back Dimitri Jean. It was a physical game for both teams but a defeat for Somerset at the end, 55-7.

                Having no chance to make it to playoffs, the team started to have fewer practices, and lost 77-22 at a televised game against Gulliver Prep.

                In 2008, the team was somewhat successful with a 5-5 record.

A few of our athletes did get into college with football scholarships in 2009.

                For three years, Somerset Academy offered the football program led by Coach Hafley.

By Daniel Lameck

Journalism Class Reporter

After a practice period without a coach, the boys basketball team ended the season 4-8.

The season began in November after a frequent cancellations of tryouts and conditionings. Coach Oajis was finally selected as the team’s coach for this year, he is an experienced coach and has also coached football for several years.

After an unsuccessful first game, they had a few lessons from physical fitness teacher Coach Miller. Teaching the team defensive and offensive plays. The team went on to win two games in a row at home.

Player Brian Golding said he had a good feeling about the season. “Our luck is finally changing, not only did we win two games in a row but we have learned new styles of play.”

Then there came a time when players were quitting the team because of their grades, or family reasons, which greatly affected the team with their wins.

Player Kadeem Patterson said, “We got to work with what we got and make the best of it. We can’t sit down and wait for a super hero to come and save us. We got to keep playing hard with the same intensity.”

The team went into a tournament 3-6, and lost the first game. They had their last game at their home court in the City of Miramar.

The team went in that game with confidence and was hoping to finish off the season strong. Instead they fell short and lost, making their record 4-8.

Player Anthony Milord said “I wish I can go back in time and play twice as hard in the games so we would have a better record. But that’s in the past now.”

Although the Somerset Panthers Volleyball team is 3-12, their team spirit is at its best.

“(The team showed) good teamwork, they put their hearts into it and overall really good defense and they played really well,” Coach Kittendorf said after the match between the Sheridan Hill Christian Crusader’s and Somerset. Some members of the audience who supported the Panthers said they were on fire and played well.

The most competitive teams they’ve faced were Pace, Marathon, and Nova. The game between Somerset Academy and Parkway was a huge win due to the awesome saves by the Somerset players, especially from senior Franchesca Pontillo when she saved the ball and the girls from the other team missed.

The team beat Edison Miami High School 3-2 on Sept. 30. During the game, fan Lillian Fluitt said, “I think the game is going very well the scores are very close, good vollies and awesome defense.”

“Everyone worked as one and won. Most of us have improved a lot this year,” Madisyn Fluitt said regarding the saves and spikes during the past games.

They defeated Parkway High School at B.C.C. due to the awesome saves by the Somerset players, especially from senior Franchesca Pontillo when she saved the ball and it went over the rafter and the girls from the other team missed, and saves and hits from Madisyn Fluitt, Nicolette Nascimento, Twylyte Farrell, Kayla Mirabal, and Alexandra Ocasio.

Overall, although there may have been some stumbles during the season, the team has played to the best of their ability. The most competitive teams they’ve faced were Pace, Marathon, and Nova.

The team is comprised of team captain Nicolette Nascimento, Samantha Millage, Kayla Mirabal, Madisyn Fluitt, Twylyte Farrell, Lazzandra Caceres, Alexandra Ocasio, Franchesca Pontillo, and Stephanie Vignolo, and manager Abagail Ferguson.

The team has faced Marathon High School, Coral Springs Christian High, ATM High, Immaculata- La Salle High, Parkway Academy at B.C.C., Monsignor Edward Pace, Coral Springs Christian Academy, Coral Springs Charter School and Chaminade-Madonna. They also played College Preparatory School, Miami Edison Senior High School, University School of Nova, and Sheridan Hills Christian School.

By Taylor Fluitt
Journalism Class Reporter