From district to regional to state championships, the fall sports teams competed at the highest level this past season. At the Fall Sports Awards assembly on Tues, Jan. 13, those efforts were formally recognized, highlighting a fall defined by deep postseason runs, championship titles, broken records, and significant Sun Sentinel recognition.
The assembly began with remarks from Athletic Director Mr. Ryan Smith, who highlighted both the achievements and team chemistry that defined the fall season. Coach Smith also thanked coaches, parents, and the administration for all of their efforts in helping the athletes to succeed through their support and guidance.
“We recognized football, boys and girls XC, boys and girls golf, boys and girls swimming and diving, boys and girls bowling, and volleyball. This season was an incredible one and I’m glad that we had this opportunity to convey the achievements of our student-athletes and teams,” Coach Smith explained.
Coach Smith also highlighted the broader purpose of the Sport Awards assembly: to honor students who have excelled in their respective sport in front of the larger community.
“Recognizing our teams and student-athletes at assemblies allows the school community to know and understand the commitment and dedication that it takes to play a varsity sport. And, it gives an opportunity for our school community to hear about the incredible achievements of those student-athletes and teams in a whole school setting. The Fall sports awards are a great opportunity to convey the achievements of our student-athletes and teams,” Coach Smith expressed.
Next, Coach Smith passed off the mic to Assistant Athletic Director, Mrs. Alexandria Clarke, who displayed a short video highlighting the honorees.
“Awards are meant to celebrate anything from leadership, to improvement, to athletic achievement. The individual awards for each team are selected by the coaches or, in some cases, student-athletes of each team while all-area, all-conference honors are determined by the organizations that manage those awards. For example, the Palm Beach Post selects the all-area student-athletes for their publication,” Coach Smith said.
Junior Andrew Tsar was one of these recipients, earning the Sun Sentinel’s First Team selection for boys’ golf in Palm Beach County.
“I am honored to be recognized for my athletic achievements and being able to represent Benjamin. I think that my performance at States definitely helped me cement this award, and I’m just so proud of our team and how our season went,” Tsar said.
Senior and Cross Country team member, Sofia Balisteri, was awarded the most valuable player award (MVP) and felt that the assembly was a meaningful way to celebrate student-athletes’ hard work.
“It feels great to be an award winner because cross country was a long season and we ended up going all the way to states. The fact that my coach felt that I was such a valuable member means a lot because I was so proud of the way we finished the season. I always worked my hardest during practices and meets so it was really nice to be rewarded for my efforts,” Balistreri shared.
Senior Alyssa Stump, who was an integral member of the girls’ swim team, shared a perspective similar to the one held by Balistreri.
“To win the award feels really good because I have put a lot of work into the team this past year to keep it running and to help keep everything organized, so it was really nice to know that people notice that. I think I got the Coaches Captain award because I did a lot of work for the coaches throughout the season communicating with the team about meets and details. Also, I organized the group a lot so that the coaches could just focus on creating better swimmers,” Stump stated.
For many of the athletes honored, the awards represented more than just statistics or titles. They served as acknowledgment of the time, discipline, and commitment that they brought to their practices and games each day. With winter and spring sports now underway, the fall awards ceremony set a benchmark for the seasons to come.
