DME Academy High School boys’ soccer team arrived in sunny Bradenton, Florida ready to take on their competition at the annual IMG Cup. This year was DME’s first appearance at the showcase and despite being the underdogs, the team was determined to make a splash and prove themselves on the field.
As the first game approached, the boys were nervous but also excited about the opportunity to showcase their skills. From the opening whistle, it was clear that DME didn’t drive 4 hours for anything less than a win. They fought hard and played with heart, and in the end, they emerged victorious with a 4-1 win over Blau Weiss Gottschee from New York City.
The second game of the tournament was no different, as the DME boys dominated on the field and secured another win, this time against another team from New York, The Smithtown Kickers. They beat the kickers with a score of 3-0. Kol Bennet proved that he was a brick wall in between the pipes for DME, not letting in any goals against them. The team was starting to gain some momentum and their confidence was growing with each victory.
As the final game of the tournament approached, DME knew that they had a chance to make a statement. They took to the field with fierce determination and never let up.. In the end, their hard work paid off as they secured a 3-0 win over Cedar Stars Academy from South Hackensack, New Jersey.
“Our final competition of the year couldn’t have finished any better for our first season. We’ve captured a lot of attention over the last five months and have been shown great respect from opponents, supporters, coaches, and peers for our performances. Although our dominant play on the field is exciting to watch, I was most impressed with how the players developed brotherhood. Throughout the season it’s hard not to notice the culture the boys created. Because of this, we’ve become very successful and we were proud to display this at the IMG Cup.” says Todd Eason, Director of Soccer at DME Academy.
Eason goes on to say, “Of course, there were outstanding individual performances but that was consistent throughout the showcase. Many colleges have shown interest in our players and I see it being very competitive for certain players like James, Diomande, Adrian, Mikal, and Ethan.”
With the first half of the DME soccer season wrapped up, they are hopeful to remain undefeated as the second half approaches.
If you are interested in joining the boys’ soccer team at DME Academy, you can learn more about it here!
DME Academy hosted the 3rd Annual Jingle Jam Tournament right before the holiday break with over 14 teams in attendance. Many traveling from around the country and one team, Recruiting Boost, traveling all the way from Australia.
It was a highly successful event that highlighted some of the top girl’s basketball talents and gave them the opportunity to showcase their skills to college scouts and coaches.
“For it to be only the 3rd Annual Jingle Jam Tournament, we had a great turnout. It was awesome to see all the teams playing hard and leaving it all on the court. It is always a great opportunity to host a tournament on our own courts and play against different levels of competition. The coaches have already discussed our vision for the future of this tournament and our hope to expand it to 20+ teams for next year.” says Tia McMillan, DME Academy Girl’s Basketball Assistant coach. “I am really proud of how my girls battled together in the first half of the season and look forward to their growth and improvement as we move into the second half of the season.”
DME Academy Girls High School National Basketball team finished the semester undefeated at home. Their hard work and dedication are truly reflected in their 10-3 overall record going into the holiday break.
Michael Panaggio, Head Coach and Director of Girls’ Basketball, remarks, “In my opinion, Jingle Jam was a success. We had competitive games, players from around the world, and some of the largest prep schools in the country. It was great to get these talented players in front of college coaches. I believe it is an event that will continue to grow.”
A huge thank you to all the players and coaches who were part of this incredible event and to Halifax Health for their continued partnership.
Another big thank you to the college scouts and coaches for taking the time to attend the Jingle Jam Tournament.
To learn more about DME Academy’s Girls Basketball program and upcoming camps and events, click here.
Laura Stegall, DME Academy’s Athletic Director, and Volleyball coach earns Purdue University’s Title IX Distinguished Service Award
Laura Stegall, DME Academy’s Athletic Director, and volleyball coach has been selected as one of the recipients of Purdue University’s Title IX Distinguished Service Award. Title IX was first enacted in 1972 and the award from Purdue is being presented to Stegall in honor of its 50th anniversary. Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or education program that receives funding from the Federal Government.
Stegall and fifteen other individuals are receiving this reward to highlight their significant contributions to the advancement of gender equality in higher education and intercollegiate athletic programs.
Stegall graduated from Purdue University in Fort Wayne in the spring of 2002. Since graduating, she has gone on to earn countless accolades in the volleyball world. She is a true professional when it comes to launching volleyball programs and helping them blossom.
It all started in 2004 when Stegall spearheaded Indiana Tech’s program and led them to four consecutive winning seasons. She then went on to become the assistant coach of Embry-Riddle University. During her tenure there, the Eagles broke onto the scene with their first NAIA National ranking and made their first-ever national appearance at the National Tournament.
After her stay at Embry-Riddle, she went on to become the head coach of Daytona State College’s volleyball team.
Laura Stegall is being honored by Purdue Academy at the same time as her former coach, Kelley Hartley Hutton, who is also receiving the same award for her role as director of athletics at PFW. Which includes 15 seasons as head coach of the women’s volleyball program and 13 years as senior woman administrator, and chairperson of the Summit League Women’s Basketball Committee.
“Being put on this list with all of these amazing people is an honor in itself”. Says Stegall, “But earning Purdue’s Distinguished Service Award at the same time as my former coach, Kelley Hutton, is an even bigger personal achievement.”
In addition to her commitment to collegiate volleyball, Stegall has devoted her free time to enhance the development of young volleyball players in the Volusia County area. She is also the co-founder of If I Can I Will – Win The Day Foundation and author of the book “Diary of a No Name Girl” in which she coined the phrase “survive, thrive, live, repeat.”
Stegall is a true class act and DME Academy is incredibly lucky to have such a stand-up person as athletic director.
If you are interested in joining Laura and playing for DME Academy’s volleyball program, check it out here!
DME’s High School National basketball team is beginning to see all of its hard work on the court pay off. For the first time in the program’s history, DME Academy has broken onto the scene and has become nationally ranked. Capitalizing on a pair of losses from Winston-Salem Christian and Huntington Prep, DME has claimed the No. 10 spot per MaxPreps.
The team sits behind Montverde, IMG, Link Academy, Prolific Prep, AZ Compass Prep, Sunrise Christian Academy, Wasatch Academy, La Lumiere, and St. Benedict’s Prep.
Led by head coach and DME director of basketball, Matt Panaggio, the High School National team’s current record is 11-4. Showing no mercy to their opponents, the team has amassed point differentials as high as 65 points, proving they are fierce competitors. Even in defeat, the team has only lost by 10 points.
“This year’s team is special,” said Panaggio. “Our team is very competitive and hungry to win. When they play together it’s a tough team to beat because of the natural chemistry they show towards one another.”
Each year, the DME basketball program gets stronger and stronger. That’s due to the recruitment of incredible athletes. With standout talents like Baraka Okojie, Alvaro Folguerias, Joseph Katsman, Nigle Cook, Robert Lizalek, Lauchlan Mark, Maor Nekrashevich, Petras Padegimas (who just committed to The University of Central Florida), and Yan Ryazantsev, it’s no wonder this team is making a name on the National stage.
With its recent recognition nationally, DME now has plenty to prove among top teams in the country. The remainder of the season will serve as an opportunity to continue climbing the rankings.
Get to know more about the HS National players here!
Congrats to New Smyrna Beach on winning the volleyball State Championship!
It started with a serve, followed by a few hundred passes, sets, and spikes. And it ended with a block, leaving the New Smyrna Beach High School Barracudas as volleyball state champions.
Located about 20 miles south of DME Academy, the Barracudas’ indoor volleyball team is led by head coach Alvaro Sanchez, who is also DME Volleyball’s Master and Academy Coach. Their assistant coach is Jill Kornegay, who also acts as DME Club Volleyball’s Assistant Club Director.
Many members of the New Smyrna Beach Indoor Volleyball team are also athletes on the DME Club Volleyball team. These nine players include Teagan Lux, Ivy Westfall, Lily Schlageter, Quinn Kraljic, Libby Nickels, Gracie Newell, Chloe Gibson, Hannah Zona, and Alyssa Kornegay.
Leading up to the state championship match, the Barracudas boasted an impressive record of 24-2 including a win at the state’s inaugural beach volleyball championship last spring.
Although they entered the final match of the championship with confidence, they were no strangers to their opponent, the Viera High School Hawks. These two teams had faced off last fall when the Hawks defeated the Barracudas in the playoffs in the regional finals.
Determined to come out on top, the Barracudas fought hard in every single game, needing all five sets to get the win (23-25, 25-15, 25-18, 19-25, 16-14). They won the final point of the match on a block by Newell, sealing the victory and their title as state champions.
This comes as the first indoor volleyball state championship in New Smyrna Beach High School history. DME’s very own Newell led the Barracudas with four blocks throughout the match.
Not only did they come home as state champions, but these athletes also solidified their legacy at New Smyrna Beach High School.
Congratulations to the New Smyrna Beach Barracuda’s indoor volleyball team on this incredible accomplishment, and congratulations to Coach Sanchez, Coach Kornegay, and the nine members of the DME Club Volleyball team!
To learn more about our volleyball program and how you can get involved, click here.
The 5th Annual Beach & Ball Classic, powered by Halifax Health, wrapped up on Sunday evening after an exciting five days of action with over 73 games spanning the tournament. DME Academy hosted more than 50 teams, from as close as Orlando, to as far away as Rome and Canada.
Each game featured a match-up between two top-talent teams and the most valuable player was named at the end of each game. Over 70 players took home a unique medal to recognize their achievements on the court.
At the end of the tournament, athletes who exhibited outstanding talent were given the honor of being named to the Classic All-Tournament Teams.
Thank you to all the players and coaches who made this tournament a success. DME Academy is looking forward to an even bigger turnout at the next Beach & Ball Classic!
Check out the list of athletes named to the Classic All-Tournament Teams.
1st Team
2nd Team
3rd Team
Honorable Mention
Regional Division
For more information on the DME Academy boy’s basketball program and how you can be recruited or attend a camp, click here.
DME soccer recently competed in its first out-of-state matches. After experiencing a lot of local success, this was an incredible opportunity to challenge the team and take their talent to North Carolina.
On Friday they played against Combine Academy out of Lincolnton, NC, and on Saturday they competed against One7 Soccer Academy from Charlotte, NC.
With each game, the team faced different sets of challenges and scenarios. The first game was toe-to-toe for the whole match with DME losing a man in the 40th minute. They continued to play through the loss and ended with a 0-0 draw against Combine Academy.
Their second game was played on a beat-up pitch which challenged their technical ability and conditioning compared to the previous game. Although these elements were unexpected, the players embraced this as an opportunity to come together as a team, working alongside one another for a 7-1 win over One7 Soccer Club.
When asked about the results of the two matches, Todd Eason, Director of DME Academy Soccer, said, “Overall this was a great experience that allowed us to further our development and team dynamics. Collectively, all the boys did well. Each player contributed in positive ways, allowing us to be the more dominant team on the field.”
What’s more, the DME soccer athletes traveled to North Carolina with two DME basketball teams. This gave the athletes across both sports the chance to support one another in their games. All around it was a successful trip for DME soccer and was an opportunity for DME student-athletes to build camaraderie across different sports.
Next week, December 17th – 19th the DME Soccer team will be heading down to Bradenton, FL for the IMG Cup where they will face off against some of the top teams in the world. Blau Weiss Gottschee on Saturday. On Sunday, the boys will play the Smithtown Kickers and on Monday they will wrap it up with a tough match against the Cedar Stars Academy.
Catch some of the upcoming matches and learn more about the DME Academy soccer program!
Now that the Thanksgiving turkey has been consumed and the table is all cleaned up, the most wonderful time of year is upon us. The holiday season gives us so much to look forward to and at DME Academy we have yet another reason to be cheerful. For the last five years, DME Academy has been putting on one of the biggest basketball tournaments in Florida each December.
Since the tournament’s origin, the DME Academy Beach and Ball Tournament has grown exponentially. This year more than 50 teams from all across the United States will travel to the “most famous beach” Daytona Beach in the World for an intense five days of action.
This year is also special because, for the first time, Halifax Health will be the main sponsor of the event. As the official healthcare provider for DME Academy, Halifax Health will make sure that all athletes attending the event are safe to compete and have the care they need during competition. Halifax has been caring for Volusia and Flagler County residents since 1928. Their mission is to be the community healthcare leader through exceptional talent and superior patient-centered service delivered in a financially sustainable manner.
The tournament starts tomorrow, December 7th, and will come to a close on Sunday, December 11th. Over the course of the five days, more than 70 games will be played at DME Academy’s Field House. The event will host some of the best high school basketball players in the country and is expected to gain attention from scouts nationwide.
It is hard to choose, but we have narrowed the 70 games down to 10 marquee matchups to watch for:
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
The most valuable player of each game will also be going home with some hardware. The team at DME put together unique medals for each player receiving the honor. More than 70 MVP medals will be awarded with shoutouts on Twitter and Instagram!
Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @DMESportsAcad, and on Instagram: @DMESportsAcademy to stay up to date on all of the action during the tournament!
It’s the 5 a.m. wake-ups, the lack of spring and summer break, the time spent recovering, the dedication, and hard work. That’s what separates good athletes from great athletes.
Five DME Academy basketball players put pen to paper and signed with their dream schools. This was the ultimate achievement and symbolized the payoff of the commitment and passion they have given to the sport.
Three incredible athletes from our girl’s basketball teams signed with their dream schools. Hannah Miller, a Girls High School Prep team member, signed with Pitt State. Dominika Paurová and Tessa Engelman, members of the Girls High School National team, signed with Minnesota and South Carolina State, respectively.
Two members of our boy’s basketball teams also joined their dream schools. Petras Padegimas, a member of the Boys High School National team, signed with the University of Central Florida, and Alex Doyle, a member of the Post-Grad National/Blue basketball team, signed with Stetson University.
When asked about his experience at DME, Doyle said, “DME helped provide me with the opportunity to receive multiple scholarships. I’m especially thankful to my coaches, and I am extremely excited to make an impact in college at Stetson.”
At DME Academy, we are passionate about seeing our athletes succeed in the classroom and on the court. They make sacrifices daily to be the greatest at their sport and we are grateful we get to be a small part of their journey as they take their talent to the next level.
Congratulations to these five athletes on this incredible honor. Thank you for all you have given to DME Academy. We are excited to cheer you on as you take the next step in your career.
Do you want to take your talent to the next level? Learn more about our sports programs and how you can join DME Academy here.
They say the things that are worth it, never come easy. The same could be said for DME Academy’s 14U Sanders softball team’s road to the ISA Championship in Clermont, FL.
The journey started with a shut-out win over the TNT 14U. Aiyanna Gerhardt threw a complete game, ending in a 13-0 win for DME. Five players, Nina Padgett, Ashley Hughes, Alondra Vincenty, Avery Veirs, and Faith Rudy, stepped up to the plate, driving in eight runs in the third inning.
DME entered the Championship game as the number two seed with an overall record of 5-1. The only thing standing between them and the trophy was the Brevard Heat 14U, and they weren’t going down without a fight.
DME pulled ahead in the second inning as their bats heated up, but it was short-lived as the Heat tied it up in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the game tied 3-3, Katlyn Schoeps shut down a scoring opportunity by the Heat and kept the score even. DME fought their way back in the fifth inning, regaining the lead when Padgett stopped a possible game-tying run with an incredible fly-out catch.
This spark ignited a fire when Keylee Gerhardt recorded an RBI, scoring Schoeps who had reached base on an error by the Heat. This was followed by power-hitting thanks to Reese Cianciarulo, Hughes, and Vincenty.
An amazing win made even more incredible by the teamwork each athlete displayed. Cianciarulo led the team from the batter’s box and the mound with 9 hits and a 3-1 record from the rubber.
Cianciarulo kept the Heat’s bats at bay while the rest of the team mounted a solid defense behind her. She allowed only three runs on seven hits, striking out five with zero walks. Cianciarulo was backed by a solid defense, led by Gerhardt who showed off impressive fielding skills.
With a final score of 6-3, DME 14U Sanders Softball team earned the trophy and the title of champion. They played hard until the very last pitch and displayed impressive skill and teamwork.
Congratulations to the DME Academy 14U Sanders Softball team on winning the ISA Championship!
Interested in DME Academy’s softball or baseball program? Check it out here!