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!
DME Academy is lucky to have a roster of talented coaches leading its sports teams. From those who have professional sports ties to those who have been honored at the national level for their coaching abilities and leadership.
Join us in welcoming Wesley Person to our DME Academy coaching staff. He will be joining us as the Head Coach of the DME High School Regional Team.
Wesley’s incredible resume boasts 11 years as a player in the NBA spending his first year in the league with the Phoenix Suns, going 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. His accolades include leading the league in minutes played, three-pointers taken, and percentage made during the 1997-98 season and spending seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wesley also spent one year of his career playing under Dan Panaggio, DME co-founder, in 2003 when he was playing for the Portland Trailblazers. Dan Panaggio was the assistant coach at the time.
When asked about being coached by Dan, Wesley said, “Dan was a player-coach. He was the type of coach you could talk to and confide in. He is approachable and was always there for everyone. Not only was Dan one of the most humble coaches I had the pleasure of playing for, but he always had a reason for his decisions on and off the court.”
When his playing career came to an end, Wesley transitioned into a coaching role, spending the last 22 years mentoring the next generation of athletes. Most recently, Wesley was the head coach of the Greenville High School Tigers in Greenville, Alabama where he was named 20201 Coach of the Year.
Wesley’s passion for teaching basketball IQ and mentoring athletes has made him a successful and beloved coach. Being part of the lives of the kids who are members of his team is his way of giving back to a sport that gave so much to him.
“I have a different coaching style for each athlete. As a coach, you have to identify the best practices of each player – how to communicate with them and what they need to improve on so you can help them take their skills to the next level,” says Wesley, “If athletes put in the work, it gives them a higher chance of advancing their career. I’m always looking ahead at how I can prepare them for whatever is next.”
Wesley’s coaching philosophy is simple: teach an athlete once and your job is done. When coaches give athletes the tools to be successful, it enables them to figure out how to adapt their playing style to what’s needed to succeed. It also guarantees they won’t make the same mistake twice.
Even with a history of winning on high-school, collegiate, and national stages, Wesley considers the ultimate win seeing his players be successful in life and being given the opportunity to choose where they want to take their careers next.
“It’s great when the team wins games, but we’re trying to build these kids’ futures. I win when they’re successful.”
DME is excited about the experience and talent Wesley will bring to the DME Academy coaching staff and look forward to the High School Regional Team taking the court soon.
About DME Academy: DME Academy is an elite, multi-sport training and educational institution designed for student-athletes who are looking to reach their ultimate potential, harness their strengths, and achieve their goals. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, the academy offers a wide variety of programming, servicing 6th-12th grade students. DME is a co-ed boarding school that offers post-graduate programs, year-round camps, tournaments, and team events, including collegiate and professional training.
To learn more about DME and our sports programs, connect with one of our Student-Athlete Advisors by booking a one-on-one call here!
How Mike Panaggio and DME Academy are helping young athletes with the guidance of NBA player, Bismack Biyimbo
On July 31st, Mike Panaggio, co-owner of DME Academy in Daytona, Florida, set off to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa for a 2 week stay. The DME co-founder was accompanied by Bismack Biyombo, who plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns and Xabi Zusperreguy from France. The purpose of the trip was to change the lives of young athletes by helping Bismack organize and execute a basketball camp for the youth of the Congo, in which two lucky athletes would be selected to attend DME Academy for the 2022-23 season on a full scholarship.
On what motivated Panaggio to award two full scholarships to DME Academy he explains, “Whoever gives, needs to feel as good as the person receiving the gift of a scholarship. We are looking for two fortunate athletes who want to come to America, have a high degree of respect for education, will put their all into trying something new, and have a certain discipline of family culture.”
The two students who will be attending DME Academy on a full scholarship will be learning benchmarks in English, physicalities on the court, how to adapt to American style of basketball, and how to make lifelong friends with other student-athletes in the US.
For the last two years, The Biyombo Family Foundation has not been able to host any camps due to the sweeping Covid-19 pandemic. Panaggio acted as an assistant counselor to Bismack to make sure that the first year back was an unforgettable experience for the young hopeful athletes.
On the first day of camp on August 2nd, almost 120 kids ventured across the Congo, some traveling as far as 4 hours, to show off their skills to their nation’s hero, Bismack Biyombo. The next 3 days were filled with drills, shooting, working on physical benchmarks and playing pick up games against each other. The last day of camp, August 6th, held the most excitement. The team held an all stars skills competition consisting of a slam dunk contest and 3 point shooting competition to test their accuracy. Both girls and boys competed in the cutthroat competition.
“The final day of the basketball camp in Lubumbashi, with over 3,000 locals watching, was incredibly powerful and touching,” says Mike Panaggio. “It is amazing how everyone shares the same love I have for basketball. We always felt safe and very welcome by the people of Lubumbashi, even though we were the only foreigners”
After exploring the cities of Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Goma, completing a successful three day basketball camp, and making countless memories, Bismack brought Mike and his crew to his mother’s house for a true, homestyle Congolese dinner to wrap the trip up.
Mike was the only one to make the trip from DME Academy this year, but he is hopeful that his son, Matt Panaggio, will accompany him next year to appreciate the Congo and find the next two future DME Academy attendees.
Each year moving forward, DME will sponsor 2 new athletes from the Congo in partnership with the Bismack Biyombo Foundation to give them a chance at a better life.
During the trip, Panaggio, Biyombo and Zusperreguy were accompanied by a video crew. They will be releasing a documentary in the coming months of their experience in the Congo and will name it “The Spirit of Congo”. Watch out for it on the DME Academy social channels!
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Four Students from DME Volleyball have been nominated for the 2022 AVCA Phenom List
At DME Academy, it is not out of the ordinary to host some of the best athletes in their lanes. That is why, when the 2022 AVCA Phenom Nominations came out it was no surprise that four DME athlete’s names were included. Emma Van Duesen, Alyssa Kornegay, Ivy Westfall and Gabby Conway were all nominated for the honor.
Making the Phenom List is no walk in the park. There are specific criteria that an athlete must meet to be considered. They must be:
To be nominated for the list is already an achievement in itself.
“This group of athletes has been playing together for many years at DME,” said Dawn Moses, director of volleyball at DME Academy. “They work extremely hard at their individual positions and are very deserving of this honor.”
The girls are local to the area and play on their respective high school teams. Kornegay and Westfall play for New Smyrna Beach, Van Duesen represents Deland, and Conway plays for Spruce Creek High School in Daytona Beach, FL. All four girls are expected to graduate in 2024 and have college volleyball in their futures, thanks to DME Academy’s competitive club volleyball program.
“DME is like a home away from home for me, an extended family. A family that has made a positive impact on who I am today, on and off the court. I’ve learned how to be a student-athlete and I am able to do well in school and club volleyball.” says Alyssa Kornegay. ” I make sure to have excellent time management by doing homework before practice, studying on the way home and getting as much sleep as I can so I am ready to do it all again the next day. It’s part of doing more everyday, the DME way!”
This year will be the 11th year that the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) will host the invite-only Phenom College Preparatory Program. Since the program started, 80% of the athletes who have participated have gone on to play in college. This high-level showcase draws in more than 200 college coaches each year, so it is crucial that the girls bring their A-game.
The 2022 AVCA Phenom College Prep Program is taking place on December 15th-17th in Omaha, Nebraska. We wish them the best of luck!
Check out how DME Academy can help you Ignite The Dream by bringing your volleyball career to the next level by clicking here!
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