DME Academy, a distinguished sports institution located in the sunny heart of Daytona Beach, Florida, has long been known for its commitment to excellence in athletic and academic development. This past weekend, DME’s middle school boys’ basketball program reaffirmed their dedication to the game by conquering the Super Six Tournament in Orlando. Both the 7th and 8th-grade teams displayed unwavering determination and skill, emerging victorious without a single loss in the tournament.
The Super Six Tournament was nothing short of a basketball spectacle, with talent from all over the region converging for a thrilling competition. DME Academy’s young athletes showcased their skills, discipline, and team chemistry from the very outset, with the 7th-grade team leading the charge.
But the excitement did not end there.
Coach Gyongi Zsolnay, the driving force behind these young athletes, expressed her immense pride in the teams, saying, “Congratulations to all the players of the DME Basketball Middle School program for their effort, perseverance, and the gold medal that comes with winning the tournament.
The success of both DME’s 7th and 8th-grade teams in the Super Six Tournament is not just a celebration of victory but a testament to the academy’s mission and the vision it upholds. DME strives to provide elite sports education, emphasizing character development, teamwork, and personal growth. This remarkable accomplishment serves as a reminder of the dedication and hard work invested in each player’s development.
Congratulations to the 7th and 8th-grade teams for their undefeated triumph, and we eagerly anticipate the next chapter in their basketball journey. The future indeed looks bright for these budding athletes.
To learn more about DME Academy’s middle school boys’ basketball program, click here.
DME Academy boys basketball student-athletes, Moustapha Thiam and Elijah Duval, have both earned spots on the prestigious ESPN Top 100 ranking list.
Moustapha Thiam, the 7’0” 200lb center for DME, earned the 51st spot on the list of 2025 recruits. Thiam’s impressive size, combined with his basketball IQ, make him an easy target down low and a scoring machine. Despite his age, he’s already a leader on the court and receiving offers from colleges who want him to be a part of their team.
Occupying the 76th spot on the 2024 list is Elijah Duval, a 6’2″ point guard for DME.
If you dream of becoming an ESPN Top 100 caliber player like Thiam and Duval, check out DME Academy’s boys basketball program.
The DME boy’s soccer team last weekend traveled to Montverde, Florida for two matches. They took on Vaughan Azzurri, from Canada, Friday night; the following day, they took on Montverde’s SIMA Gold team.
The games were held at the Montverde Academy soccer fields for the SIMA Friendlies showcase, where a large crowd had gathered to watch the high level of soccer that was about to be showcased throughout the weekend.
Friday night’s game, DME Academy struck first, with a goal from Charles Christian, the team’s newest addition, who comes all the way from Ghana. DME Academy struck again with a late goal from Pootanet Petchtae to finalize their win of 2-0. Kol Bennet was stone-cold in the net and secured another shutout on the season.
Saturday’s showdown against Montverde’s SIMA Gold team was a hard-fought battle, with each team netting goals. In proving his value to the DME team, it was Christian that put one in the back of the net for the DME boys, securing the tie for the team.
DME Academy, comprised of a group of determined, dedicated, and diverse players, faced off against the nationally ranked team in this highly-anticipated match. Despite being heavily outmatched on paper, DME refused to back down and put up a fierce fight against the highly favored Montverde. When the last whistle blew, DME managed to hold their ground against the top team in the country, fighting to the end for the tie. In DME’s augural season, they surprised spectators and teams alike. But not themselves or their coaches.
“This weekend the boys faced many challenges and rose to the occasion during both games.” States Kioki Hutchings, Assistant Director of Soccer at DME. “They are a special group to be working with and I believe they have put DME soccer on the map after both of these battles.”
After the game, Todd Eason, Director of Soccer, and Kioki Hutchings were crowded by college scouts and coaches from Wake Forest, Notre Dame, the University of Maryland, the University of Portland, the University of South Florida, Boston College, and the University of Central, Florida, all inquiring about the star-studded DME roster.
DME Soccer continues to make a name for itself on the field, wherever they travel to. To learn more about the young program, check it out here!
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!
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.