Christopher Columbus High School
A Catholic School for Young Men in the Marist Tradition since 1958
Athletics
Athletic Hall of Fame
Celebrate Athletic Excellence
It's our privilege at Christopher Columbus High School to honor our most outstanding alumni athletes through our Athletic Hall of Fame, which was started in 2009. The inductees to this prestigious group must have graduated from CCHS at least five years ago AND must have been selected as a 1st Team All-County or 1st Team All-State OR must have played at the collegiate or professional level.
If you would like to nominate an alumnus to the Athletic Hall of Fame, fill out the form by clicking here.
The pictures of all Columbus Athletics Hall of Famers are displayed in a special area on the second floor of the All-Sports Fitness Complex.
Class of 2023
List of 16 items.
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Alex Meneses 2002
Baseball -
Andrew Moran
The Dave Riley Excellence in Coaching Award -
Carlos Gutierrez 2004
Baseball -
Damian Penichet 2014
Wrestling -
David Gutierrez 2005
Baseball -
Eric Evans 1977
Football -
Guzman Castro 1991
Soccer -
Humberto Freire 2016
Track & Field -
John Mosure 2006
Football -
Michael Davide 2013
Lacrosse -
Nick Meyer 1985
Cross Country -
Paul Kumer 2001
Football -
Steve Holtmann
Tennis Coach -
Terry Palmer 1985
Football -
Victor Cereijo 2012
Volleyball -
Wendell Johnson 2002
Football
Hall of Fame Members
All members of the Columbus Athletics Hall of Fame are listed here alphabetically for easy discovery and information access. Click + to expand each section.
List of 12 items.
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A
John Adams ('82) – Football- First Team All-Dade by both the Miami Herald and Miami News
- Second Team All-State
- Lettered in football, basketball and baseball
- Four-time First Team All-Dade member
- Five-time individual County Champion
- Six-time individual GMAC Champion
- Four-year letterman
- Second Team All-Dade and was MVP of the South Dade-North Dade All-Star game
- Played basketball at Barry University
- Four-year startings shortstop in baseball
- Bronze Medal winner at 1997 Jr. Pan American Games
- Captain of the Florida International University baseball team
- A two-sport star at the highest levels (baseball and speed skating)
- Olympic Silver Medalist (speed skating)
- Chicago White Sox signee. Has played in MLB for the Marlins, Dodgers, and Brewers
- Two-time Third Team All-Dade selection by the Miami Herald
- Invited to play in the Florida Shriner’s All-Star Game
- Two-year letterman at the University of Maine
- School’s first State Wrestling Champion
- 33-1 in 1992 — 32 Pins
- Wrestled at the University of Virginia
- Inducted posthumously in the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
- Started on the 1982 FHSAA State Runner-Up football team
- Four-year starter in wrestling
- Played football at The Citadel and was a consensus All-American (1988)
- Three consecutive individual and team district championships
- He was ranked in the top 150 in the world in both singles and doubles
- The head tennis pro at the Forest Club in Houston, Texas
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B
Br. Herb Baker 1983-1996 – Head Baseball Coach- Won two state championships at Monsignor Edward Pace Senior High School
- Head coach for 14 seasons at Columbus
- Won seven district, five regional and two sectional championships
- Earned district and GMAC titles in the 50 freestyle as senior
- First Team All-Dade as a senior
- Member of the All-Big Ten Academic Team at the University of Michigan
- The pre-eminent swimmer of the 1990s at Columbus
- Four-year letterman specializing in the 100 meter breast and the 200 meter individual medley
- Named Dade County Swimmer of the Year by the Miami Herald
- Second Team All-County
- He compiled a 24-4 career record at South Carolina
- The recipient of Columbus’ Scholar-Athlete Award
- First recruit of Charlie Greene, the legendary Miami-Dade South baseball coach
- Named MVP of the American Legion All-Star Game
- Played on the Columbus American Legion team
- Named Player of the Year
- Helped the baseball team post a record on the all-time win list
- Drafted by the Kansas City Royals
- All-County in 1995 when he led Dade County in hitting and home runs
- Played at Louisiana State University where he helped the Tigers win two National Championships
- Played in the Cubs organization
- Led the Explores to 16 wins and a district championship in 1965
- Scored 11 points in the 1965 North-South All Star Game and took home the MVP trophy
- He was named First Team All-City by the Miami Herald
- Won both Youth Fair and GMAC titles
- Named the Miami Herald Athlete of the Year for boy’s golf
- Ranked in the top 50 nationally by Golfweek Magazine
- Three-year starter in centerfield
- County record 11 homeruns as a Junior
- Played at Creighton University
- Three-year letterman
- First Team All-City and All-Catholic
- Played both offensive line and linebacker
- Lettered in four sports – football, basketball, baseball and track
- Named to the Miami Herald and Miami News All-County football team
- Athlete of the Year in 1976
- Played at the University of Kentucky
- Served as the Equipment Manager for 28 years
- Established a system for organizing all equipment needed for outfitting a football team
- Named the Dade County Golfer of the Year by the Miami Herald
- Had the lowest scoring average in Dade, shooting just over 34 per round
- Was a member of the University of South Carolina Men’s Golf Team that ended the 1998 season as 4th in the nation
- First Team All-Dade and First Team All-State
- 22 tackles – Team captain his senior year
- All-county inside linebacker
- Started as a junior on the team that played in the state championship game
- Played at the Citadel
- Four-year varsity letterman (football)
- Captain his junior and senior seasons
- Two-year starter in wrestling
- Played football at Duke University
- Won two state championships at Monsignor Edward Pace Senior High School
- Head coach for 14 seasons at Columbus
- Won seven district, five regional and two sectional championships
- Led football team to three-straight district titles
- Four-star recruit by Rivals.com
- Played in the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl game
- Three-sport star (basketball, football and track)
- Helped the football team win back-to-back district titles
- Considered the ‘best all-around jumper’ the track program has ever had
- Led CCHS to its first district basketball championship
- First Team All-State (AAA)
- Played at Miami-Dade and Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University)
- Starting point guard for two years
- 1976 Team Records was 23-6
- Played four years at Florida Southern College
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C
Dominick Cabrera (‘10) – Cross Country- A member of the 2008 & 2009 CCHS State Championship Cross Country Team
- First Team All-Dade in cross country
- A member of the 2010 FHSAA State Championship 4X800 Relay team
- Four-year letterman
- First Team All-Dade as a senior
- While at Florida International University, he helped the Panthers win the 1995 TAAC Conference and contributed heavily to a school record of 21 straight wins
- First Team All-Gold Coast Conference
- Helped the Explorers make it to the Gold Coast Championship game
- Earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Miami
- First Team All-Dade, Second Team All-State
- Senior Award in baseball at the Block C banquet.
- Played both shortstop and 2nd base at the University of Miami
- Led Dade County in scoring as a senior - 24 goals
- First Team All-Dade & First Team All-State - Senior Year
- Four-year starter at Drexel University
- Three-year starting linebacker for the Explorers
- Amassed over 250 tackles, one of the highest totals in CCHS history
- Played for Louisiana State University and was a four-year letterman for the Tigers
- Two-year letterman and captain of the squad
- Led team to their first-ever GMAC title in 2011, a feat they repeated in 2012
- The team also won back-to-back district and regional championships in 2011 and 2012
- In 2011, the squad reached the Elite Eight & State Final Four in 2012
- Two-time First Team All-Dade(JR & SR)
AAU Junior National Boys Volleyball Championship All-American Team.
- Helped CCHS to four-straight winning seasons
- First-ever Big South Conference Player of the Year
- Earned First-Team All-Conference honors
- One of the toughest goalies in the history of Columbus soccer
- Guided the Explorers to a record of 15-3-3, and the district title in 1989
- Earned First Team All-Dade honors from the Miami Herald
- First Team All-Dade in baseball and football
- The “Goose Egg” defense
- Won the school’s first national championship
- All-American as a senior tight end and linebacker
- Started three years as a receiver at the University of Miami and became the first CCHS player to play in the NFL
- Three sport athlete (baseball and track)
- Athlete of the Year in 1964
- Named MVP in his senior year
- Awarded the Scholar-Athlete Award
- The most intense and punishing offensive lineman the school has ever seen
- First Team All-Dade
- University of Miami four-year letterman
- Served as head coach collegiately at Florida International University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Miami
- FHSAA State Champion in the mile run as a senior and First Team All-County
- Selected Athlete of the Year in 1979
- Earned a track scholarship to the University of Michigan
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D
Michael Davide ('13) – Lacrosse- 2013 First Team All-Dade & Miami Herald Player of the Year
- Four-year letterman as goalie
- Three sport varsity athlete (Lacrosse, Football, Soccer)
- Played collegiately at SMU where he was a four-year letterman
- GMAC Champion in the 3200 meters
- First Team All-Dade and All-State
- As a senior, he led the team to second place finish at the State meet
- He finished 12th at the state meet his senior year
- Starting pitcher three years
- Held the county record with 24 wins
- First Team All-Dade
- Two-time Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball High School All American
- 2009 Miami Herald Pitcher of the Year
- Pitched for Bradley University
- Named First Team All-Catholic by The Voice newspaper
- First Team All-Gold Coast Conference selection
- 1968 Pre-Season All-American for the Naval Academy
- Most decorated athlete in Columbus History with 9 State Championships
- Two-time FHSAA State Champion in the 3200 meters, the 1600 meters, and the 4×800 relay
- Three-time regional champion in the 3200 meters
- Four-time regional champion in the 1600 meters
- Named the Miami-Dade Athlete of the Year in 2011
- Named a Third Team All-Dade offensive guard
- Received the Scholar-Athlete Award
- Walk-on at the University of Notre Dame as a strong safety; two-year monogram winner, started six games and was a member of Notre Dame’s 1977 National Championship team
- Guided the Explorers to a record of 20-4 over two years
- Quarterback who led the Explorers offense to their first district title and FHSAA State Championship game
- Three-year letterman at the University of South Carolina
- Played professionally in Japan and in the Major Leagues for four years
- Was on the Florida Marlins opening day roster in their inaugural season
- Works as a baseball analyst for ESPN
- Most Valuable Player and Second Team All-Dade
- Averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game
- Awarded a basketball scholarship to Stetson University
- Recorded over 110 tackles his senior year
- Named Defensive MVP and earned Second Team All-Dade honors
- Four-year starter at Appalachian State
- Signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers, where he backed up his friend and legend, NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau
- State Runner-Up at 185-pound division as a senior with a 38-2 record
- He was also a First Team All-County in football as a linebacker
- Won a wrestling scholarship to Ball State University
- CCHS Athlete of the Year in 1980
- Three-year starter
- Attended Florida State University
- Athlete of the Year
- First Team All-Dade
- Second Team All-State
- Scholarship to Purdue University
- Four-years – All-Dade
- Two-years – All-State
- Three-time All-American
- Three-year starter
- First Team All-Dade
- Played for the University of Miami and professionally for the New York Yankees
- First Team All-Dade as a Senior
- The first Explorer to receive a college scholarship for volleyball
- He played two seasons for Mount Olive College, where his career hitting percentage of .306 and his 3.18 kills per set still stand as school records
- Led football program to 1st State Championship (2019)
- Received awarded in 2019
-
E
Jack Ellison (‘61) – Football- Football captain for two years
- All-Gold Coast Conference
- Also, played basketball and ran track
- Miami-Dade County’s All-Catholic Most Outstanding Player
- The first All-City player in the school’s history
- Received a football scholarship to the University of Miami
- Played halfback, fullback, wide receiver and linebacker
- First Team All-Gold Coast Conference, All-Catholic, and All-State
- Honored as the school’s top scholar-athlete
- 2000 State Champion
- 212 average
- Bowled for Florida State University
- He led the team in interceptions & was named First Team All-Area by the South Dade News Leader
- A excellent three-sport athlete: he played four years of football, four years of baseball & two years of basketball at Columbus
- Eric went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a two-year letterman at safety, and also played two years of baseball for the Quakers
-
F
Jorge Fabregas (‘88) – Baseball- All-State and All-County as a senior
- Three-year starter at the University of Miami before being selected in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft by the California Angels
- Played in the Major Leagues for nine seasons (Angels, Royals)
- All-City performer who set school records in the breaststroke and freestyle
- Selected All-American at Miami-Dade Community College and later swam at Eastern New Mexico University
- First Team All-State and First Team All-City
- 10-1, won the NAIA National Championship
- He entered the world of professional wrestling
- Inducted posthumously in the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
- Earned team Offensive MVP Award
- Three-year letterman in football
- Member of University of Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of Fame
- Three-year starter at linebacker
- First Team All-City and All-State
- Columbus’ Athlete of the Year in 1970
- Three-year starter
- Team MVP
- Three-year starter at Barry University
- The most dominant and respected player on the Columbus offense
- Football and track & field coach at Fort Lewis College
- Led CCHS to first ever FHSAA Track and Field State Championships in 2018 and then won again in 2019
- Three-time First Team All-Dade 800 (2014 & 2015), 1600 (2016)
- State Runner-up in the mile as a senior (4:16)
- In Cross Country he earned First Team All-Dade honors and had a PR of 16:07
- 800 meter State Champion in 2015
- School record holder in the 800 (1:53.03)
- Led the 1986 Explorers to district and regional championships
- Honored with the Offensive MVP Award
- Two-time University of South Carolina MVP
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G
Mauricio Galindo (‘97) – Golf- Four-year letterman in golf at CCHS
- First-Team All-Dade in 1997
- Four-year letterman in golf at the University of Central Florida
- Three-year starter at center
- Named First Team All-Dade in 1992
- Three-year starter at the University of Central Florida
- School record holder 110 meter hurdles
- Three-year letterman in football & track
- Played football at Syracuse University
- Hit 28 career home runs
- Two-time All-Dade selection
- Four-year batting average of .415
- First Team All-American
- Named the 2016 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award
- Finished his University of Miami career with 43 saves, which is a Hurricane record
- All-County, All-State and All-American
- Three-year varsity starter as an offensive and defensive lineman
- Selected Miami Herald All-Decade Team
- Three-year starter at Florida State University
- Four-year letterman in track
- Set the CCHS record for the 200 meters
- 1995 Outstanding Athlete Award winner
- First Team All-City in track & field and cross country
- Championships three consecutive years
- GMAC Champion in cross country
- Dade County Pitcher of the Year in 2003
- Member of 2003 Explorer State Championship team
- Ranks first in career appearances for University of Miami Baseball team
- High school All-American in 1996
- A member of the 1999 University of Miami College World Series Championship team
- A two-time All-American for the University of Miami Baseball team
- Three-year letterman at the University of Miami
- Recognized with First Team All-Dade honors
- Named an AA All-Star in 1997
- Sugar Bowl winner in 2000; National Champion in 2001
- Named Freshman All-American
- Recipient of the Draddy Scholar-Athlete Award
- Led Columbus to 68 dual meet wins
- He was honored as the Miami News Coach of the Year
- He received honor from the Miami Herald in 1971
- Considered one of the best running backs going into his senior year
- 4600 rushing yards and 64 TDs (Columbus records)
- Nick Kotys Award winner
- All-County quarterback
- Played at the University of Michigan and in the NFL
- CCHS Athlete of the Year for 1993
- All-County catcher
- Played for Florida State University and Team USA
- Played nine seasons of professional baseball (Minnesota Twins, New York Mets)
- A brilliant leaper with uncanny timing
- Received Second-Team All-Dade honors from the Miami Herald and was selected to play in the Dade-Broward All-Star game
- Bronze Medal winner at the USA Open Nationals
- The most dynamic offensive weapon
- He kicked 31 goals in just 17 games
- Played soccer at Miami-Dade & in Division 1 for Drexel University
- Three-straight First Team All-Dade selections
- Crowned GMAC Champion as a senior
- During Mark’s tenure, the cross country won three district, three regional and an unprecedented three straight FHSAA State Championships
- Earned First Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald as a senior
- Played college football for Boston College
- Played for the Giants, Colts and Redskins (NFL free agent signee)
- Two-sport athlete at Columbus(basketball & baseball)
- As a senior, he went 6-2 with a 2.70 ERA, while striking out 42 batters and notching two saves
- Earned Third Team All-Dade honors
- Carlos accepted a scholarship to the University of Miami, where he led the Canes in saves with 13, and went 5-4 with 72 strikeouts
- Carlos was selected by the Minnesota Twins as the 27th pick in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft.
- Played professionally for six years including three seasons at the Triple A level
- As a senior he had an ERA of 1.9 and a record of 5-1, as well as two saves.
- Third Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald
- Played collegiately at the University of Miami & went 16-9, with six saves, 175 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.1.
- Two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week
- Selected in the 18th round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Twins
- School record holder in RBIs and home runs
- Won 23 games as a pitcher
- Delivered a clutch two-RBI double to help the Explorers bring home the FHSAA State Championship
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H
Alex Halley (‘05) – Soccer- First Team All-Dade in soccer, football and volleyball
- Four-year starter in soccer
- 2005 Scholar-Athlete Award winner
- Came to the school first in 1966
- Titles and positions at CCHS: teacher, dean of discipline, principal, president, development director, athletic director, basketball coach
- Three-sport standout
- University of Miami — 2 National Championships
- Columbus defensive coach for a number of years
- Columbus MVP as a pitcher 1981 and 1982
- Pitched at Creighton University
- Pitched professionally for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs
- “Goose Egg” defense
- 1979 team allowed 39 Points in 10 games
- Two-year offensive tackel starter at University of Miami
- Columbus coaching record of 80-16
- National Collegiate Coach of the Year in 1991
- MLB executive most notably as the general manager of the Chicago Cubs
- Three-year starter
- 1965 First Team All-Dade
- Four-year starter at the University of Tampa
- Helped the Explorers post a 27-6 Record and capture GMAC, district, regional and sectional titles in 1988
- Earned First Team All-Dade honors
- Had a career average of .360 and was a phenomenal base-stealer
- All-County, All-State and All-American defensive end
- Started three years as a running back at the University of Miami and was the third overall pick in the NFL draft in 1987
- Also, played basketball at CCHS
- Athlete of the Year for 1983
- All-City, All-State, and All-South
- Led Dade County in rushing as a senior
- Also, ran track and was Athlete of the Year for 1963
- Won a football scholarship to the University of Florida
- Led Dade County in scoring as a senior
- First Team All-Dade, First Team All-State, and First Team All-American
- Earned a scholarship to the University of Miami
- 1984 State Runner-ups
- 1985 3rd place State finish.
- 1986 State Runner-Ups
- 1987 the team won the first State Team Championship in Columbus history.
- He coached Francisco Montana to captured the #1 singles trophy for the third year in a row, while Chris Lebert and John Stupka won the #1 Doubles Championship.
- 1988 State Runner-ups
- 1989 & 1990 3rd place State finish.
- All-State for both 880 yards (school record holder) and the mile
- All-State Meet 1-mile Champion, record holder, and meet MVP
- Florida Junior Olympics 1-mile Champion
- Full scholarship winner and letterman, University of Florida
- A big hitter off the tee with a stellar short game
- Four-year letterman
- Won the district individual title as a freshman and sophomore, was the Youth Fair Champion as a junior, and as senior
- Earned the regional title and went onto finish 11th at the State Tournament
- “Ice Man”
- First Team All-Dade
- University of Miami Hall of Fame inductee
- Kicked in the NFL, CFL, and Arena League
- Took over the wrestling program in 2004
- Has won six district titles, tallied over 300 wins, and an individual FHSAA State Championship with Nick Wethy in 2013
- Has tallied over 1,000 career dual meet victories
-
I
Robert Infante (‘00) – Cross Country- Four-time First Team All-Dade
- Two-Time 1st Team All-State
- Athlete of the Year
- Led the program to its first FHSAA State Championship in 1997 as a sophomore
-
J
Lane Jackson (‘00) – Football- First Team All-Dade linebacker
- Three-year starting linebacker for the U.S. Naval Academy
- Member of U.S. Navy SEAL Team Eight
- First Team All-County in 2003 when he led CCHS to its first FHSAA State Baseball Championship
- Played at the University of Miami
- Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played 12 years in MLB
- In 2001 he gained 1,370 yards, averaging 10 yards per carry and tallied 9 touchdowns
- First Team All-Dade selection
- He earned a full scholarship to Fairmont State University was a four-year letterman and three-year starter
- He was a three-time selection to the First-Team Mountain East Conference
-
K
John Kaay (‘67) – Swimming & Diving- Freestyle swimmer who dominated in the 50 and 100 meters and anchored the Explorers’ dominant relay teams
- Went on to William & Mary University
- First-Team All-City in basketball
- All-Gold Coast Conference in basketball, football and baseball
- 1960 Athlete of the Year at CCHS
- First Team All-Dade
- Team captain in cross country and soccer
- Went on to the University of Bridgeport
- 1975 Columbus Salutatorian and ScholarAthlete
- First Team All-County in 1974
- Played at Louisiana State University
- Selected to be on the Gold Coast All-Conference Team
- Named Outstanding Senior Golfer
- Placed on the first-ever Miami News All-Star Golf Team
- He was named team captain senior year
- His 70 tackles, 15 sacks, two blocked kicks and a touchdown return led the Explorers to back-to-back district titles for the first time in program history.
- He earned a full scholarship to the University of San Diego, where he was named to the All-Conference Academic team three times
- Paul finished his USD career with 143 tackles, three sacks, an interception & a blocked kick
- Freestyle swimmer who dominated in the 50 and 100 meters and anchored the Explorers’ dominant relay teams
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L
Frank Lagotic (‘63) – Cross Country- Won Florida State Cross-Country Championship in 1962, becoming the first state champion in school history
- Two-time State Track Champion for 1-mile run
- CCHS Scholar-Athlete Award winner
Scholarship winner, University of Florida, setting UF’s 1-mile and 2-mile records - Southeastern Conference Cross-Country Champion for University of Florida in 1967
- Inducted posthumously in the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Robert Lasky (’85) - Football- Three-year letterman and a two-year starter
- Received the team’s Defensive MVP Award, named First Team All-Dade and First Team All-State
- Member of the Miami Herald’s All-Super South Team and was listed as a Top 75 Southeast Blue Chip Prospect
- Played for the University of Florida
- Three-sport athlete for the Explorers, playing halfback in football and serving as Captain of the swim team, but it was in basketball that he made his mark
- Named First Team All-Gold Coast Conference, Second Team All-City by the Miami News and Second Team All-Diocese by The Voice Catholic newspaper
- Two-year starter
- Played at Auburn University and earned All-SEC honors
- Played for the Green Bay Packers and won a Super Bowl
- Dominant in the 800 meters and the mile
- First Team All-County
- First Team All-American at Miami-Dade South
- Received Honorable Mention by both the Miami Herald and Miami News
- Named Track & Field Athlete of the Year
- Has competed in over 25 marathons including Boston, New York and Miami
- Three-time letterman for the Explorers
- Led the nation in receptions in 1982
- Third Team All-American for Columbia University in 1983
- First Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald
- Set the FCS single season-record by hauling in 136 passes for 1660 yards and 12 touchdowns while at Eastern Illinois
- Spent time in NFL camps with the Vikings, Lions and Jaguars
- Three-year letterman
- First Team All-County in 1972
- First Team All-City in baseball and basketball
- Played both sports at the University of South Carolina
- Pitched in Major League Baseball for eight seasons, including seven with the New York Mets
- CCHS School Record Holder for tackles in a game (26) and a season (150)
- Winner of the 1978 Sportsmanship Award
- Coached the CCHS Varsity linebackers for 18 seasons
- Won Florida State Cross-Country Championship in 1962, becoming the first state champion in school history
List of 11 items.
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M
Robert MacKarvich (‘04) – Bowling- First Team All-County bowler for four consecutive years
- FHSAA State Champion and Dade County Bowler of the Year in 2003
- All-County shortstop who also played quarterback on the football team
- CCHS Athlete of the Year for 1975
- Played for Louisiana State University, Miami-Dade North, and the University of New Orleans
- Head baseball coach at Louisiana State University
- Three-year letterman
- Three-time district champion in singles and doubles
- Recognized as a Miami Herald All-Dade selection in 1980
- First Team All-Dade and First Team All-State
- Named to the 2000 All-Regional Team at the University of Miami
- Member of the 2001 National Championship team at University of Miami
- First Team All-City as a pitcher and outfielder
- Played in the Los Angeles Dodgers system and won the batting title in the New York-Penn League
- Three-year starter in basketball and football
- First Team All-County in 1981
- Played at the University of South Carolina and the University of Miami
- Led the Columbus Athletic Program to an unprecedented twenty year run of success at the highest levels in the state of Florida
- Columbus has taken home the All Miami-Dade Athletic Award for the Best Boys Major Sports Program more than four times and we have also won the prestigious Sunshine Cup more than three times
- Dade County Basketball Player of the Year as a senior
- Averaged 26 points per game. Scholar-Athlete Award winner for 1964
- Won a basketball scholarship to the University of Notre Dame
- First Team All-County, All-State and All-American
- Played at the University of Kentucky and the University of Miami
- Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 1986
- Named team MVP
- Represented CCHS in the 1992 State All-Star Game
- Went on to Barry University to be named Sunshine State All-Freshman team
- Won two district championships
- First Columbus wrestler to win FHSAA Regional Championship
- Three-year First Team All-County
- Played defensive tackle
- Three-year letterman in soccer
- First Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald
- An imposing lefty who loved to challenge hitters on the biggest stage
- Named two-time Miami-Dade County Pitcher of the Year by the Miami Herald
- Won both the Baseball Senior Award and the Sportsmanship Award at the Block C banquet.
- Pitched for the University of Maine
- Three-year letterman and two-year starter
- Played collegiately at Barry University where he still ranks second all-time in hits, runs scored and walks.
- Alex was drafted in the 35th round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners
- Played three seasons in the Mariners system, reaching the Triple-A level. He ended his professional career with a .360 OBP
- Has posted the most career wins as Explorer’s Head Football Coach (158-45)
- Has won 13 district and four regional championships
- Nike Coach of the Year in 2015
- Two-time First Team All-Dade – Cross Country – 1983(JR) & 1984(SR)
- 1985 Dade County Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Miami Herald
- Ninth place finish at State Championship senior year (15:44)
- Two-year starter as an outfielder
- Played at Miami-Dade South for two years
- Played seven years of professional baseball
- Caught the winning touchdown pass in CCHS’s first-ever victory over Coral Gables
- Selected Second Team All-City in both the Miami Herald and Miami News
- Selected for an Honorable Mention All-East
- Has coached the offensive line at the University of Miami, Florida International University, Marshall and the Universtiy of Oregon
- Rose Bowl Champion (University of Oregon)
- Offensive Line Coach of the Year by Football Scoop
- Member of 1982 State Runner-Up team
- Named First Team All-Dade by the Miami Herald as a senior
- Awarded CCHS Scholar-Athlete Award
- FHSAA Singles Champion
- Four-year First Team All-County
- Awarded a scholarship to the University of Georgia and played professionally for more than 10 years
- Three-sport athlete, excelling in football, wrestling and track
- A dominant force in Miami-Dade County in both the shot put and discus events
- As a senior, Michael had a perfect sweep, as he was GMAC, district, regional and FHSAA State Champion in the shot, as well as being a First Team All-Dade selection
- Three-year First Team All-Dade
- Part of two State Championship teams
- Golfed for Florida Atlantic University and University of North Florida
- The team advanced to the State Final Four for the first time since 2011
- Led football program to 1st State Championship in 2019 with a win over Dr. Phillips (46-45)
- Received awarded in 2023
- Won three FHSAA State Championships in diving
- Set three state records
- First Team All-Dade
- Senior year, he gained 1534 yards rushing, which led both Dade and Broward counties
- He famously shredded the vaunted Northwestern Bulls defense for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and added a 50-yard halfback pass for another score.
- Earned First Team All-Dade and All-State honors
- He was honored with the 2005 Nick Kotys Award (best high school football player in Dade County)
- He was runner-up for the Mr. Florida Football Award & he was named to the Top 50 High School Football Players in the Nation by USA Today
- He accepted a full scholarship to Colorado State University, where he was a four-year letterman
- Four-year varsity player
- Member of the 2003 FHSAA State Championship team
- Played college baseball for Clemson University and the University of Florida
- First Team All-County as a left-handed pitcher
- Kicked for the football team and played both baseball and football at the University of Kentucky
- Pitched in Major League Baseball for 11 years (Reds, Red Sox, Mariners, Astros, Cardinals)
- Won All-City Championship in 1965
- Miami Herald Golfer of the Year
- Scholarship to the University of Notre Dame
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O
Michael O’Brien (‘66) – Football- Remembered for his ferocious play and outstanding leadership
- Named to both All-Catholic and All-City teams
- Named Outstanding Athlete in his senior year
- 120 straight dual meet victories
- Nine GMAC Championships – including six straight
- 12 District Championships – including eight straight
- Six Regional Champions – including five straight
- One State Championship
- One State Runner-Up
- Four times his team finished third in the state
- Class of 1987 Valedictorian
- First Team All-County
- Played at Creighton University for four years
- Number one singles and doubles player for four years
- Columbus Athlete of the Year in 1966
- Played at the University of Notre Dame for four years
- Named First-Team All-Dade as senior
- Four-year letterman at Stetson University
- Finished seventh in the nation for stolen bases during his senior year at Stetson
- First Team All-County
- Led county in scoring as a senior
- Played four years at Florida Southern College
- CCHS Sportsmanship Award winner in 1977
- Head basketball coach at Barry University
- Named First Team All-Dade as a junior and senior
- Led basketball team to win district as well as the first regional title in Columbus history
- Four-year Letterman at Boston College
- Three-year starter
- “Goose Egg” defense
- First Team All-Dade
- Remembered for his ferocious play and outstanding leadership
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Lou Pagley (‘76) – Football- Second Team All-City quarterback in 1975
- Member of the 1977 University of Notre Dame National Championship team
- Played for the Chicago Blitz and the Washington Federals of the USFL
- Second Team All-Dade honors as a senior
- As a sophomore, helped the Columbus team go 11-2 and capture the first district title in the short history of the program
- All-time assist leader at Barry University
- Two-time Second Team-All Dade (SO & JR)
- He led Dade County in sacks as senior & team captain
- First Team All-Dade and Second Team All-State his senior year.
- In Track & Field, he set the school record with a throw of 54’ 1,” (formerly Fred Foyo's)
- He played collegiately at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas, where he earned All-Conference
- Honors. Terry went on to conclude his playing days at the University of West Virginia, where he was a two-year letterman in the 1988-89 seasons
- Four-year letterman
- Finished 6th(SO), 5th(JR), and 2nd(SR) place at the FHSAA State Championship
- Earned Second Team All-Dade Honors & Sportsmanship Award winner at the Block C banquet
- Wrestled collegiately at Upper Iowa University(FR-JR) & Newberry College in South Carolina(SR)
- Qualified for the NCAA championship (cut short by Covid-19) & earned Second Team South Atlantic Conference Honors
- Four-year varsity starting pitcher
- Named two-time preseason All-American
- Drafted by the Texas Rangers (23rd round)
- First four-time letter winner in soccer
- First Columbus soccer player to be selected First Team All-County
- Scored 18 career goals
- Won two district championships
- First Columbus athletic director
- A Man for All Seasons
- Outstanding basketball and football player
- His number 24 was retired in 2017 and is the only retired number in CCHS
- Cornerback on the 1978 football team
- He was killed by a lightning strike on the CCHS football field on Oct 1, 1975
- Number retired posthumously
- MVP for three years
- First Team All-Dade and All-State
- Highest-leading goal scorer in Columbus soccer history
- Two-time FHSAA State Champion in the discus and shot put (2006 & 2007)
- USA National Champion in the shot put in 2007
- Athlete of the Year
- Four-time NCAA All-American shot put and discus thrower at Florida State University
- All-City quarterback who started three years
- Holds school record with 1,717 yards passing in one season
- CCHS Athlete of the Year for 1967
- Played quarterback at the University of Miami and Tampa University
- Second Team All-City quarterback in 1975
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Q
Matthew “Matt” Quigley (‘87) – Football- Two-year starter at defensive tackle for CCHS
- Two-year starter at defensive tackle for the University of Virginia
- Second Team All-ACC at University of Virginia
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R
Douglas Ramos (‘11) – Swimming & Diving- 2010 FHSAA State Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke
- Four-time First Team All-Dade selection
- Four-time state qualifier in the 200-yard individual medley
- Back-to-back 1000 yard seasons
- Set a single-game rushing record with 210 yards against South Dade
- First-Team All-Dade
- Two-year All-County performer
- Won a scholarship to the University of North Carolina-Charlotte where he was a four-year starter
- Played professionally for the Miami Freedom of the American Professional Soccer League
- All-City second baseman as a senior and earned a scholarship to the University of Miami
- Two-sport athlete for the Explorers, playing running back in football team & excelling in basketball
- Three State Championships
- Head coach for football, tennis, and golf
- 38 years at CCHS
- Inducted posthumously in the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
- Architect of the Columbus track program
- Coach Roche was named Coach of the Year by the Miami Herald
- In 1963, he led the track team to win the first district title in Columbus history
- First Team All-County in his junior and senior
- Won two conference championships – a national qualifier while in Florida State University
- Went 9-1, with 1.2 ERA as a senior
- Named the American Legion Player of the Year in 1994
- Member of the 1995 Florida International University's Conference Championship
- Won two regional and three district championships
- Selected First Team All-State and All-County for three Years
- Miami Herald Runner of the Year in 1994 and 1995
- Two trips to the state tournament in 2006 and 2008.
- Overall record is 159-68.
- Brought identity, direction, and respectability to the program.
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Javi Salas ('10) – Baseball- An imposing lefty who loved to challenge hitters on the biggest stage
- Named two-time Miami-Dade County Pitcher of the Year by the Miami Herald
- Won both the Baseball Senior Award and the Sportsmanship Award at the Block C banquet
- Pitched for the University of Maine
- Second Team All-State
- District champion
- Two-time First Team All-Dade
- 1997 Athlete of the Year
- Team captain
- Four-year starter at the University of Notre Dame
- Played for the Minnesota Twins for four seasons
- Three-year First Team All-Dade
- Pitched for Florida International University
- Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and played seven years of professional baseball
- The prototypical linebacker; tall, strong, quick, fast, smart and violent
- Named Honorable Mention All-State and Second team All-Dade as a senior
- Played at Auburn University and the University of Miami
- Inducted posthumously in the CCHS Athletic Hall of Fame
- All-State and All-County
- Led Columbus to 23-6 record and a GMAC Southern Division Championship
- Awarded a scholarship to Stetson University
- Played number one for four years
- First Team All-Dade
- Played professionally for six years
- Named the Miami Dolphins Player of the Month recipient
- Named Second Team All-Dade, as well as being named Honorable Mention All-State
- Played at Marshall and Florida Atlantic University
- All-State and All-County quarterback
- Led CCHS to the 1982 game
- Played quarterback at the University of Alabama and in the NFL
- 1984 State Singles & Doubles Champion
- 1984 Athlete of the Year
- Played at Georgia Tech
- Earned district and GMAC titles in the 50 freestyle as senior
- First Team All-Dade as a senior
- Member of the All-Big Ten Academic Team at the University of Michigan
- Winningest coach in Columbus history
- 370 varsity wins
- 112 JV Wins
- Coached 40 College Players
- Led Dade County with 378 kills in 2007
- First Team All-Dade in 2008
- Senior Award Winner for volleyball in 2008
- The leader of the Columbus diving team
- Undefeated in 8 dual meets – honorable mention All-County
- A lefty who possessed a smoking fastball and a curveball that froze batters
- Combined 17-2 with a 1.5 ERA and 141 strikeouts and helped the team win 42 games over his junior and senior seasons
- Two-time First Team All-Dade selection
- Was an AFLAC All-American as a senior
- Second Team All-City by the Miami Herald and the Miami News
- Outstanding Athlete Award at the Block C banquet
- Played football at Rutgers
- Second overall in the 2002 state tournament
- State Champions in 1991, 2001 & 2002
- Received a golf scholarship to Florida Atlantic University
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T
Eric Thomas (‘95) – Football- First Team All-Dade and Second Team All-State honors
- Two-year starter at Florida State University
- Nine-year starter in the Arena Football League
- Dade County’s Defensive Player of the Week
- First Team All-Dade and First Team All-State
- Football at Memphis State University
- Second State Champion
- 77-8-1 won-loss-draw
- First Team All-Dade-All State
- All-City long-jump champion who also excelled in sprints
- Won a track scholarship to the University of Miami
- CCHS Sportsmanship Award winner for 1964
- Only player in CCHS history to start games at defensive end, outside linebacker, and safety
- Named two-time First Team All-District
- Coached the Explorer defense to the 2019 FHSAA 8A State Championship
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V
James Vargas (‘02) – Golf- Three-time state high school golf champion (1998, 1999, 2001)
- Led CCHS to two state championships (1999, 2001)
- Athlete of the Year for 2002
- Earned a scholarship to the University of Florida and played professionally
- Two year starter (football)
- Led team in tackles his senior year
- Only defensive lineman ever to be named MVP of the Explorers football team
- First Team All-Dade
- Two-year letterman
- Captured district and regional titles
- Three-year varsity starter
- 1998-99: Averaged 18 Points, 12 Rebounds
- First Team All-Dade, Third Team All-State
- Three-time state high school golf champion (1998, 1999, 2001)
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W
Joe Weber (‘83) – Baseball Coach- Named Coach of the Year (2) by the Miami Herald
- Columbus (‘82) – pitcher for the Explorers
- Winningest baseball coach in CCHS history
- His teams have won 2 State Championships (2015 & 2003)
- Two-time First Team All-Dade in Wrestling
- Career record of 127-21 in Wrestling
- 2010 Sportsmanship Award winner
- Four-year wrestling letterman
- 167-24, with exactly 100 pins
- Miami Herald Wrestler of the Year (2013)
- Earned district and GMAC titles in the 50 freestyle as senior
- First Team All-Dade as a senior
- Member of the All-Big Ten Academic Team at the University of Michigan
- Dade County Sophomore of the Year in 1970
- First Team All-County 4 Consecutive Years
- Scholarship to the University of Miami
- All-American, All-State and All-County linebacker
- Three-year starter selected to the Miami Herald All-Decade team
- Three-year starter at the University of Notre Dame and member of the 1977 National Championship team
- Played four seasons in the NFL and two seasons in the USFL
- First Team All-Dade for 4 Years
- First Team All-State for 3 Years
- Also, played Football and Volleyball
- First Team All-County as a junior and senior
- Awarded a scholarship to Auburn University where he played varsity tennis for two years
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Y
Carlos Yedo (‘92) – Baseball- One of the best power-hitting first basemen the Columbus Baseball program
- Hit .456, with 8 homers and a county-leading 44 RBIs leading Columbus to bring home the district and regional titles in 1992
- Ranks as the Miami Dade South all-time career RBI leader, with 102
- Two consecutive district championships
- 18-1, and notably through a 93 mile an hour fastball
- Awarded with a baseball scholarship to Florida State University
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Z
Warren Zorzi – Football and Track Coach- 33 seasons – assistant coach
- 25 D-1 players
- Coached five NFL players
Christopher Columbus High School | 3000 SW 87 Avenue | Miami, FL 33165 | (305) 223-5650
Brotherhood, Faith, and Scholarship define the Marist Brothers Catholic education at Christopher Columbus High School. By making Jesus Christ known and loved and creating an inspiring academic and extracurricular environment, we prepare young men for higher learning and a life-long commitment to leadership and service through Gospel and Marist values.
Columbus is fully accredited by Cognia and is a member of the Marist Association of Secondary schools, the National Catholic Education Association and the Independent Schools of South Florida.
