Fall

SWIMMING: Although the swim team had no qualifiers for All-Dade, Coach Cynthia Kensler has high expectations for next year and hopes for a larger team. Many current sophomores and juniors have signed up, and Coach Kensler expects the incoming of many freshmen as well. This season her captains on the boys side have served the team well all four years -- seniors German Campos and Rodrigo Cotrina. As for the rest of the team, Coach Kensler is proud of the success of her boys and claims that her girls “have their work cut out for them.” Although, she will be losing several players as graduates.

GIRLS' VOLEYBALL: This year the girls volleyball team practiced and competed constantly. The team was able to place third in their district standings. Although none of the seniors are going to college or university on a volleyball scholarship, many are going with academic scholarships, “which is very good,” according to coach Caryn Cortright.

About 9-10 girls graduated as seniors, but there are still several lower classmen who will form the base of next year’s team.

The final standings of the 2011-2012 season was 8-13.

CROSS COUNTRY: Experiencing some success in the early get go, the cross country team had high expectations set towards Regionals and States. The team was able to remain competitive in a tough Miami-Dade district that includes Coral Reef and Ferguson, and received strong performances from junior Angelo Serna, and seniors Carl Janvier, Alexis Valle and Stephanie Pacheco. The boys at one point in the season were ranked as high as fifth in the Region and third in their District. At the Florida Runners race the team placed in the top five. Janvier is the only athlete to sign. He will be attending the University of San Francisco.

CHEERLEADING: The Varela cheerleading squad had a relatively quiet year. They didn’t compete at all unlike last year’s squad, however, they were the only school in Dade-County to be officially invited to the Broward Dade Football All-Star Game. This is Coach Cindy Kubit’s last year as cheerleading coach, however, she wishes her cheerleaders the best for years to come and will remain as the school’s tennis coach.

FOOTBALL: This year’s football team was a quarter away on the brink of back-to-back playoff appearances. Finishing the season with a record of 4-6, 3-1 in their District, a tiebreaker matchup between Southwest and Braddock was played as all three teams were tied for the top of their standings. Only the top two made it on past the regular season to the playoffs. And unfortunately, the Vipers lost their quarter tiebreaker matchup versus Southwest days after beating them 35-28. The Vipers placed third and have hired former assistant coach, Carlos Mollinedo, as their new head coach.

Winter

GIRLS' SOCCER: Having been led by their senior captain Jessica Clark, the girls’ soccer team ended their season with a record of 7-4-3, making it to the district quarterfinals. Unfortunately, they lost to Sunset at that game, the victors going on to win at the finals. Clark signed with University of Southern Florida (USF).

“I wanted to make it farther, but we still had a pretty good season,” Clark said.

WRESTLING: Qualifying at both Regionals and States for anotheryear, the wrestling team this year was able to compete at both top-tier competitions, despite limits to their lineup.

The team sent out five wrestlers to Regionals at Doral High: Marcelo Sierra (9), Adrian Moreira (9), Nixon Chaves (10), Robert Calvo (11), Andrew Yanes (11) and Alejandro Sanchez (12), with Calvo, Chaves, Sanchez, Sierra and Yanes all qualifying for States in Lakeland.

SOFTBALL: The girls softball team ended the year with a 15-7 record, a record good enough to qualify for District playoffs, though they were ultimately defeated. The five people from the team that signed were Melissa and Christina Martinez (Florida Atlantic University), Amber Acosta (Central Florida Community College), Megan Angulo (Stetson University) and Jasmine Reyes (Jacksonville University). Coach Mike Vergara will be stepping down.

BOYS' SOCCER:  The boys soccer team ended their season with a record of 6-7-4. The runner-ups in last year’s State Final versus Cypress Bay did not qualify for district playoffs this season. So far as expectations for next year are concerned, some team members like Damion Lewis hope for “less cockiness and more focus on the field.”

Senior captain Nahuel Medina signed with Long Island University.

BASEBALL: Starting strong and scaling after three games into the season, this year’s baseball team had its ups-and-downs. Starting their first District matches, the team underwent a six-game losing streak against Palmetto, South Ridge, South Dade and Killian, and took another down turn facing key injuries and withdrawals to the team’s pitching staff and starting lineup. The team, however, still had chances to claim a top four seeding in their.

Spring

GIRLS' BASKETBALL: After a strong season for the Lady Vipers basketball team, they unfortunately did not win Districts at the last second. Coach Schneider expects for next year’s team to remain strong, make it to Districts again, and hopefully win. Unfortunately, we must say goodbye to seniors, Kendal Monger and Amy Cyr; however, majority of the team’s underclassmen will be returning next year.

TENNIS: Ending with a 3-5 record -- though short -- it was an exciting and motivating year according to this year’s tennis team. Junior Tina Esfandiary, who had kept an undefeated streak since her freshman year, unfortunately received her first defeat at district competitions this season. Even though none of the players got signed for an athletic scholarship to play tennis, dual-athletes senior Nahuel Medina and senior Jessica Clark.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL: The boys volleyball team fought a hard fight this season with 17 wins and 4 losses and made it to the District Finals match against Miami Sunset. The team took the first of a potential five sets, but unfortunately lost the following three sets going home without the District championship title, but with a determination that will power them through next year.

BOYS BASKETBALL: The boys’ basketball team closed its season with a record of 7 wins and 12 losses. Coach Cesar Lacaci, though disappointed, expects next year to be a stronger season.

“I have more depth and more players.” Lacaci commented.

TRACK AND FIELD: On April 24, the boys and girls track and field team played at the regional championships. Seven athletes made it to the state championships that were held in Jacksonville on May 5.

For the first time in school history, the boys team was able to qualify for the pole vault and the girls team qualified for a distance event.

BADMINTON: This year’s badminton team finished with a record of 5-3-2, having had two individuals qualify for GMAC. Coach Paula Fitzpatrick expects five returning players to the team that has been composed of mostly seniors this past year.

“It was a great season; we had the first winning record in the school’s history. But kids graduate. They leave. It’s good for them,” said Fitzpatrick.