Pine Crest’s Faison, North Broward’s Finkelman are Broward 4A-2A Athletes of the Year

Jordan Faison and Leah Finkelman were the consummate student-athletes this year, stars in multiple sports, as well as high-achieving scholars in the classroom.

They’re also now the Miami Herald’s Broward County Athletes of the Year for Classes 4A-2A.

Faison was a first-team All-Broward County selection in both football and boys’ lacrosse for Pine Crest, and was a finalist for the Herald’s Broward County Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The senior is off to Notre Dame next year, where he’ll continue to play both football and lacrosse for one of the premier programs in the country for both sports.

In football, Faison was the Panthers’ starting quarterback, running a Wing T offense and piling up 1,661 yards and 23 touchdowns on 143 carries -- an average of 11.6 yards per carry and 151.0 yards per game. He also went 21 of 46 for 280 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions as a passer, and had 38 tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns, as a defensive back.

Faison also blocked two punts and returned one for a touchdown.

Of course, football is just secondary for Faison, who was the Herald’s Broward County Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2021 and the No. 46 player in the Class of 2023, according to Inside Lacrosse. The midfielder had 56 goals, 16 assists and 55 ground balls this year, and was again a first-team All-Broward selection.

Lacrosse recruiting came early. Football recruiting took longer. With the Fighting Irish, he’ll get to keep doing both even as he leaves Fort Lauderdale.

“I was looking for schools that,” Faison told 247Sports in the winter. “Notre Dame happened to be an option, so that’s where my heart felt right and where I felt right at. So everything came together and I feel complete.”

Finkelman, also a senior, was the Herald’s Broward County Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for Classes 4A-2A and the Broward County Girls’ Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It was her second time as the Broward Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for 4A-2A and she finished her career in Coconut Creek as North Broward Prep’s all-time leader with 113 goals.

Finkelman, who also competed in track and field, scored 36 goals and had 26 assists as a senior. She’s off to Penn next year.

“The past few years it’s been soccer, soccer, soccer, but I have been working really hard in school, so it feels great to be recognized for all the work I’ve been putting in,” Finkelman said in May. “I always knew I wanted to go to a school with high academics, but can balance that with good athletics. I just fell in love with the campus, and I knew that with such high academics and a great soccer program, I felt at home.”

Other finalists

Boys’ sports

▪ Chaminade-Madonna junior Jeremiah Smith was a first-team All-Broward County selection in both football, and track and field, and won Class 1A championships in the 110- and 400-meter hurdles. He’s orally committed to Ohio State.

▪ Cardinal Gibbons senior Greg Otten was a first-team All-Broward County selection in football, and a third-team All-Broward County selection in track and field. He was also a finalist for the Broward County Boys’ Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. He’ll play football next year at South Florida.

▪ Plantation American Heritage senior Spencer Butt was the Broward County Baseball Player of the Year for Classes 5A-2A and won a Class 5A championship. He signed with Florida State.

▪ American Heritage senior Juan Otero was the Broward County Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year for Classes 7A-5A, led the Patriots to a 5A championship and finished high school as the Broward County Boys’ Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

▪ American Heritage sophomore Deandre Desinor was a first-team All-Broward County in track and field, and a second-team All-Broward County selection in football. He played football at North Broward before transferring and helping the Patriots win the Class 3A championship in the 400 relay.

Girls’ sports

▪ Pine Crest senior Alexandra Gladding was the Broward County Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year and a second-team All-Broward County selection in girls’ basketball. She signed with Vanderbilt for lacrosse.

▪ Westminster Academy sophomore Dianna Montodoro was a first-team All-Broward County selection in softball and a third-team All-Broward County selection in girls’ soccer.

▪ Coral Springs Charter senior Alexandra Bruno was the Broward County Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year for Classes 5A-2A, and an All-Broward County honorable mention in track and field.

▪ Somerset Academy sophomore Aleesa Samuel was the Broward County Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year, winning 3A championships in the 100 dash, 200 dash and 100 hurdles.

▪ South Florida HEAT junior Erika Pelaez was the Broward County Girls’ Swimmer of the Year, winning 1A championships in the 100-yard backstroke, 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay.