Specialists Emerge In National Showcase

<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-38398" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/Kicking-Etra-33-300x198.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="198" />They came from Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia and Indiana. From south Florida and throughout the Sunshine State. The annual <strong><em>Kornblue Fab 50 Summer Specialist Showcase</em> </strong>made its way to southwest Florida and the all new Paradise Sports Complex in Naples last weekend. The very best kickers, punters and long snappers competed in this two day event where competition was certainly the order of business. With this pandemic going on throughout the country, it has been tough on everyone, but it was the special teams players who emerged as champions on this weekend. The best in every class kicked, punted and long snapped against the very best competition around. What has now become a ritual twice a year, Brandon Kornblue and his staff come to the Sunshine State with the idea of helping to promote and expose hard working talent that are trying to grab the attention of colleges and universities during one of the toughest times of our lives. “I am blown away at how many specialists came here at a very rough time,” said Kornblue, a resident of Bonita Springs, but a former standout at the University of Michigan. “We provided a safe environment in this beautiful facility, and these young men responded in a major way. Emerge as Fab 50 5-Star prospects included five seniors and a junior. Only Massillon, Ohio standout kicker/punter and linebacker <strong>Magnus Haines</strong> was the only out of state winner in this competitive event. Haines was one of two elite punters. This four-year starter for the famed state champion Massillon Tigers was indeed impressive. Joining Haines as a 5-Star punter was Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32754" first="Noah" last="Botsford"]</strong>, who also was a head-turner in the kickoff competition as well. Botsford is a member of the co-national champion Raiders. Long snappers also stole the show as Palm Coast Matanzas senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32762" first="Rex" last="Robich"]</strong> and Miami Christopher Columbus standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32752" first="Francisco" last="Castro"]</strong>, who will be a preferred walk-on at the University of Miami, headed and very talented list. Castro was a member of the 8A state champion Explorers. The kickers were also amazing with senior <strong>Adam Mihalek</strong> (Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch) and nationally-rated junior <strong>Will Bettridge</strong> coming away as the weekend’s big winners in the kicking competition. Both were impressive on kickoffs, but also quality field goal specialists as well. Bettridge is just a junior from Miami Gulliver Prep. He showcased his many talents as a kicker. In addition to being a tremendous student, he is a pitcher and outfielder for the Raiders’ baseball program – and has been making a name for himself this summer. “You cannot say enough about all the young men who took part, but those who ended as our Fab 50 5 Stars, they seemed to turn it up a notch when they needed to,” Kornblue explained. <strong>SHOWCASE RESULTS</strong> <strong>JUCO/College Transfer Kicking 1st Place</strong> Victor Barbosa, Hialeah Gardens Mater Academy <strong>2021 Kicking Champion</strong> Dylan Liska, K, Jupiter <strong>2021 Kicking 2nd Place</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32711" first="Andres" last="Borregales"], Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna <strong>2021 Kicking 3rd Place</strong> Adam Mihalek, Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch <strong>2021 Kicking 3rd Place</strong> Jack Howes, Orlando Edgewater <strong>2021 Kicking 3rd Place</strong> Max Larsen, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas <strong>2021 Punting Champion</strong> Magnus Haines, Massillon Washington, Ohio <strong>2021 Punting 2nd Place</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32754" first="Noah" last="Botsford"], Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas <strong>2021 Punting 3rd Place</strong> Jack Howes, Orlando Edgewater <strong>2021 Long Snapping Champion</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32762" first="Rex" last="Robich"], Palm Coast Matanzas <strong>2021 Long Snapping 2nd Place</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32752" first="Francisco" last="Castro"], Miami Christopher Columbus <strong>2021 Long Snapping 3rd Place</strong> Ben Bergfeld, Davenport North, Iowa <strong>2022 Kicking Champion</strong> Will Bettridge, Miami Gulliver Prep <strong>2022 Kicking 2nd Place</strong> Luis Palenzuela, Miami Christopher Columbus <strong>2022 Kicking 3rd Place</strong> Dean Gordon, Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest <strong>2022 Punting Champion</strong> Carson Holmer, Avon, Indiana <strong>2022 Punting 2nd Place</strong> Will Bettridge, Miami Gulliver Prep <strong>2022 Punting 3rd Place</strong> Jayden John, Miami Central <strong>2022 Long Snapping Champion</strong> Tony Sabella, Orlando Bishop Moore <strong>2022 Long Snapping 2nd Place</strong> 2022 -Brendan O’Connell, Bonita Springs <strong>2023 Kicking Champion</strong> Kirill Kotov, Venice <strong>2023 Kicking 2nd Place</strong> Jonathan Walker, Melbourne <strong>2023 Kicking 3rd Place</strong> Alex Davis, Orlando Timber Creek <strong>2023 Punting Champion</strong> Alex Davis, Orlando Timber Creek <strong>2023 Punting 2nd Place</strong> Jonathan Walker, Melbourne <strong>2023 Punting 3rd Place</strong> Jason Slicker, Englewood Lemon Bay <strong>2023 Long Snapping Champion</strong> Aiden Arias, Plantation American Heritage <strong>2023 Long Snapping 2nd Place</strong> Dominic Diaz, Weston Cypress Bay <strong>2023 Long Snapping 3rd Place</strong> Braeden Covan, Spartanburg Dorman, South Carolina <strong>2023 Long Snapping 3rd Place</strong> George Shannon, Gainesville Buchholz <strong>2024 Kicking Champion</strong> Cosme Salas, Miami Gulliver Prep <strong>2024 Kicking 2nd Place</strong> Carlos Saladrgas, Miami Christopher Columbus <strong>2024 Kicking 3^rdPlace</strong> Kristian Hobbs, Sunrise Millennium Middle School <strong>2024 Punting Champion</strong> Cosme Salas, Miami Gulliver Prep <strong>2024 Punting 2nd Place</strong> Kristian Hobbs, Sunrise Millennium Middle School <strong>2024 Long Snapping Champion</strong> Jonathan Zarut, Miami Somerset Academy <strong>YOUTH Kicking Champion</strong> <strong>2025 –</strong> Vaughn Lennon, Fort Myers Cypress Middle School <em>In addition to those standouts, here is a listing of all who took part in this always competitive and well run showcase:</em> 2022 – GianCarlo Abbate, K/P, Miami Christian 2022 – Thomas Abood, K, Naples Community School 2022 – Matt Ahmed, K/P, Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian Academy 2023 – Rowe Allen, K, Miami Christopher Columbus 2022 – Zach Alvarez, K, Miami Monsignor Pace 2024 – Quinn Anderson, K/P, Sarasota Riverview 2023 – Samir Atassi, K/P, Plantation American Heritage 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32749" first="Brooks" last="Bak"], LS, Tampa Plant 2021 – Jackson Beebe, K/P, Naples Gulf Coast 2022 – Alejo Beteta, K, Miami Belen Jesuit 2022 – Aaron Bickerton, K/P, Naples Gulf Coast 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32750" first="Matt" last="Bosset"], LS, Daytona Beach Seabreeze 2021 – Ethan Boulanger, K/P, Coconut Creek Monarch 2022 – Colin Boyd, K/P, Bradenton Braden River 2022 – Brandon Bush, K, North Fort Myers 2022 – Matthew Campbell, K, Naples Barron Collier 2022 – Caleb Carlson, K, Miami Ransom Everglades 2022 – Colton Castillo, K, Naples 2022 – Chris Cayton, K/P, Fort Myers Cypress Lake 2021 – Jake Delaney, LS, Naples Gulf Coast 2022 – Allesandro Di Clemente, K, Parkland Douglas 2022 – Everest Ferrell, K/P, Delray American Heritage 2021 – Destin Fillmore, LS, Naples Barron Collier 2021 – Gavin Galloway, LS, Ooltewah East Hamilton, Tennessee 2021 – Jose Garcia, K, Belle Glade Glades Central 2022 – Peyton Giersbrook, K, Boca Raton 2023 – Jeffrey Hernandez, PK, Coconut Creek 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32719" first="Joshua" last="Lopes"], K/P, Doral Academy 2021 – Carlos Mar, K/P, Fort Myers Riverdale 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32734" first="Christopher" last="Maron"], P/K, Plantation American Heritage 2022 – Brandon Matson, K/P, Apopka 2021 – Hector Molero, K, Pembroke Pines Flanagan 2022 – Ethan Moncada, K, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic 2022 – Mason Motto, K/P, Daytona Beach Seabreeze 2022 – Javier Novoa, K, Miami Christopher Columbus 2021 – Andrew Piercy, K/P, Warrenton Kettle Run, Virginia 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32742" first="Alejandro" last="Prado"], K/P, Miami Christopher Columbus 2022 – Sebastian Pucher, K, Greenwood Village Arapahoe, Colorado 2022 – Bailey Russell, K/P, Fort Myers 2022 – Steve Shore, K/P, Lake Worth Park Vista 2022 – Trey Stephens, K/P, Acworth North Cobb, Georgia 2021 – Drake Tabor, K, Birmingham Spain Park, Alabama 2020 – William Schade, K, Sunrise Piper 2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32766" first="Kade" last="Wehby"], LS, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 2021 – Luke Wheatley, K/P, Venice 2021 – Carson Wilt, K/P, Delray Atlantic 2022 – Grant Woodfin, K, Galena Worthington Christian, Oklahoma 2023 – Colin Young, K, Lutz Steinbrenner 2021 – Leo Zuazo, K, Miami Northwestern <strong><em>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <a href="mailto:Foridakids1@aol.com">Foridakids1@aol.com</a>. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>