Spring Football: Everglades Prep

Everglades Prep football head coach Ryan Nani stood on the school’s field, looking over his young team during spring football.

  Under the heat of a South Florida afternoon, Nani knows his team has a lot of work to do before their first season of district play.

  Additionally, Nani’s Panthers have to prepare for a more immediate foe, with their spring football game against Hillel fast approaching.

  “We have a lot of young talent that has showed up this year,” said Nani. “Last year we had only a handful of kids and that’s what happens when you’re a first-year program. Now that we are in a district, more players want to play here and succeed.”

  Indeed, Everglades Prep is just one of three second-year programs who will be entering district or conference play in a talent-rich South Dade region.

  The Panthers will join fellow second-year program and local rivals Somerset Silver Palms in District 16-3A with Chaminade Madonna and Westminster Christian.

  “Playing in a district also helps get our kids some exposure, and that is really important to help kids get some looks for college,” Nani added.

  The other third year team, Miami Community Charter, will join the Florida Independent Football Conference alongside Hillel, Highlands Christian, Palmer Trinity, and Pinecrest Prep.

  “It gives us something to play for,” said Nani. “These guys now have a definite goal.”

  Last year saw Everglades Prep shine at times while showing their youth and inexperience at others.

  Victories against Pinecrest Prep and Miami Community Charter impressed onlookers, while defeats to Keys Gate and Somerset Silver Palms showed the program still has room to grow.

  With the spring football season comes a growth in the team’s experience.

  Known for being a quiet home for players with great speed, Everglades Prep hopes to position itself as a program for skill players as well.

  “Someone like Orlando Perez who is already fast, but now has put on some weight and has gotten a lot strong is a guy we can turn to in order to be a leader,” said Nani.

  So great is the influx of talented players to Everglades Prep that some of last year’s starters will be in tough battles to retain their starting positions.

  “We just have so many young guys coming out here to try out that everyone has to compete for their spot on the team,” Nani stated.

  The look of Everglades Prep is one of potential success, but Nani is wary of making lofty predictions.

  “We play Keys Gate in the first game of the year, and that’s a team we really want [to beat],” Nani said. “They’re our local neighbors, and playing a team like that only helps both programs grow.”

 Below, Everglades Prep assistant coach Rey Ramnerine gives direction to a player during spring practice. Photo by Chris Green