All-Area flag football: Brigitte Zavithsanos, Palm Beach Gardens

Saturday, June 04, 2011
by Paul Ivice

No matter where Brigitte Zavithsanos plays, chances are the Palm Beach Gardens sophomore will find a way to stand out.

Zavithsanos gained 2,238 all-purpose yards and was involved in 35 touchdowns - 16 rushing, 14 passing and five receiving. At safety on defense, she made 17 interceptions and 23 flag pulls. She also was the kicker for the Gators, who finished the season 14-2.

"You can put her at any position, and she would excel," Palm Beach Gardens coach Jim O'Connor said. "She's not only a playmaker, but a leader in practice because of how hard she worked."

O'Connor said it is unusual for a sophomore to be named a team captain, but she earned the distinction "because of the way she played and the way she practiced."

As a freshman, Zavithsanos was a wide receiver until quarterback Victory Radonovich was injured. Zavithsanos played the final five games at quarterback.

With Radonovich recovered this season, O'Connor installed a two-quarterback offense that gave the Gators' offense an extra dimension.

"We've got different things that worked," he said, including pitches and misdirection plays run out of the same formations as their other plays to confuse defenses.

Zavithsanos, also a point guard on the Gators' basketball team, said: "I like defense because I can read the ball, but I don't really care whether it's offense or defense, I just like to play."

"She's a clutch player," O'Connor said, noting that Zavithsanos led the Gators downfield for a touchdown in the final minute of the state semifinal game against Tampa. The team fell short by an extra point.

"Brigitte is one of those players any coach would want," O'Connor said.

FIRST TEAMS

Cyntrice Hester

Palm Beach Gardens

Jr. Rusher

Her quickness at the line, which resulted in 57 sacks and many more hurries, was a major factor in the Gators' run to the state semifinals.

Kelly McWilliams

Boca Raton

Sr. WR/CB

A strong two-way player for the Bobcats, scoring 28 touchdowns and 20 extra points on offense and grabbing seven interceptions and 51 flags on defense.

Michelle Harmon

Royal Palm Beach

Sr. QB/S

Led the Wildcats on offense with 2,378 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns, also made 10 interceptions on defense .

Michelle Valero

Seminole Ridge

So. WR/S

Gained 1,086 yards on 75 catches, including 10 touchdowns, and made eight interceptions, including one returned for a TD.

Morgan Lauer

Seminole Ridge

Fr. QB/WR/LB

The versatile freshman returned eight of her 12 interceptions for touchdowns. Out of 66 touches on offense, she gained 1,124 all-purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns.

Shannon Caspar

Jupiter

Sr. WR/LB

The Warriors' leading receiver caught 61 passes for more than 400 yards and seven touchdowns, including game-winner against rival Dwyer. On defense, she made three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Moniesha Williams

Boynton Beach

So. QB/WR/RB/DB

On offense, the versatile sophomore scored a total of 25 touchdowns rushing, passing, receiving and returning kicks, and contributed 14 interceptions and 34 flag pulls on defense.

SECOND TEAM;

Patricka Moreland

Royal Palm Beach, Sr.

Alicia Hines

Dwyer, Sr.

Megan Pino

Jupiter, Sr.

Victory Radanovich

Palm Beach Gardens, Jr.

Ashante Doby

Palm Beach Central, Jr.

Bianca Lagos

Seminole Ridge, Jr.

Mary Trebitz

West Boca Raton, Jr.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Jim O'Connor

Revamped his offense to install plays accenting a dual-quarterback alignment. That helped drive the Gators to a 14-2 record and the state semifinals, giving O'Connor a 101-15 record in his nine years at Palm Beach Gardens. The two quarterbacks, junior Victory Radonovich and sophomore Brigitte Zavithsanos, accounted for 58 touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving.

HONORABLE MENTION

Boca Raton – Veronica Cordoba; Boynton Beach – Avante Atwaters, Sharneisa Robinson, Taylor Wood; Dwyer -- Gericca Christian; Jupiter -- Kelly Jones, Morgan Lear; Lake Worth – Dominique St. Juste; Olympic Heights – Deanna Abbruzese, Raquel Llenas, Darien Witherspoon; Palm Beach Central – Sara Radja, Alex Passanante, Sarah Beinstein, Ashlee Pryer; Palm Beach Gardens – Shaqua Davis, Kesaan Dormand, Kristen Durham, Izzy Phillips; Park Vista -- Kristin Hatcher; Royal Palm Beach – Jessica Murphy; Santaluces: Essence Williams; Seminole Ridge – Alexa Wilhelm, Katlyn Oliver; Suncoast – Hilariann Tribble; Wellington – Jennifer Eboli, Jesse O'Keefe, Michaela Piven; West Boca – Tatiana Coleman.