In one of the most bizarre stories in high school sports history, Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) graduate Guerdwich Montimere, 22, was arrested on Tuesday in Odessa, Texas after allegedly posing as a 16-year-old high school sophomore named Jerry Joseph.
Montimere, who played basketball for Permian (Odessa, Texas) (most notably known from the football movie “Friday Night Lights”), was charged with failure to identify himself to a police officer. According to Ector County sheriff’s Sgt. Debbie Bruce, Montimere, a U.S. citizen from Haiti, posted $500 bond Wednesday.
After his release on Wednesday, Montimere then turned himself in to the Ector County Sheriff’s Office after he was arrested a second time on third-degree felony charges of tampering with government documents. He was released on Thursday evening after he posted $7,500 bond.
The 6-foot-5 guard, who graduated from Dillard in 2007, was noticed at an amateur tournament in Arkansas last month by two Florida basketball coaches who knew him from his days at Dillard. Louis Vives, the coach of the South Florida Elite boys’ AAU team, and Boyd Anderson assistant coach Cedric Smith were two of the coaches who spotted Montimere and couldn’t believe their eyes.
“I was hoping I was wrong because he was one of our kids,” Vives told the Sun-Sentinel. “He grew up in our system. He played with us and you don’t want any of your kids to go in the wrong direction in any way. But what’s right is right. He can’t go around impersonating a 16-year-old kid. He can’t go living his youth all over again.”
Montimere, who averaged 20 points per game and led Permian to the state playoffs, had enrolled at a junior high in Odessa as a 15-year old immigrant from Haiti in February 2009. Shortly after, he began living with Permian boys basketball coach Danny Wright after he told Wright he was homeless.
If convicted of the misdemeanor, Montimere could face a maximum of six months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. As a result of his actions, Permian may also have to forfeit its season.
Aquinas alum named to 2010 World Cup team
Former St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) standout Alejandro Bedoya, 23, was selected to be on Team USA’s 30-player roster this week and will have a chance to play in this year’s World Cup held in South Africa. Bedoya, who led St. Thomas to the Class 5A state title in 2005, will report to Princeton, N.J. on Saturday for practice. The last time any player from Florida’s south region was selected to play for the United States World Cup team was in 1990 (Eric Eichmannn, also from St. Thomas Aquinas, and Neil Covone, from Miami). Bedoya will still have to prove his worth among some of the nation’s best as the roster will be cut to 23 players on June 1.
Reynolds makes history
Sophomore sprinter Robin Reynolds, a track and field standout at Jackson (Miami), won three individual state titles this past weekend to break the Miami-Dade County all-time record for most individual championships with seven. Reynolds won the long jump (18-10 1/2), the 100 (11.79) and the 400 (54.02). Last year, Reynolds made national noise after winning state titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump as a freshman. Reynolds will test her stride at the Junior World Olympics in August.
Riggs continues dominance
For the second year in a row, Cody Riggs from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) won a state title in the 300 meter hurdles. After missing six weeks with a stress fracture in his left ankle, Riggs, arguably the nation’s top hurdler, helped the Raiders secure a third consecutive state championship (the first in Class 4A) after winning the 300 hurdles with a career-best time of 36.44, also a national best this season. Before his injury, he also clocked the nation’s best time of 36.51. Riggs was also an All-American defensive back for St. Thomas and signed with the University of Florida.
TIP Award
This week’s top individual performance award goes to Northwestern (Miami) track star Robin Reynolds, who broke the Miami-Dade County all-time record for most individual state championships with seven. Reynolds is a sophomore.
Others
Stephen Fernandez, Westminster Christian (Miami), baseball, hit a grand slam to help the Warriors beat Florida Christian (Miami) in the Class 2A seminfials.
Mike Klement, American Heritage (Plantation), baseball, led the Patriots to a 7-1 win over Coral Springs Charter after going 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI.
Andres Perez Lobo, Columbus, baseball, led the Explorers to a 5-0 win over South Dade (Homestead) after pitching a one-hitter and striking out 10 batters in the 6A semifinal.
Jenny Garcia, Braddock (Miami), softball, led her team to its first trip to the state tournament after pitching a five-hitter with five strikeouts in a win over Goleman [Barbara] (Miami).
Marqueshia Stallworth, Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee), girls track and field, won her second straight Class 4A triple jump title after jumping 40-9, a personal best, at the State Track and Field Championships.
Chucky Vazquez, American (Hialeah), baseball, hit a grand slam and connected for the game-winning two-run single to help the Patriots advance to the regional finals for the first time in the school’s history.
Northwestern (Miami), girls track and field team, won its fifth state championship in six seasons and compiled a Miami-Dade County-best seventh overall. The feat came after the Bulls secured their second straight title by winning in the Class 4A finals.
