Gulliver Schools to induct alumni & coaches into Athletic Hall of Fame
A professional football star, Olympic basketball player and National Triathlon Team member along with two-championship title winning school coaches will be inducted into Gulliver’s 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 19.
The late Sean Taylor, who graduated in 2001 and went on to play football for the University of Miami and the Washington Redskins, will be honored posthumously. Inductees are former U.S. National Triathlon Team member Gina Derks Gardner, class of 1990, and professional basketball player and Olympian Sylvia Fowles, class of ‘04. Athletic Director Mark Schusterman and Boys’ Varsity Soccer Coach Jorge Dieppa also will be inducted for their dedication in shaping Gulliver athletes for 30 years and 25 years, respectively.
With more than three decades of athletic heritage, it is with great pride that Gulliver formed the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
Spearheaded by the Athletic Department and the Alumni Association, the Hall of Fame was established to permanently recognize and honor coaches, administrators, student athletes, athletic teams and friends of the athletic program of Gulliver Schools who have made significant contributions to the advancement and reputation of the athletic program while demonstrating a high degree of sportsmanship, leadership and character.
The Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at the school’s Preparatory Campus, 6575 N. Kendall Dr. Tickets are $50 a person and tables of 10 are available for $500.
To be a sponsor and to order tickets for the event, go online to www.gulliverschools.org/halloffame contact Jeri Volpe, special events coordinator, at [email protected] or 786-709-4082.
THE INDUCTEES:
Gina Derks Gardner (‘90) was Gulliver’s first female athlete to receive the Miami-Dade Athlete of the Year Award for excelling in swimming, track and cross-country. Gina competed at The University of Texas at Austin on full scholarship in cross-country and track-and-field events, winning honors in the Southwest Conference and nationally. After graduation, Gina gravitated to the world of triathlon, where strong showings at national and international events earned her a spot on the U.S. National Triathlon Team.
Jorge Dieppa for the last 25 years has brought his enthusiasm and love of athletics and education to Gulliver. Coach Dieppa served as the head coach for boys’ varsity soccer for 20 years, as well as the director of the entire soccer program for five of those years. He also spent numerous hours mentoring thousands of students as coach of the golf team and boys’ track team, specializing in the pole vault and long jump events. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to athletics, he was selected as the “Soccer Coach of the Year” twice by The Miami Herald and inducted to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008.
Sylvia Fowles (‘04), a gold medal winner at the 2008 Olympics, is in her fourth year as a member of the Chicago Sky basketball team. In 2010, Sylvia was named to the WNBA All-First Team and was a member of the Gold medal winning USA team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. While at Gulliver, she led the Raiders to the class 3A state championship in 2004. During this time, Sylvia earned All-American honors from McDonald’s and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Throughout her career at Louisiana State University, she helped lead the Lady Tigers to three Southeastern Conference regular season titles (twice with perfect league records) and four NCAA Final Four appearances.
Mark Schusterman has dedicated himself for more than 30 years to the development of Gulliver athletes across the entire spectrum of high school sports. He served as the Gulliver Middle School athletic director for 13 years and as the director of athletics for Gulliver Schools for the past six years. He has personally coached cross-country, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, football, softball and girls’ volleyball. Coach Schusterman’s many accolades include being named National High School Coach’s Association Softball Coach of the Year in 2012, National Softball Coach of the Year in 2011 by ESPN Rise, The Miami Herald Dade County Coach of the Year for Female Sports in 2001, and Florida Dairy Farmers Softball Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2012. He was inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Sean Taylor (‘01) was a star in track, basketball and football for Gulliver. During his senior year, Sean helped Gulliver win the Florida Class 2A State Football Championship as a running back, defensive back and linebacker. Considered the No. 1 prospect in Miami-Dade County by The Miami Herald, he attended the University of Miami on a football scholarship. In 2004, Sean was the NFL’s No. 5 draft pick, joining the Washington Redskins as a free safety where he made his mark as one of the hardest-hitting players in the league. In 2007, Sean was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team. Later that year, he was tragically killed. He received numerous posthumous awards, including induction into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame. The football field at Gulliver Prep was renamed Sean Taylor Memorial Field.
