Lou Groza Awards: High School Nominations

WEST PALM BEACH – Earlier today (Nov. 12), ESPN West Palm Beach revealed the nominees for the 33rd Annual Lou Groza High School Awards.

Set to be held on Monday, Dec. 9 at the West Palm Beach Marriott – 7:30 p.m. official banquet start time – a total of four categories will be highlighted. They are as follows:

•Lou Groza High School Player of the Year

•Lou Groza High School Placekicker of the Year

•Lou Groza High School Coach of the Year

•Lou Groza High School Team of the Year

For these categories, several Palm Beach County high schools were represented from as far west as Glades Central to as far south as West Boca Raton and as far north as Jupiter.

Here are the nominees right below:

LOU GROZA HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

•Atlantic (Delray Beach) ‘25 wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann

•Benjamin ‘26 running back Phoenix Donghia

•King’s Academy ‘27 linebacker Levi Champion

LOU GROZA HIGH SCHOOL PLACEKICKER OF THE YEAR

•Santaluces ‘27 kicker Cristian Clavijo

•Palm Beach Central ‘25 kicker/punter Ethan Dagostino

•Jupiter ‘25 kicker/punter Brogan Woeber

LOU GROZA HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR

•Glades Central head coach Omar Haugabook 

•Royal Palm Beach head coach Chuck Kenyon

•Palm Beach Central head coach Kevin Thompson

LOU GROZA HIGH SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR

•Atlantic (Delray Beach)

•Cardinal Newman

•West Boca Raton

RECENT LOU GROZA HISTORY

For starters, we have two previous winners as nominees this year.

In the Lou Groza High School Coach of the Year category, Thompson won the prestigious honor in 2022. His first year as a head coach was a historic one of sorts, as he led Palm Beach Central to its best season in school history. The Broncos reached the Class 4M state semifinal round and finished the 2022 season with an astounding 12-2 record.

Meanwhile, in the Lou Groza High School Team of the Year category, Cardinal Newman is attempting to become the first team in Palm Beach County history to win the most prestigious honor of all for three consecutive years. The Crusaders have won Team of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Next up, we have another previous two-time Team of the Year winner as a nominee this year. Atlantic (Delray Beach) has won Team of the Year in 2015 and 2018.

And finally we have a first-time Lou Groza High School Coach of the Year nominee who won the Lou Groza High School Player of the Year honor in his heyday. As the starting quarterback for Glades Central, Haugabook would go on to win this prestigious individual honor in 2003.

TEAMS REPRESENTED: 2024 LOU GROZA HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS 

•Atlantic (Delray Beach) and Palm Beach Central: two nominations each as co-leaders in Palm Beach County

•Benjamin, Cardinal Newman, Glades Central, Jupiter, King’s Academy Santaluces, West Boca Raton: one nomination each

FUN FACT

For the first time in at least recent memory, one senior, one junior, and one sophomore was nominated for the Lou Groza High School Player of the Year award. This shows us that our area talent at the top spreads evenly through multiple classes.

FINAL THOUGHT

We have seen surprise winners before in this most prestigious awards ceremony. Have an open mind as any nominee can walk away with the Lou Groza hardware.

PHOTO CREDITS: ESPN West Palm