Twan Russell, Dave Hyde being honored

Seven people to be inducted Oct. 23

Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Twan Russell and South Florida Sun Sentinel sports columnist Dave Hyde highlight a group of seven people who will be inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame on Oct. 23.

Other members of the Class of 2018 are Rocky Gillis, Melvin Randall, James Reilly, Claire Sua-Amundson and Seilala SuaZumbado.

Hyde has been a sports columnist at the Sun Sentinel since 1990. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, he has covered three Heat, two Marlins and four University of Miami championships. Fifteen times Hyde’s writing has been named in the top 10 of the Associated Press Sports Editors annual national contest.

Russell played his high school football at St. Thomas Aquinas and was also a track and field state champion in the 300-meter hurdles. The linebacker played for the University of Miami before he was picked in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. His seven-year NFL career included three seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2002-02), and he currently serves as youth programs ambassador for the team.

Sisters Sua-Amundson and Sua-Zumbado dominated the South Florida high school landscape during their time at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Sua-Amundson was a softball standout for the Raiders and helped lead the team to a 32-1 record along with a berth in the 2000 Class 5A state tournament.

Sua-Amundson started playing as a seventh-grader at Hollywood Christian and then transferred to St. Thomas, and she was a sixtime Sun Sentinel All County player as a pitcher and hitter.

Also in 2000, Sua-Zumbado competed in discus at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. She later competed in the 2004 Games in Athens as well. She won three state titles in discus while she was at St. Thomas. She was All-County in volleyball, track and field and softball in 1995-96.

Broward County Athletic Director Gillis, a Pompano Beach High alum, has dedicated the past 16 years working for the Broward County Athletic Association. The former Iowa State running back and receiver returned to South Florida following his college stint and went on to serve as both a coach and teacher at Pompano Beach and Blanche Ely.

Randall has coached high school basketball teams for

25 years and is an eighttime state champion. He won his most recent title this past March as the coach of Blanche Ely, which brought his total to five state titles with the school. With 553 wins in his career, Randall also remains the only coach to led Deerfield Beach to state titles, which he did in 1997 and 1999.

Reilly is the tournament director for the Kreul Classic, which is one of the longest-running high school basketball tournaments in Florida. Last season’s Kreul Classic marked the 28th year of the tournament and featured 36 teams from nine different states.

The ceremony will be held at the Broward County Convention Center, and tickets can be purchased by calling 954-767-2455 or going to sunny.org/ sport shall of fame.

Hyde