How to nominate and vote for The Palm Beach Post’s Athlete of the Week
The Post’s Athlete of the Week is back for the 2025-26 school year. Here’s a look at how to nominate athletes and vote in polls.
- Joey Iaciofano’s runner-up finish at the state golf championship led Oxbridge Academy to its first state title in any sport.
- Iaciofano and the Thunderwolves aim to repeat their success this season, focusing on a “new year” mentality.
- Coaches praise Iaciofano’s blend of lightheartedness and serious skill on the course.
- Iaciofano’s strong performance last year boosted his confidence and led to top finishes in other tournaments.
Few prep athletes get to experience that dream moment where they play a key role in helping their school win its first state championship.
Joey Iaciofano considers himself among the lucky ones. His runner-up finish at last yearâs state golf championship propelled Oxbridge Academy to its initial state title â in any sport.
âThat means a lot to me,â Iaciofano said. âIâll never forget that moment when we were all standing around the 18th green. We were all so happy congratulating each other. Itâs something youâll never forget.â
Iaciofano hopes heâs not finished making those forever memories. The junior has two more chances to lead the Thunderwolves to another state championship and add a second banner to the schoolâs gymnasium.
Oxbridge returns all its key players from last season, giving the Thunderwolves ample reason to believe they can once again upstate neighborhood rival Benjamin as Palm Beach Countyâs premier boys golf program. But they also need to put last seasonâs success in their rear-view mirror.
âWe canât get too caught up in winning last year,â Iaciofano said. âAs soon as last year ended, the coaches kept telling us, âWeâre on to next year.â This is a completely new year, and our mindset is we havenât won anything. We need to pretend like this would be our first state title.â
If the Thunderwolves are to make another run at a state title, co-head coaches Dan McLellan and Jonah Del Villar believe Iaciofano will play a key role.
âJoey brings some lightheartedness to the team,â McLellan said. âBut when itâs time to get serious, he can put up some great numbers.â
Last yearâs runner-up finish helped ignite Iaciofanoâs game. He finished fourth in the Junior Orange Bowl International Championship. He enters the high school season coming off a pair of top-10 finishes in the Bubba Conlee Junior Golf Tournament (third) and Visit Tuscaloosa Junior Championship (T7).
âPlaying that well at state really helped,â he said. âI had some top finishes and a lot of rounds under par. That course (Mission Inn Resort) is so difficult …if I can play well there, I can play well anywhere.
âI feel really good about my game. Iâm coming off some good tournaments this summer. One of the main goals is to win districts or regionals individually. I know if I play well, the team is going to win.â
Thereâs always shots golfers want back. He had a chance to get in a playoff at districts last year, but missed a 2-foot putt. He also had two three-putts in the final round at states last year, and he finished two behind champion Luke Gossett.
But that was last year. Heâs focused on this season, hoping it will be another banner season.
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