Posted on Tuesday, 11.17.09
WRESTLING PREVIEW
American leads the way as Miami-Dade's top wrestling team
The race is on to crown Miami-Dade's best wrestling team, and the Patriots are leading the pack.
Related Content
KEY MEETSDec. 4: 14th Annual Cougar Invitational at Durant High in Plant City.
Dec. 5: Hialeah-Miami Lakes Duals.Dec. 11: 4th Annual Wildcat Tournament at Western.Dec. 11: Kowboy Kup Duals at Kissimmee Osceola.Dec. 19: Barron Collier Duals at Naples.Dec. 28: Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman Tournament VIII at Oviedo High.Jan 9: Jim Graves Wrestling Tournament at Brandon High School.Jan. 22-23: GMAC tournament.Feb. 1-6: Districts.Feb. 12-13: Regionals.Feb. 19-20: State championship at The Lakeland Center.2008-09 STATE CHAMPIONSClass 3A: Kissimmee Osceola; Class 2A: Brandon; Class 1A: Fort Myers Riverdale.SUPER SEVENEarl Hall, South Dade, Jr., 112Mark Gulesian, Columbus, Jr., 112Esteban Gomez-Rivera, Belen, So., 112Armani Harris, American, Sr., 119Leo Santibanez, American, Sr., 145Mardel Gabriel, Doral Academy, Fr., 145Luis Pimentel, American, Sr., 215OTHERS TO WATCHQuintavian McPhearson, South Dade, Sr.; Josh Turner, Hialeah-Miami Lakes, Sr.; Matt Noffo, Columbus, Sr.; Leo Miller, American, Sr.; Franklin Espinoza, Sunset, Sr.; Robert Rojas, South Dade, So.; Christian Perez, American, Jr.; Luckner Philogene, North Miami Beach, Sr.; Wilfred Perez, Sunset, Sr.; Miller Cherenfant, North Miami Beach, Jr.; Normando Harris, Pace, Sr.; Justin Cook, Palmetto, Jr.; Chris Molina, Varela, Sr.; Marcus Abedelo, American, Sr.; Alex Wethy, Columbus, Sr.; Justin McCray, Southridge, Sr.; Mike Klekotka, Palmetto, Sr.; Theirry Bruno, Pace, Sr.OUTLOOKS -- CLASS 3A1. AMERICAN (Coach Ron Osorio/Yoemniz Baez, 3rd year at AM, 9th overall). Last year: (3rd at state). Top wrestlers: Leo Santibanez (145), Sr.; Armanni Harris (119), Sr.; Luis Pimentel (215), Sr.; Leo Miller (125), Sr.; Chris Perez (135), Jr.2. SOUTH DADE (Coach Victor Balmaceda, 17th year, 198-15). Last year: 29-2 (2nd at state). Top wrestlers: Earl Hall (112), Jr.; Shiquan Hall (103), Fr.; Quintavian McPhearson (125), Sr.; Andres Montero (140), Jr.3. COLUMBUS (Coach Jim Husk, 5th year at COL, 42nd overall, 723-82-4). Last year: 23-2 (5th at state). Top wrestlers: Mark Gulesian (112), Jr.; Matt Noffo (119/125), Sr.; Alex Wethy (2850, SR.; Nick Martin-Hidalgo (140/145), Sr.4. PALMETTO (Coach David Soderholm, 21st year). Last year: 27-2 (34th at state). Top wrestlers: Justin Cook (160), Jr.; Juan Barrios (130), Sr.; Mike Klekotka (215), Sr.; Quinn Hoffman (140), Sr.5. SOUTHWEST (Coach Joel Mendez, 10th year). Last year: 10-2 (28th at state). Top wrestlers: Andres Garcia (135), Jr.; Nosomy Pozo (103), Fr.; Alex Laguardia (112), So.; Eddie Rodriguez (171), Jr.6. BRADDOCK (Coach Saul Tejada, 16th year). Last year: 13-7 (6th at state). Top wrestlers: Bryan Berrio (112), Jr.; Ramiro Rojas (145), Jr.; Danny Oger (135), Sr.; Joel Vannucci (189), Sr.7. SOUTHRIDGE (Coach Ken Johnson, 6th year, 69-23 overall). Last year: 10-6 (23rd at state). Top wrestlers: Justin McCray (285), Sr.; Tramone Williams (171), Sr.; Khadeem Stanton (125), So.; Thomas Clark (130), Jr.8. VARELA (Coach Daniel Alvarez, 1st year). Last year: 16-12 (49th at state). Top wrestlers: Chris Molina (160) Sr.; Carlos Diego (103), Jr.; Kevin Alzate (152), Sr.9. CORAL PARK (Coach William McDonnell, 2nd year at CP, 26th overall). Last year: 6-10. Top wrestlers: Royshawn Hunter (160), Sr.; Ares Barrios (112), Jr.; Michael Perez (189), Sr.; Alvaro Pereiro (125), Jr.10. GOLEMAN (Coach David Labi, 6th year). Last year: 26th at state. Top wrestlers: Kevin Fernandez (160), Sr.; Alex Gonzalez (135), Sr.; Diego Lopez (119), So.; Luis Gonzalez (189), So.11. KROP (Randy Qualitza, 3rd year). Last year: 9-12. Top wrestlers: Bahr Mintz (145), Sr.; Giovane Biassou (125), Jr.; Josh Sarmiento (171), So.; Diego Pagola (160), Jr.12. REAGAN (Coach Josh Bocks, 1st year). Last year: 12-6. Top wrestlers: Jorge Mendez (119/125), Sr.; Carlos Florez (112), So.; Claudio Martinez (285), Jr.; Mariano Reol (160/171), Sr.CLASS 2ABELEN (Coach Fidel Albelo, 16th year at BEL, 30th overall). Last year: 12-3 (11th at state). Top wrestlers: Esteban Gomez-Rivera (112), So; Randy Mompremier (189), Jr.; Christopher Arguello (285), Jr.; Andres Castro (135), Jr.CLASS 1A1. MONSIGNOR PACE (Coach Frank Pelegri, 14th year). Last year: 22-1 (3rd at state). Top wrestlers: Normando Harris (171), Sr.; Theirry Bruno (285), Sr.; Chris Nunez (145), Sr.; Arthur Nelson (103), Jr.2. WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN (Coach Scott Babun, 4th year, 19-23-2). Last year: 2-8. Top wrestlers: Alberto Salabarria (140), Jr.; Nate Pritchett (189), Sr.3. DADE CHRISTIAN (Coach Hector Martinez, 1st year). Last year: 4-10. Top wrestlers: Tyler Martinez (119); Christian Augustin (145); Daniel Torino (103); Nestor Aguier (135).BY MELISSA MARTI
Miami Herald Writer
It will be a three-horse race with a few others following closely behind for Miami-Dade County's top wrestling team distinction this season, as matches and duals begin this week.
``This could be the tightest race [for the team title] in a long time,'' American coach Ron Osorio said. ``We are the best team, but there are a few other real strong teams that have a legitimate shot of winning. It's that close. If it's not us, I wouldn't be surprised to see South Dade or Columbus at the top.''
Osorio and co-head coach Yoemniz Baez have their Patriots atop the county pack, followed by South Dade, Columbus, Palmetto and North Miami Beach closely behind. The Buccaneers finished second at last year's FHSAA state meet and the Patriots were third, but it is American that brings back the most dangerous lineup.
``American is the strongest team in the county,'' South Dade coach Victor Balmaceda said of his northern end rival.
Armanni Harris, Leo Santibanez, and Luis Pimentel look to lead the Patriots to their first GMAC and regional title.
``Baez and I have always taught our guys to be those get in and get out kind of wrestlers,'' Osorio said. ``We don't want to toy with you, we want to dominate you from the start.''
The trio all came up short last season at the state meet, as they all garnered runner-up medals in Lakeland.
``The guys have worked hard all offseason in preparation for this season and our last shot at the crown,'' Osorio said.
Though the Patriots are Dade's top team and shot at the 3A title, American took a lump to its lineup in the offseason as defending heavy weight state champion Henry Chirino transferred to perennial power Brandon.
Brandon, highly-ranked in every national poll, also moves up to Class 3A this season, in hopes of knocking off the Dade power grip.
For South Dade, 112-pounder Earl Hall is the lone returning state champ. The junior is a two-time winner and will be looked upon to lead the young Bucs. Slated to crack the lineup for South Dade is Hall's younger brother, Shaquan, who will fill his older siblings void at 103.
``The bottom line is, on paper, we had one of the best teams ever, including an All-American [Kendrick Sanders],'' Balmaceda said.
Balmaceda's past wrestling teams have made South Dade's program one of the most successful in Dade history as evidenced by the multiple state and region championship banners hanging in the Buccaneers gym.
Columbus is Dade's third-ranked team, returning three state qualifiers -- including runner-up Mark Gulesian, fourth-place finisher Matt Noffo and Alex Wethy. Gulesian should be the Explorers most influential wrestler.
Coach Jim Husk has yet to see one of his Explorers atop the podium in Lakeland, but believes this year's squad has a few names that can make a run.
``Mark, Matty or Alex all have a good shot this year, but they have to come out and beat the best,'' Husk said.
The county also returns some top places from last year's state meet in Josh Turner (Hialeah-Miami Lakes), Esteban Gomez-Rivera (Belen), Franklin Espinosa (Sunset), Nick Alvarez (Florida Christian), and Mardel Gabriel (Doral Academy).
Join the discussion
The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.
RSS|
My Yahoo|
Newsletters|
Widgets|
Mobile|
Alerts|
Twitter
Terms of Service| Privacy Policy| About our ads| Copyright| About The Miami Herald| About the McClatchy Company| Corrections| Contact Us| Advertise
Partners: El Nuevo Herald| Newspaper in Education| WLRN | Miami Herald News| CBS4 WFOR-TV| More
Copyright 2010 Miami Herald Media Co. All rights reserved
@Nyx.replyAnswerText@