Even among its numerous champions, there is room for an underdog story on the South Dade wrestling team.

South Dade senior Javier Carbajal, a career junior-varsity wrestler before this season, won his first major varsity championship at the Region 4-3A meet Saturday night at the Ronald Reagan High gym.

Along the way, he provided the inspiration for South Dade, which cruised to the Region 4-3A championship with 216 points. South Dade finished 37.5 points ahead of American, which advanced eight wrestlers to next week's state championships in Lakeland. Columbus finished third and qualified five wrestlers, as did Palmetto.

South Dade will try to add to its Miami-Dade County-record eight team state championships. In addition to its county rivals, South Dade will have to contend with Kissimmee Osceola and Oviedo, each of which advanced eight wrestlers to state.

South Dade qualified nine wrestlers, and had the most regional champions at Saturday's meet with five.

Carbajal was the unexpected champion, upsetting American's Armani Harris to win the 112-pound title. Harris, a third-place finisher at state last year, won GMAC and district titles in his weight class this season.

Carbajal was hugged by his coaches and teammates after the match.

Two weeks ago, Carbajal had to earn his chance to compete in South Dade's postseason lineup. Coach Vic Balmaceda said Carbajal beat former state qualifier Quintavian McPherson twice in practice.

'We constantly have those `wrestle-offs' to let our kids challenge each other for a chance to wrestle,'' Balmaceda said. ``We felt like, here's a kid that has paid his dues for four years and has finally earned the right to wrestle for this team on the big stage. And he showed everyone the kind of desire he has.''

After scoring four points in the first period, Carbajal hung on to win 4-1 by not giving Harris a chance to take him down during the final two periods.

''That meant a lot to me because it made me feel I had accomplished something good,'' Carbajal said. ``I had wrestled him before so I came in with a plan. In the final round, I stayed low and didn't let him rattle me.''

Braddock's Eric Chandler found himself alone in the Miami-Dade County record books again, becoming the county's first four-time regional champion.

Chandler dominated the 125-pound championship match against Sunset's Franklin Espinosa, winning 15-7. Chandler will try to cap his career by winning his third state championship next week in Lakeland. Only seven other Dade wrestlers have accomplished the feat.

South Dade's Kendrick Sanders can join Chandler with a victory next week.

Sanders pinned Hialeah's Jose Balboa 2:15 into the 145-pound championship match, making him a three-time regional champion. Sanders has pinned all of his opponents in the postseason.

Also for South Dade, Wilson Metellus (135), Earl Hall (103) and Willie Wiggins (215) became two-time regional champions.

American's heavyweight Henry Chirino remained the county's lone undefated public school wrestler, improving to 35-0 with a 1:13 pin of Columbus' Alex Wethy. Chirino was joined by David Castillo as American's regional champions.

RESULTS

• Team scores: 1. South Dade 216; 2. American 178.5; 3. Columbus 119.5; 4. Hialeah-Miami Lakes 114; 5. Braddock 105.5; 6. North Miami Beach 79; 7. Palmetto 76.5; 8. Southridge 70; 9. Sunset 62; 10. Southwest 60.5; 11. Homestead 57; 12. Varela 50; 13. Miami High 38.5; 14. Goleman, Miami Springs and South Miami 33; 17. Hialeah 31; 18. Coral Park 22; 19. Miami Beach 19; 20. Krop 14.5; 21. Carol City 14; 22. Northwestern 10; 23. Killian 9; 24. Coral Gables and Coral Reef 7; 26. Ferguson 6; 27. Central 4.

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