South Dade’s Solis and North Miami’s Bethel are the Miami-Dade Wrestlers of the Year
At a school with a history replete with dominant wrestlers, Elvis Solis left his own mark this past season.
And at North Miami High, Mya Bethel completed a remarkable championship run during a time when she helped put girls’ wrestling on the radar in the state of Florida.
Solis and Bethel - both seniors - are the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade County Wrestlers of the Year.
Bethel just finished up a stellar career in which she never lost and went 104-0 over four seasons. Bethel capped it this season by winning her fourth state championship, securing the title this season at 155 pounds.
Bethel, who entered the state meet ranked No. 2 nationally in her weight class, is a four-time GMAC, district and regional champion as well.
Her dominant run comes at a time when girls’ wrestling, sanctioned in recent years by the Florida High School Athletic Association, is seeing its participation numbers grow and more female wrestlers achieve success.
In the classroom, Bethel is also dedicated as she has maintained a 3.5 weighted GPA.
“I had to go all out,” Bethel said after the state meet. “It was a good fight from the girls but at the end of the day there is only one, and that is me.”
Solis finished his career with a state championship in Class 3A at 144 pounds after going 53-0 for the season.
Solis was one of six individual state champions for South Dade, which won its 12th consecutive state title in the individually-bracketed tournament format and 20th overall. This was Solis’ third consecutive state title since transferring to the Bucs.
Solis will try to carry over that success to the next level as he has signed to wrestle in college at Kent State.
“I achieved a lot in my high school career, traveling around the country and working hard and carrying on a legacy,” Solis said. “Ever since I started wrestling, I knew I was going to go to South Dade and it helped improve my wrestling, conditioning, mental preparation, everything.”
