Gibbons’ Mocco and South Broward’s Sylvestre are the Broward Wrestlers of the Year
Both Cardinal Gibbons’ Michael Mocco and South Broward’s Latoya Sylvestre visualized their goals for this past season.
And then they each made them reality.
Mocco, already one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state, put together another great season and finished undefeated for the first time in his high school career.
Sylvestre, a state qualifier earlier in her career, reached the podium for the first time after finishing fourth at state in her weight class.
As such, Mocco and Sylvestre are the Miami Herald’s Broward County Wrestlers of the Year.
Mocco went 43-0 and repeated as a state champion - this time in the 215-pound weight class - earned the honor on the boys’ side.
He was one of the best in the state once again and turned things up even more in the postseason as he finished off all 12 of his postseason matches in the first round, sweeping through districts, regionals and state.
“It was definitely one of the goals for me,” Mocco said. “I had some tough tournaments out of state which put more pressure on me, but that was good for me. I accomplished one of my main goals.”
Mocco continues to get better and credited that to a consistent approach on the mat that doesn’t change no matter who the opponent.
“Just learning to wrestle everybody the same way,” Mocco said. “I just wanna keep having fun and not look past anybody.”
Sylvestre is also developing similar consistency and saw a breakthrough this past season.
After coming close to placing as a freshman and sophomore, she went 28-2 and secured BCAA, district and regional championships along the way before placing fourth in the girls’ 190-pound weight class.
Sylvestre has three brothers, who have all been athletes and wrestled in high school. But she is the first in her family to achieve such success, and said she is motivated to take things a step further next season and claim her first state title.
“I felt like I put in more work this season than my freshman and sophomore years,” Sylvestre said. “I qualified last year, but didn’t place. This year I made a goal for myself that I wanted to be on the podium. I just worked for it and just waited for the outcome.”
