This South Dade High School wrestling champion captured the Mr. Wrestling Award

One month after reeling in a seventh consecutive state title in Kissimmee, the accolades were not done yet for the South Dade wrestling team.

On Monday, the Florida Dairy Farmers named its annual Mr. Wrestling Award for the top wrestler in the state and South Dade’s Bretli Reyna was the winner.

The award capped off a remarkable four year career at South Dade as Reyna finished with a career record of 229-8.

Last month, when he defeated Lukas Forehand from Wellington 21-6 in the 145 pound final, Reyna became the second wrestler in South Florida (Dade and Broward counties) to win four consecutive state titles and the first to win all four at the same school.

Reyna, who is headed to University of Iowa in the fall, joined Earl Hall, who did it from 2008-2011, the first year at Homestead, the next three at South Dade.

“I’m extremely proud to be named Dairy Farmers Mr. Wrestling in Florida,” Reyna said. “To be included with the best of the best in Florida wrestling history is such an honor. Many hours of hard work went into accomplishing what I did in high school and it’s awesome to be recognized for it.”

Reyna is the third South Dade wrestler to win four state titles joining Hall and Brevin Balmeceda (who won four in a five-year span) who won the Mr. Wrestling award last year and is now at Oklahoma State.

“What an honor for our program,” said South Dade coach Vic Balmeceda, who was named Dairy Farmer’s Class 3A Coach of the Year. “For a second consecutive year, we have a wrestler win the Dairy Farmers Mr. Wrestling award. This year the state of Florida really had some exceptionally talented wrestlers too which is a true testament to Bretli’s character and success.”

The team championship marked South Dade’s seventh consecutive state title extending the second-longest consecutive streak in state history (Brandon won 17 in a row from 2001-17) and the program’s 15th championship overall.