Four locals earn All-American wrestling honors, including a first for Mater Lakes Academy
A member of Team Florida, Ethan Vergara of Miami earned All-American honors in freestyle wrestling in the heavyweight division during nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
Vergara, 17, who will be a senior at Mater Lakes Academy in Hialeah, placed seventh of 70 wrestlers from throughout the country. He is the first Mater Lakes Academy wrestler to become an All American.
“I honestly feel I could have done better,” Vergara said. “My first three matches I wrestled the best I’d ever wrestled. The fourth match I did not wrestle my best. I’m still happy with how I performed. I think going back to nationals next year I will do a lot better.”
Vergara was scheduled to compete at nationals in Fargo last year, but Covid canceled the event.
So Plan B.
“I took an opportunity to have knee surgery on June 18 [2020], and I went through rehab and was feeling better,” said Vergara, who wrestled through some discomfort his sophomore season.
“When I was wrestling my sophomore year, some days it was OK. Sometimes I had to pop my kneecap back in place. After the surgery and rehab, I felt more secure going into my junior season. It worked out better.”
It sure did.
Vergara was the 2021 FHSAA Class 1A state champion at heavyweight/285 pounds. He ended the season with an impressive 39-3 record. As a sophomore in 2020, he placed fifth at state.
At the recent nationals in Fargo, Vergara went 5-2 over three days in freestyle. The top eight finishers were named All American.
Vergara also wrestled in the Greco Roman tournament at nationals. He went 4-2 in two days of competition but did not qualify for the All-American rounds.
Mater Lakes Academy assistant coach JD Ramsey accompanied Vergara at nationals. Ramsey helped coach Team Florida.
Vergara said: “Him being there for me was a huge plus, and he also helped the other wrestlers, too.”
Ramsey said: “I think that’s the sign of the competitor he really is, to never be satisfied, Hopefully this secures him a spot in the national rankings. It does a lot for the exposure of him and our club, getting our first All American. I’m super proud of him. He puts the work in each and every day. He’s earned the right to be called All American.”
Team Florida featured around 100 athletes and coaches. Wrestlers ranged from age 15-18.
A few more South Florida wrestlers from Team Florida also excelled at nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
Vincent Biondoletti (Coral Shores High School) was seventh at 106 pounds in Greco Roman.
Sebastian Melguizo (Southwest High School) was eighth at 126 pounds in freestyle.
In the 16-and-under division, Sawyer Bartelt (South Dade High School) won nationals at 195 pounds in Greco Roman and was fifth in freestyle.
Bartelt, Biondoletti and Melguizo earned All-American honors, too.
“You have to credit an improving wrestling community in South Florida and in Florida, improving our stock on the national scene,” Ramsey said. “With the rise of MMA, the kids are understanding wrestling is a big part of it, and [wrestling is] the one that can get you a college scholarship.”
The MMA scene in South Florida is ultra hot with outstanding training centers like American Top Team, MMA Masters Miami and Sanford MMA, featuring tremendous coaches and fighters.
Vergara is planning to compete in the Super 32 Challenge, an outstanding wrestling tournament in October in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Vergara and Coach Ramsey are also part of the Golden Bears Wrestling Club, under the direction of Mater Lakes Academy wrestling coach Brandon Neifeld. The club works with middle school and high school aged wrestlers.
Bartelt, Biondoletti and Melguizo are members of Gladiators Wrestling Club, which is led by Humberto Reyna, an assistant coach for South Dade High School wrestling.
Golf award and tournament
Jennifer Lilly of Pembroke Pines received a $20,000 scholarship this summer from Bob Toski during the eighth Toski Junior Golf Tournament at Boca Grove Golf & Tennis Club in Boca Raton.
A 2021 graduate of Archbishop McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, she will play golf for Nova Southeastern University in Davie.
The scholarship is based not only on golf but also scholastic ability and community service.
In the tournament, Aiden Arce, 15, of Davie won the boys’ championship with a 3-under 69. He plays golf at American Heritage School in Plantation.
Heidi Christensen, 18, of Coral Springs fired 76 to win the girls’ title. She is a 2021 graduate of Pompano Beach High School and will attend the University of Florida in the fall.
New coaches and award winners
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have new hires, or coaches and athletes who won special awards (local, state, regional, nationals), email hssports@miamiherald.com. Varsity only.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
