Cardinal Gibbons wrestler Michael Mocco wins world title. Plus cross-country, football results
Cardinal Gibbons junior Michael Mocco continued his ultra-impressive wrestling journey by winning his first international competition.
Mocco, representing Team USA, won gold in freestyle at 240 pounds during the U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.
Mocco went 4-0, defeating Yedige Kassimbek of Kazakhstan by technical fall (10-0) in the gold medal match. He celebrated his first world gold medal with a back flip.
Mocco won all four matches by technical fall. In addition to Kassimbek, he beat Mukhamad Gantemirov (Azerbaijan) 16-6, Yaraslau Kokhan (from the team of Russian and Belarusian athletes) 11-0, and Gigia Lukunidze (Georgia) 10-0.
Mocco helped Team USA finish first of 37 countries.
Mocco qualified for the U.S. team by winning U17 freestyle nationals at 215 pounds during the Pritchard Companies U.S. Open this summer in Las Vegas.
He trains at the Mocco Wrestling Academy at the award-winning American Top Team in Coconut Creek. His father, Steve, leads the academy and is also the wrestling coach for MMA professionals at American Top Team. Steve was a highly-decorated amateur wrestler -- collegiately, nationally and internationally.
Michael Mocco won consecutive state titles at the FHSAA State Tournament his freshman and sophomore seasons for Cardinal Gibbons. As an eighth grader at Coral Springs Charter, he finished third in the state. He is a three-time Miami Herald All-Broward first-team selection and a Miami Herald All-Broward Wrestler of the Year.
Representing Team Florida in 2023, Michael Mocco won nationals in freestyle and Greco Roman at the USMC 16U National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota.
Cross-country
The highly-decorated Belen Jesuit boys’ cross-country program started the season by winning the Cecil Field Summer Classic in record fashion in Jacksonville.
This is the first time the Wolverines made this trek for one of the largest races in the state.
Belen sophomore Marcelo Mantecon led the field of 294 runners, covering the two-loop 5K run in a course-record 15 minutes and one second. He improved his personal best by more than 14 seconds and was 23 seconds ahead of runner-up Jonathan Pena of Westminster Academy.
The Wolverines averaged 15:32, making it one of the fastest average team times to start the season in school history.
Belen scored 23 points, placing five runners in the top seven. In a distant second of 37 teams was Gainesville Buccholz High School with 200 points.
For the Wolverines, Mantecon was first overall in 15:01; Marco Prieguez fourth in 15:36; Diego Magarino fifth in 15:37; Joseph Socarras sixth in 15:40; and Justin Ruiz seventh in 15:42. Armando Cruz was ninth in 15:47.
Westminster Academy placed third at 249. Pena was second overall in 15:24; Tanner Pritchard 11th in 15:50; Lucas Latimore 58th in 16:54; Tyler Pritchard 77th in 17:14; and Scott Sanok 101st in 17:31.
Braddock took fifth at 284. Mauricio Escalona was 25th in 16:19; Lucas Knight 56th in 16:53; Jhonny Felix 62nd in 16:58; Jacob Castanedo 66th in 17:01; and Luccas Torres 75th in 17:12.
Kevin Aguilar of Mater Lakes Academy was 33rd in 16:31.
In the girls’ division, Lourdes was fourth of 31 teams at 174 points. Lucia Castillo-Rios was 17th in 19:36; Alessandra Perez 24th in 19:54; Cristina Sanchez 26th in 19:54; Daniella Fraga 42nd in 20:22; and Kylie Fernandez 65th in 21:07.
St. Johns Creekside won the girls’ competition with 99 points, followed by Ponte Vedra (135) and Ocala Vanguard (155).
Braddock was eighth at 285 points. Kayla Fenney was 21st in 19:41; Madison Chin 53rd in 20:43; Lauren Avila 55th in 20:46; Martina Buitrago 59th in 20:52; and Heather Rubio 97th in 22:05.
Westminster Academy was 18th at 471 points. Eugenia Fantoni was 38th in 20:15; Noelle Richardson 40th in 20:18; and Karlynn Cordano 104th in 22:17.
Isabella Fernandez of Mater Lakes Academy was 46th in 20:34.
Football
The Archbishop Carroll football team began its season with a 14-7 victory over host Florida Christian.
The Bulldogs rushed for 340 yards on 42 carries. Running back Josh Rivera had 18 carries for 165 yards. Kelcey Parrish added 110 yards on 14 carries. Will Secola and Max Rodriguez each scored.
Defensively, Carroll was led by Isaiah Suarez (4 tkls, 3 solo, 1 TFL), Jonas Taylor (4 tkls, 2 solo, 1 TFL) and Sebastian de la Pava (2 tkls, 2 TFL). The Bulldogs will play ABF Academy on Friday at Archbishop Carroll.
FC: Cordell Gibson 5 car for 23 yds and 1 TD; Armando Polier 2 rec for 48 yds; Sebastian Prado 13 tkls, 4 solo; Sam Stemmer 10 tkls, 2 solo; Seth Porch 7 tkls, 3 solo, 1 TFL.
True North 28, TRU Prep 6: Kareem Brown 120 all purpose yds, 3 car for 51 yds, 6 rec for 69 yds and 2 TDs; Miguel Martinez 6 solo tkls, 3 asts, 1 sack, 4 TFL; George Harris Jr. 4 car for 24 yds, 2 rec for 22 yds, 1 TD, 1 TFL, 1 ast, 2 pass def.; Andy Lopez 4 asts, 1 sack (16 yds), 1 Int (23 yd return), 1 TD; QB Lamech Rucker 12-of-18 for 117 yds and 3 TDs.
Submit high school sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. Send after the game, the next day or weekly. You will be alerted when it will appear in the newspaper and online.
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Roundup compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
