Wrestling preview: South Dade, Somerset lead the way in what could be dominant year
This season could mark a Dade/Broward sweep in terms of wrestling state titles.
In 2024, South Dade High, a Class 3A school located in Homestead, won its 19th (traditional) state title, including 11 in a row.
Meanwhile, Somerset Academy, located in Pembroke Pines, won the Class 1A state title, edging Miami’s Mater Lakes, 146½ to 142. It was Somerset’s second championship in four years.
This year, however, Somerset – with a loaded roster – has been moved up to 2A due to the school’s slightly-elevated enrollment.
So … South Dade is a virtual lock to win in 3A; Somerset will have a shot in 2A; and Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons and Mater Lakes hope to fill the void in 1A.
Here’s a closer look:
CLASS 3A
The South Dade Bucs have had four wrestlers who each won four individual state titles: Earl Hall, who wrestled at Iowa State and is now coaching at Northern Colorado; Sawyer Bartelt, who currently wrestles for Iowa State; Bretli Reyna, now at Tennessee Chattanooga; and Brevin Balmeceda, a two-time NAIA national champion at Life.
All those Bucs legends have been replaced, and the same will happen with the five state champs who graduated from South Dade last spring.
“At every program I know,” South Dade coach Vic Balmeceda said, “if you lose five state champs and one state runner-up, you will struggle.
“But, at South Dade, we have a factory now. We have a GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) factory.”
The Bucs this season will be led by the Solis brothers. Senior Elvis Solis (150 pounds) and freshman Jovani Solis (138) are both two-time state champs. Both of them are All-Americans, and Jovani has a chance to leave the prep ranks as a six-time state champ.
South Dade can also boast junior Bryan Morales (106), who was a state champ last season and a national runner-up in the summer.
Nathaniel Williams (132) and Tyree Graham (157) finished second at state last season, and three Bucs teammates earned All-American status this past summer: Armand Williams (144); Jonathan Moreno (175); and Nicholas Santiago (190).
“I’m critical of my wrestlers,” Balmeceda said. “But they always do better than I think they can.”
CLASS 2A
Somerset trailed Mater Lakes by 24½ points to start the final day of the 2024 state finals.
But Kendrick Hodge – who is now a freshman starter at Division I Campbell University – scored a pin in Somerset’s final match, earning the state title for his school.
Somerset also graduated two other state champs, but coach Joe Blasucci said he has an even better squad this season.
“We should have at least 10 guys place at state this season,” Blasucci said. “We have seven guys who are ranked No. 1 or No. 2 at state in their weight class.”
Somerset’s top wrestlers include seniors Eric Hodge (157); Luis Bellon (150); and Bluny Davilma (175).
Hodge has a scholarship offer from NCAA Division II power Lander. Bellon is a four-time state-placer, and Davilma finished fifth at state last season while wrestling for Jackson.
Somerset also returns two brothers who missed last season: junior Tristan Sainz (144) and senior Michael Sainz (165).
In addition, junior Mateo Martinez (190) arrives as a transfer from South Broward, where he finished fifth at state; and eighth-grader Matteo Gonzalez (132) is a star in the making. He finished third at state last season.
That’s plenty of talent.
Unfortunately for Somerset, the competition will be rugged. Jensen Beach, which won 1A state titles in 2022 and 2023, has also moved up to 2A.
In addition, Tampa Jesuit remains in 2A after winning two state titles in the past three years. And then there’s Lakeland Lake Gibson, which has won four state titles in 2A since 2018.
CLASS 1A
Cardinal Gibbons (16-3, sixth at state) returns three state champs: junior Michael Mocco (215 pounds), his brother, freshman Peter Mocco (190); and senior Frankie Florio (157).
Gibbons added senior 144-pounder Andrew Isek, a two-time state placer in Colorado.
THIS AND THAT
▪ American Heritage will be led by Armando Wisdom (44-3), who will compete at 157 or 165 pounds. He’s a three-time district champ and a 2023 state qualifier with more than 150 wins in his prep career.
▪ Coral Reef will be led by senior 215-pounder Greg Gonzalez (district runner-up, state qualifier) and junior 138-pounder Elijah Almonte (GMAC placer).
▪ Florida Christian, which brought wrestling back in 2021 after dropping the program in 2013, will be led by senior Dylan Gonzalez (157 pounds) and junior Leonard Trejos (120). Trejos last year became the school’s first district champ since 2012.
▪ North Miami will be led by senior 165-pounder Adonis Severe, who finished eighth at state last season. He is currently ranked second in the state.
▪ Keys Gate (5-3) will be led by senior 126-pounder Matthew Davila (50-10 record) and senior 150-pounder Andy Leiva (35-13).
▪ Varela (10-10, eighth at regionals) will be led by senior 144-pounder Jordan Pineda, who is a reigning district and regional champ. But Varela is young at the lower weights with four or five freshmen starting.
GIRLS’ WRESTLING
▪ South Broward (4-2) is deep with 22 wrestlers. The team will be led by junior Latoya Sylvestre, an All-American 190-pounder; and senior Nicole Arroyo (110 pounds).
▪ Coral Reef will be led by sophomore Paula Moya (120-pounder) and freshman Isabella Offenburger (110-pounder).
(Editor’s note: Every school that returned a form was included in this preview.)