Columbus boys’ volleyball, All-American wrestlers, local track & field and more
The Miami Columbus boys’ volleyball team won the GMAC Tournament, and Miami Doral Reagan was the runner-up.
This marks the third GMAC boys’ volleyball title for the Explorers (21-2).
Columbus defeated Reagan 25-18, 25-21 in the finals.
In the semifinals, the Explorers beat Miami High 25-22, 25-20 and in the quarterfinals, defeated Doral JC Bermudez 25-18, 25-19.
Top performers for Columbus were Lucas Riva (22 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs); Daniel Rubi (10 kills, 1 ace, 5 digs); Matias Claure (9 kills, 10 blocks, 1 dig); Charlie Friguls (67 assists, 1 kills, 2 aces, 3 blocks, 9 digs); and Matthew Fernandez (21 digs, 1 assist, 2.5 passer rating).
For the Bison (15-3), they beat Miami Southwest 27-25, 25-22 in the semifinal and Miami Palmetto 26-24, 25-23 in the quarterfinal.
▪ GMAC Championship: Columbus d. Reagan 25-18, 25-21: Col: Lucas Riva 8 kills, 2 digs, 8 serve received; Daniel Rubi 4 kills, 8 serve received; Marco Blavia 3 kills, 3 digs, 7 serve received; Matthew Fernandez 6 digs, 10 serve received; Matias Claure 3 kills, 2 blocks; Dante Munecas 3 kills, 1 block, 1 ace; Charlie Friguls 20 assists, 2 digs, 1 kill, 1 block. Rea: Yeison Gonzalez 11 kills, 17 serve received; Diego Cobena 4 kills, 13 serve received, 3 digs; Diego Requena 21 assists, 4 kills; Gabriel Arias 3 kills, 1 block. Col 21-2, Rea 15-3.
▪ GMAC Semifinal: Columbus d. Miami High 25-22, 25-20: Lucas Riva 14 kills, 2 blocks, 1 assist; 14 serve received; Matias Claure 6 kills, 8 blocks; Dante Munecas 4 kills, 3 digs; Daniel Rubi 3 kills, 11 serve received, 3 digs; Matthew Fernandez 11 digs, 1 assist, 8 serve received; Charlie Friguls 25 assists, 3 digs, 2 blocks; Marco Blavia 6 serve received, 3 digs. Col 20-2.
▪ GMAC Semifinal: Reagan d. Southwest 27-25, 25-22: Yeison Gonzalez 7 kills, 11 serve received, 4 aces, 2 blocks; Diego Cobena 6 kills, 22 serve received, 2 assists; Diego Requena 21 assists, 3 kills, 2 blocks; Gabriel Arias 3 kills, 4 blocks; Santiago Mejias 10 serve received, 7 digs, 2 aces. Rea 15-2.
▪ GMAC Quarterfinal: Columbus d. JC Bermudez 25-18, 25-19: David Conde 7 kills, 2 aces, 3 digs, 12 serve received; Matthew Fernandez 8 serve received, 4 digs; Diego Claure 5 kills, 2 serve received; Emilio Sierra 5 serve received, 2 assists; Cole Crep 5 kills; Charlie Friguls 22 assists, 4 digs, 2 aces; Kevin Fernandez 3 kills, 1 block, 2 aces, 7 digs. Col 19-2.
▪ GMAC Quarterfinal: Reagan d. Palmetto 26-24, 25-23: Yeison Gonzalez 15 kills, 10 serve received, 4 digs, 2 blocks; Michael Perez 6 kills, 9 digs; Diego Requena 25 assists, 2 blocks; Zhayed Lacruz 4 kills, 2 blocks. Rea 14-2.
More boys’ volleyball
▪ Columbus d. Palmetto 25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18: Dante Muñecas 17 kills, 3 blocks, 3 aces, 3 digs; Daniel Rubi 13 kills, 6 digs, 2.4 passer rating; Matias Claure 9 kills, 3 blocks, 1 assist; Matthew Fernandez 2 assists, 3 aces, 8 digs; Kevin Fernandez 6 kills, 1 ace, 4 blocks, 1 dig; Lucas Riva 11 kills, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 9 digs; Charlie Friguls 52 assists, 1 kill, 5 digs. Col 22-2.
▪ Reagan 3, True North 25-21, 25-20, 29-27: Yeison Gonzalez 15 kills, 11 serve received, 3 aces, 8 digs; Diego Requena 31 assists, 3 blocks, 2 kills; Michael Perez 7 kills, 7 digs, 3 blocks; Diego Cobena 7 kills, 20 serve received; Santiago Mejias 17 serve received, 14 digs; Gabriel Arias 4 kills, 3 blocks. Rea 16-3.
Wrestling nationals
Peter Mocco of Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons won freshman nationals in wrestling at 195 pounds during the 36th annual NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Mocco, who won BCAA and districts and was runner-up at regionals and state, went 5-0 at nationals, beating opponents from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Montana and Ohio. For his efforts, he earned All-American status.
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Prior to nationals, he was 48-2 in his freshman season for the Chiefs. Last season, he won a state title as an 8th grader for Coral Springs Charter at 190 pounds.
Mocco was recently named first team on the Miami Herald All-Dade Wrestling Team.
In the girls’ competition, Willow White of Homestead South Dade capped off an undefeated high school season with a national championship at 120 pounds.
White, a Miami Herald All-Dade first team selection, won districts, regionals and state, while going undefeated at 39-0. At nationals, she was 4-0, beating opponents from Kentucky, Virginia, Montana and Kansas to become a champion All-American.
Also earning All-American honors at nationals were:
Boys: Rocco Ruiz (Columbus freshman) 6th at 132 pounds; Gabriel Ortiz (Southwest freshman) 8th at 220; Lazaro Soto (Southwest sophomore) 6th at 113; Gary Mendez (Mater Academy junior) 7th at 106; Frankie Florio (Cardinal Gibbons senior) 6th at 160; Myron Mendez (Southwest senior) 3rd at 220.
Girls: Beyonce Espinosa (South Dade) 2nd at 114; Isis Severe (North Miami) 2nd at 126; Victoriya Devochkina (South Broward) 7th at 145; Ariana Blanc (Stoneman Douglas) 8th at 165; Kenzie Barrett (South Dade) 8th at 235.
Track & field
The Miami Carrollton girls’ track & field team has some standouts, gearing for the postseason.
Arianna Garcia is ranked No.1 in the state in Class 2A in the 100 hurdles and the 400 hurdles.
Daniela Hernandez is ranked No.1 in the state in 2A in the 800 and No.5 in the 1600.
Grace Aldrich is ranked No.2 in the state in 2A in the 1600 and No.4 in the state in the 3200.
The 4x800 relay is ranked No.1 in the state in 2A and ranked 4th nationally.
The 4x400 relay is ranked No.2 in the state in 2A.
Last season the Cyclones finished in the Top 10 at state for the first time in program history. This season they are projected to battle for the state title with Monteverde.
The Miami Columbus boys’ track & field team is also preparing for a postseason run.
Some top performers are: Remington Goin (Javelin) 55.52m; Sergio Hernandez (Javelin) 53.14m; Gianluca Padilla (Discus) 52.5m, (Shot Put) 15.84m; 4x100 relay team 40.82 seconds; 4x400 realy team 3:13; 4x800 relay team 7:56; Shaddai Carter (Long Jump) 7.19m; Adrian Cardero (400) 47.57; Bryce Fitzgerald (100) 10.68; Adrian Cardero (200) 21.41; Zamario Lawson (200) 21.46, Ajavion Willis (200) 21.50; Alexander Lopez (800) 1:56.
At Coral Springs Taravella, freshman Patricia Costa recently ran a personal best 14.11 in 100m hurdles to become the top freshman in the county in that event.
Her rankings are as follows: Broward: 4th overall and 1st freshman. State: 15th overall of all classifications and 3rd freshman.
On the boys’ side, the Trojans 4x800 relay team (sophomore Scardy Fils, senior Elijah Vessells, freshman JahRee Pierre, senior Akeem Beckford) is a Top 10 (No.8) team in the state in 4A and Top 20 in the state overall (No.19).
Benjamin Joseph (High Jump) has a season best 1.95m (6-4).
Water polo regionals
▪ GIRLS: Region Semifinals: Gulliver Prep 16, Miami Beach 4: Sophia Kingston (junior) 5 goals, 5 steals, 2 earned exclusions; Kathleen Serig (senior) 4 goals, 3 steals, 1 assist; Isabella Ten-Have (sophomore) 1 goal, 6 steals, 2 assists; Emma Preston (freshman) 2 goals, 4 steals. GP 23-1.
▪ GIRLS: Region Quarterfinals: Gulliver Prep d. Miami High (forfeit): GP 22-1.
▪ BOYS: Region Quarterfinals: Gulliver Prep 10, Columbus 7: Matthew Preston (junior) 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 steals; Patrick Gardner (senior captain) 3 goals, 4 earned exclusions; Juan Sebastian Ibarra (junior) 11 blocks; Sebastain Piedra (junior) 1 goal, 2 assists, 7 steals. GP 15-8.
Baseball
District 16-6A Semifinal: Doral Academy 12, Miami Beach 2: Jadyn Nunez 3-3, HR, 3 RBI; George Pardo 2-2, HR; Gabriel Milano 2-3, 3 R; Winning Pitcher Aaron Elissalt 4 IP, 1 ER, 3 K. Dor 20-5-1.
Softball
Braddock 16, Coral Park 5 (5 inn,): Winning Pitcher Veronica De La Torre; Braelen Cintron 5-5, 5 RBI; Emely Ramirez 3-3, 5 R, 2 RBI; Catherine Fuerte 3-4, 3 RBI. Brd 12-5.
Braddock 12, Ferguson 10: Winning Pitcher Emely Ramirez 5 K; Braelen Cintron 1B, 2 RBI; Veronica De La Torre 1B, 2 RBI; Catherine Fuerte 1B, 2 RBI. Brd 11-5.
Send 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
This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 12:52 AM.
