Moccos earn All-American wrestling honors. Golfer Rodriguez excels for Team USA
After Gable Steveson won wrestling matches, big matches -- including winning an Olympic gold medal -- he would celebrate with a backflip. Peter Mocco, who will be a sophomore at Cardinal Gibbons High School, took it to another level recently. After winning gold in the Greco-Roman Boys’ 16U Division (190 pounds) at the 2025 US Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, Mocco did a one-handed cartwheel into a backflip.
Mocco stuck the landing as his Team Florida teammates cheered wildly.
Mocco, a two-time Miami Herald All-Broward first team selection, dominated by going 6-0 at junior nationals.
In the finals, he defeated William Etu of Virginia by technical fall (12-3).
To reach the medal round, Mocco beat Brody Hoffman of Wisconsin by technical fall (9-1); Denny Allgood of Indiana by technical fall (8-0); and Brecken Wacholz of Minnesota by decision (7-0).
In the quartefinals, he beat Ibrahim Zaky of Virginia by technical fall (8-0), and in the semifinals, he beat Kannon Freschette of Washington by technical fall (10-0).
Earlier, Mocco placed third in freestyle in Boys 16U (190 pounds) at junior nationals.
After a bye, he beat Morgan Neill of Washington by pin (30 seconds); Frankie Pieffer of Ohio by decision (6-0); and Marco Casillos of Illinois by techincal fall (10-0).
In the quarterfinals, he beat Braylen Bieber of Iowa by decision (10-1). In the semifinals, Mario Hutcherson of Pennsylvania handed him his only loss of the tournament (freestyle and Greco-Roman) by decision (10-6).
Mocco rebounded by beating William Etu (again) of Virginia by technical fall (10-0) and Frankie Peifer (again) of Ohio by close decision (2-1).
Older brother, Michael, was also third in freestyle in Junior Boys (285 pounds) at junior nationals.
After a bye, Michael beat Carter Engebretsen of North Dakota by pin (1:21); Isaiah Taylor of Pennsylvania by technical fall (10-0); and Ashton Honnold of Iowa by technical fall (11-0).
In the quarterfinals, he beat Jacob Levy of Lake Highland, Florida by technical fall (10-0). In the semifinals, Coby Merrill of California defreated Mocco by decision (9-4).
Michael bounced back to beat Dean Bechtold of Pennsylvania by technical fall (10-0) and Mark Effendian of Pennsylvania by decision (5-2).
For their efforts, the Mocco brothers earned All-American honors. Michael is a three-time Miami Herald All-Broward first team selection and two-time Miami Herald Wrestler of the Year. Michael, a former junior national champ in freestyle and Greco-Roman in the Boys’ 16U Division, is also a three-time high school state champ (FHSAA), entering his senior year at Cardinal Gibbons. Prior, Michael was third at state as an 8th grader at Coral Springs Charter. Peter won state as an 8th grader for Coral Springs Charter and was runner-up last season for Cardinal Gibbons. The Moccos reside in Parkland. They represent (South Florida’s) Mocco Wrestling Academy and Cardinal Gibbons High School. Their dad, Steve, is the wrestling coach for American Top Team, an award-winning MMA training center in Coconut Creek, where Mocco Wrestling Academy (for all ages, male and female) is based.
International Golf
Lorenzo Rodriguez, a 2025 Belen Jesuit HIgh School grad, helped lead Team USA to a runner-up finish (silver medal) at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan.
Rodriguez, who won the FHSAA Class 2A state title in 2023 and was third in 2024, is a two-time Miami Herald All-Dade Boys’ Golfer of the Year.
He was selected for Team USA to compete at the prestigious annual tournament at Chukyo Golf Club (Par 71 - 6843 yards) in Toyota City. It is golf’s only global junior team championship, featuring top players from six continents. He joins an illustrious group of past participants which include current PGA Tour stars like Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, and Hideki Matsuyama—making it a key milestone in the careers of many future professionals.
Rodriguez placed fifth overall and was the only player in the field to record two bogey free rounds. He had three of four rounds under par, finishing at 12-under 272 (73-68-66-65). He was one of two Americans to place in the Top 5. Brooks Simmons of the University of Texas was third at 17-under. Colombia’s Tomas Restrepo was first at 19-under.
Japan won the tournament, two strokes better than Team USA. France was third, followed by Korea, Colombia and England. Canada, Mexico and New Zealand tied for seventh. South Africa was 10th, Morocco 11th and Chile 12th.
In the girls’ competition, Team USA was third, one stroke better than Team Canada. Thailand edged Japan by one stroke for the championship.
Rodriguez will be a freshman golfer this season at NCAA Division I Wake Forest University, a member of the ACC in Winston Salem, North Carolina.
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM.
