South Florida wrestling teams look to follow up state title sweep with another
Vic Balmeceda has ridden off into the sunset – literally.
Balmeceda, the coach who led South Dade High to 27 state titles – including an active streak of 11 straight IBT (Individual Bracketed Tournament) championships – has retired and is preparing for a European cruise with his wife and some friends.
In his absence, however, the local wrestling scene is still vibrant as a South Florida school is the reigning state champion in all three classes. There’s South Dade in Class 3A, Somerset in 2A and Mater Lakes (1A). Here’s a closer look:
SOUTH DADE
The Bucs, now coached by Humberto Reyna, will be led this season by seniors Bryan Morales, Kaleb Williams, Guillermo Jaramillo and Tyree Graham. Sophomore Jovani Solis and juniors Armand Williams and Jonathan Moreno are also in the mix.
Morales, who won a state title in 2024, is an interesting case.
“He had a growth spurt last season and fell short to the scale,” Reyna said. “Bryan is now back and fully committed to training.”
Jaramillo, a returning state champ, has a scholarship to Life University. Solis is already a three-time state champ. And Armand Williams and Graham, a Southridge transfer, are also returning state champs.
In addition, Kaleb Williams and Moreno finished second at state last season.
SOMERSET ACADEMY
Coach Joe Blasucci has won five state titles, which is believed to be the most among South Florida’s active wrestling coaches.
Blasucci, 53, is entering his 15th season at Somerset. He has led the Panthers to IBT state titles in 2021, 2024 and 2025. He’s also won dual-meet state titles in 2021 and 2024.
Wrestling is in his blood. His brothers both wrestled in college – Vic at Purdue and Mike at North Carolina State. And their father, Vic Sr., was a high school wrestling, football and track coach in New Jersey and Florida.
Even so, when Joe Blasucci arrived at Somerset in 2010, there wasn’t even a program yet.
“We didn’t have uniforms,” he said. “We didn’t have mats. … But I’m a general contractor. I’m a builder.”
Somerset, which graduated just three wrestlers from last season’s championship squad, has added a transfer from South Broward, senior Sage Suarez, who finished eighth at state in 2025. Somerset also returns two state champs: seniors Mateo Martinez and Tristan Sainz.
Either Suarez or Martinez will wrestle at 190 pounds. The other will compete at 215, and Sainz slots in at 157.
Martinez just won a national title in the USA preseason tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Sainz family is a story onto itself with four brothers coming through Somerset’s program. Mike won a state title as a senior last season. Tristan, as mentioned, is a champion. Carlos was second at state last season as an eighth-grader (126 pounds). And sixth-grader Caio (106 pounds) could be next.
MATER LAKES
Coach Brandon Neifeld, who started the Bears wrestling program in 2012, led his squad to two state titles last season – duals and IBT.
Mater Lakes returns four individual state champs: sophomore Keagan Mesina (120); senior Kellen Mesina (113); junior Ethan Tran (126); and senior Kalias Nazario (165).
In addition, junior Christopher Greene was a state runner-up (138). And, three more Bears placed at state: sophomore Mason O’Dell (150); senior Darian Vargas (190); and sophomore Bruce Li (144).
Neifeld said he was “having fun” when he started the Bears program. But as the kids improved, things got more serious.
“I like teaching kids,” Neifeld said. “But I also want to win, and we now have a good core group of wrestlers.
“We want to repeat.”
MORE BOYS’ WRESTLING
- Cardinal Gibbons, which finished third at state in Class 1A, returns the Mocco brothers. Senior Michael Mocco (285 pounds) is a three-time state champ. Sophomore Peter Mocco (215) was a state runner-up.
- North Miami will be led by senior Charly Sainteus, Ferlens Frederic and Athlens Henri and also junior Sandley Dorvilus. Sainteus is the team’s only returning state qualifier.
- St. Thomas Aquinas will be led by returning heavyweight Chase Goodrich, who made it to the quarterfinals at state last season. Seniors Vince Williams, John Myher and Zach Lerner were also regional qualifiers.
- Cooper City will be led by senior Chase Brightup, who was a BCAA runner-up last season.
- Braddock is seeking to get back among the elite teams in Miami-Dade County and will be led by senior Janmichael Broche, a state qualifier last season, and senior Donte Gaiter, a regional qualifier.
- Cypress Bay returns a young group that should remain among the more competitive in Broward. Senior Timo Nikolopoulos, a district runner-up last season, leads the Lightning along with senior Mason Gonzalez and junior Max Rodriguez.
- Belen will be led by seniors Jose Romano (190) and Rafael Scott (215). Romano, a terrific athlete, went 22-7 last season. Scott went 37-14. Overall, this is perhaps the deepest team in program history, and that includes more than 30 middle-school wrestlers.
- Florida Christian returns two state qualifiers: senior Leonardo Trejos (126) and junior Eric Hospedales (215). Trejos has a 100-14 career record and was a regional runner-up last season. Trejos started wrestling in the eighth grade, which is when Florida Christian brought back the program after an eight-year hiatus.
- Varela (16-10) will be led by senior Rubier Oliva, who was a state qualifier at 190 pounds last season. Other wrestlers to watch include sophomore Mark Sweeney (144/150); and junior Keen Davis (138/144).
GIRLS’ WRESTLING
- South Dade (17-2) finished second at state. Senior Willow White is a state champ and a national champ – she’s perhaps the best female wrestler in the nation. Sophomore Kenzie Barrett and senior Shamari Smith each finished third at state last season, and both of them are ranked No. 1 in the nation for 2025-2026.
- Florida Christian (1-1) returns state runner-up freshman Zoe Delgado, who represented Team USA at the 15U world championships in Serbia this past summer. Delgado leads a strong team which also returns seventh grader Melissa Gallo, who placed third at state last season, junior heavyweight Camila Halaby-Bravo and freshman Eleanor Silva.
- South Broward will be led by seniors Latoya Sylvestre and Nayara Stubra as well as junior Sabrina Posada. Sylvestre finished fourth at state last season.
- North Miami, which finished second at state, will be led by seniors Lesane Hied and Viktoriya Devochkina and juniors Suzie Polidor and Joceline Ovalle-Diaz.
- Cooper City will be led by junior Alexandra Thomas, who was a BCAA champ as a freshman.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM.