Two National Wrestling Hall of Famers make an impact in Broward. Plus golf, hoops, soccer
The inaugural Chris Hixon Wrestling Classic at South Plantation High School honored Hixon, who died a hero in the shooting in 2018 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Hixon, an athletic director at Stoneman Douglas, was also a dedicated volunteer coach in softball, cross-country, volleyball, and wrestling, often taking charge, when teams lacked a coach. Wrestling was his greatest passion, and he volunteered as a wrestling coach at Fort Lauderdale High, Blanche Ely High, South Broward High, and Stoneman Douglas.
In August, Hixon was awarded posthumously the Medal of Courage by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, after being nominated by the Florida Chapter. Prior to coaching, he served in the U.S. Navy.
At the Classic, competitors wrestled in two pools in the boys’ division, and then the Top 3 from each pool in each weight class wrestled each other. There was also a girls’ division.
Cardinal Gibbons won the boys’ team title, and Boca Raton Olympic Heights won the girls’ division.
The Mocco brothers (Peter and Michael), who compete for the champion Chiefs, were named Outstanding Wrestlers.
BOYS: Team scores: 1. Champion Cardinal Gibbons 265.5; 2. South Plantation 205; 3. Boca Raton Olympic Heights 196.5; 4. Fort Myers Bishop Verot 185.5; 5. Mater Academy 157.5; 6 Boca Raton Community 149; 7. Evangelical Christian 139.5; 8. True North 124.5; 9. Miami Central 116; 10. South Broward 104; 11. Miramar 98; 12. Boca Raton William T. Dwyer 95.5; 13. Cypress Bay 89.5; 14. Carol City 85; 15. SLAM Academy 82.5; 16. Western 80; 17. Deerfield Beach 74; 18. Fort Lauderdale 73; 19. Flanagan 70; 20. St. Thomas Aquinas 67; 21. Everglades 60; 22. Mcarthur 57.5; 23. Pine Crest 49.5; 24. Cape Coral Oasis 47.5; 25. Northeast 47; 26. Fort Myers Canterbury.
Individual: 285 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Michael Mocco of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Lennox Washington of Evangelical Christian. 285 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Christopher Coleman of Deerfield Beach; 2. Elias Enguita of Bishop Verot. 285 Purple: 1. Michael Mocco of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Christopher Coleman of Deerfield Beach. 285 Gold: 1. Lennox Washington of Evangelical Christian; 2. Quinn Enguita of Bishop Verot. 215 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Peter Mocco of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Todd Mancini of South Plantation. 215 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Collin Everington of William T Dwyer; 2. Madden Innes of Northeast. 215 Purple: 1. Peter Mocco of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Madden Innes of Northeast. 215 Gold: 1. Tod Mancini of South Plantation; 2. Collin Everington of William T. Dwyer.
106 Purple: 1. Michiah Gillins Jr. of South Plantation; 2. Parker Young of True North. 113 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Donovan Jenkins of South Plantation; 2. Michael Maisonet of Mater Academy. 113 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Andres Garcia of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Anthony Torres of Miramar. 120 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Lincoln Derby of South Plantation; 2. Logan Bajor of Cardinal Gibbons. 120 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Gary Mendez of Mater Academy; 2. Miguel Ramirez of SLAM Academy. 120 Purple: 1. Lincoln Derby of South Plantation; 2. Gary Mendez of Mater Academy. 120 Gold: 1. Logan Bajor of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Miguel Ramirez of SLAM Academy. 126 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Preston Williams of Olympic Heights; 2. Jake Arnesen of Cardinal Gibbons. 126 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Hudson Sweitzer of Bishop Verot; 2. Jonathan Carrero of Cypress Bay. 126 Purple: 1. Preston Williams of Olympic Heights; 2. Hudson Sweitzer of Bishop Verot. 126 Gold: 1. Jake Arnesen of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Jonathan Carrero of Cypress Bay. 132 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Leland Flaherty of Evangelical Christian; 2. Tristan Eril-Coto of SLAM Academy. 132 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Tiago Passos of Bishop Verot; 2. Maverick Peugh of Cardinal Gibbons. 132 Purple: 1. Leland Flaherty of Evangelical Christian; 2. Tiago Passos of Bishop Verot. 132 Gold: 1. Tristan Eril-Coto of SLAM Academy; 2. Maverick Peugh of Cardinal Gibbons. 138 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Ryan Fain of Olympic Heights; 2. Joshua Viera of Mater Academy. 138 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Matthias Torres of Flanagan; 2. Caleb Nichols of McArthur. 138 Purple: 1. Joshua Viera of Mater Academy; 2. Caleb Nichols of McArthur. 138 Gold: 1. Ryan Fain of Olympic Heights; 2. Matthias Torres of Flanagan.
144 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Ivan Kyryianenko of South Broward; 2. Javin Taylor of Boca Raton Community. 144 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Daniel Medina of Mater Academy; 2. Caden Cagiano of Cardinal Gibbons. 144 Purple: 1. Javin Taylor of Boca Raton Community; 2. Daniel Medina of Mater Academy. 144 Gold: 1. Ivan Kyryianenko of South Broward; 2. Caden Cagiano of Cardinal Gibbons. 150 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Jayden Rivas of Miramar; 2. Anthony Agriesti of South Broward. 150 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Andres Viera of Mater Academy; 2. Andy Diaz of True North. 150 Purple: 1. Anthony Agriesti of South Broward; 2. Andres Viera of Mater Academy. 150 Gold: 1. Jayden Rivas of Miramar; 2. Andy Diaz of True North. 157 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Matyas Dercsar-Kovacs of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Andrew Chen of Pine Crest. 157 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Sean Stern of Boca Raton Community; 2. Matheus Honingan of Carol City. 157 Purple: 1. Andrew Chen of Pine Crest; 2. Matheus Honingan of Carol City. 157 Gold: 1. Matyas Dercsar-Kovacs of Cardinal Gibbons; 2. Sean Stern of Boca Raton Community. 165 Purple: 1. Elias Enzner of Olympic Heights; 2. Chase Boyd of South Plantation. 175 Hixon Gold Bracket: 1. Bennett Sweitzer of Bishop Verot; 2. Jordan Evans of Mcarthur. 175 Hixon Silver Bracket: 1. Ibrahim Gowon of Miami Central; 2. Langdon Ramey of Cardinal Gibbons. 175 Purple: 1. Bennett Sweitzer of Bishop Verot; 2. Ibrahim Gowon of Miami Central. 175 Gold: 1. Jordan Evans of McArthur; 2. Langdon Ramey of Cardinal Gibbons. 190 Purple: 1. Juan Mars of Miami Central; 2. Bryce Johnson of William T. Dwyer.
GIRLS: Team scores: 1. Champion Olympic Heights 109.5; 2. Stoneman Douglas 108; 3. Naples 96; 4. Mater Academy 75; 5. South Broward 49.5; 6. SLAM Academy 35; 7. South Plantation 34.5; 8. Bishop Verot 34; 9. Everglades 32; 10. Western 23; 11. Boca Raton Community 22; 12. Flanagan 19; 13. Canterbury 18; 14. William T. Dwyer 17; 15. Deerfield Beach 11; 16. Braddock, Evangical Christian School and Northeast 0.
Individual: 100: 1. Nadeye Dudley of South Plantation; 2. Nola Rager of Canterbury. 105: 1. Saryiah Ford of SLAM Academy; 2. Christina Dalton of Bishop Verot. 110: 1. Melanie Loynaz of Mater Academy; 2. Kaylee Padin of Western. 115: 1. Olivia Carvajal of Mater Academy; 2. Addison McMahon of Stoneman Douglas. 120-125: 1. Sophie Simons of Naples; 2. Paola Blanco-Cruz of Olympic Heights. 130: 1. Hannah Bettridge of Naples; 2. Arianna Aiello of Olympic Heights. 135-140: 1. Samantha De Gance of Stoneman Douglas; 2. Richelle Ciceron of Naples. 145-155: 1. Lyla Kasztner of Olympic Heights; 2. Julia Melo of Boca Raton Community. 170: 1. Ariana Blanc of Stoneman Douglas; 2. Sonja Fiore of William T. Dwyer. 190: 1. Latoya Sylvestre of South Broward; 2. Litan Aminov of Olympic Heights. 235: 1. Zeinab Mourad of Stoneman Douglas; 2. Quaniya Lowry of South Broward.
More wrestling
Piper High School has resurrected its wrestling program, under the direction of Coach Henry Jackson, also a National Wrestling Hall of Famer.
Jackson was inducted into the Hall by the Florida Chapter in 2017 as an “Alumni” for his significant achievements, while wrestling in high school (Carol City) and college (Miami Dade College and the University of Florida) and later coaching wrestling at several high schools in Florida, including Miami Central, Plantation and Chaminade-Madonna.
Recently, the Bengals hosted Deerfield Beach and South Plantation.
Team scores: Deerfield Beach 38, South Plantation 33; Deerfield Beach 44, Piper 35; South Plantation 51, Piper 30.
Golf honors
Seniors Mingbo Jiang of The First Academy and Isabella Dovhey of Circle Christian School are the 2025 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Golf and Miss Golf, respectively, in a vote of the state’s district golf chairmen.
Eric Fasone of Dwyer High School and Allyson Kotes of Circle Christian School were named boys’and girls’ Golf Coaches of the Year after leading their teams to state championships.
Jiang won the Class 1A boys’ state championship by shooting an 8-under par 136 over 36 holes, while Dovhey won the Class 1A girls’ title in a five-way playoff after shooting a 9-under par 137 during the 36-hole event.
The other girls’ finalists were Sophia Rivera, a junior from Beachside who won the Class 3A state title, and Ryan Donaldson, a senior from Suwannee, who captured the Class 2A state title. On the boys’ side, Sohan Patel, a junior from Plantation American Heritage who won his second consecutive Class 2A title and Hampton Beebe, a senior from Dwyer who won the Class 1A state title, were the other finalists for Mr. Golf.
Fasone, in his second year as Dwyer’s head coach, was named Boys’ Coach of the Year after leading his squad to its first state title, winning the Class 3A state championship and completing an undefeated season. Marvin Snyder of Bishop Moore (2A) and Toby Harbeck of The Benjamin School (1A), who coached their squads to state titles, were named Coaches of the Year in their classifications.
Kotes led Circle Christian to the Class 1A state title with a five-stroke victory over FAU, shooting a 17-under par 559 that was 41 strokes lower than all of the Class 3A and Class 2A teams that competed in the state meet. State championship coaches Mike Carlin of Plantation American Heritage (2A) and Erin Lisch of Parrish Community School (3A) were named Coaches of the Year in their respective classification.
Basketball
North Miami sophomore Rayna Benoit set a school record by making 10-of-11 3-pointers as the Pioneers defeated Miami Beach 94-17 in girls’ basketball.
Benoit finished with a game-high 45 points. She also scored 23 points with 5-of-7 3-pointers in a win over Gulliver Prep and 21 more in a victory over Mater Academy, ranked 11th in Miami and 59th in Florida.
GIRLS: North Miami 71, Mater Academy 66: J’adore Hayes 23 pts (1-1 3-ptr), 20 rebs, 3 blk; Rayna Benoit 21 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts; Naima Garnes 12 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 3stls; Shaneika Maxenat 11 pts, 6 rebs, 8 stls, 2asts; Donnesha Morency 4 pts, 6 rebs, 8 stls, 2 asts. NM 6-1.
GIRLS: North Miami 72, Gulliver Prep 61: Rayna Benoit 23 pts (5-7 3-ptrs), 6 asts, 5 stls; Jadore Hayes 31 pts, 15 rebs, 3 asts; Donnesha Morency 8 pts, 5 rebs, 4 stls, 2 asts; Naima Garnes 7 pts, 7 rebs, 3 stls, 3 asts. NM 5-1.
GIRLS: Palmer Trinity 62, North Miami 43: NM: Jadore Hayes 19 pts, 15 rebs, 5 blks; Rayna Benoit 12 pts (2-2 3-ptrs); Maxenat Shaneika 6 pts, 3 rebs, 2 asts; Donnesha Morency 6 pts, 10 rebs, 3 asts. NM 4-1.
GIRLS: North Miami 94, Miami Beach 17: Rayna Benoit 45 pts (school record 10-11 3-ptrs), 3 asts, 5 stls; Jadore Hayes 18 pts, 10 rebs, 5 blks, 3 asts; Naima Garnes 10 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 2 stls; Donnesha Morency 7 pts, 2 rebs, 3 asts; Willis Lailah 6 pts, 6 rebs. NM 4-0.
GIRLS: LaSalle 67, Ransom Everglades 38: LaS (4-2): Villarreal 15 pts, Acevedo 14, Aversa 11, A. Gonzalez-Casar 8, Haliwa 8, S. Gonzalez-Casar 6, Cardoso 3, Herrera 2. RE: Rosenberg 15 pts, Galvin 9, Perdigon 7, Clement 4, Paulet 1. Halftime: LaS 38-15. 3-Ptrs: Rosenberg 5, Galvin, Perdigon, Aversa, Cardoso. Rebounds: Aversa 11. Assists: Aversa 7. Steals: A.Gonzalez-Casar 8. Blocks: Villarreal 2.
GIRLS: LaSalle 68, Westminster Christian 48: LaS (5-2): Acevedo 20 pts, Villarreal 17, Aversa 14, A. Gonzalez-Casar 12, S. Gonzalez-Casar 3, Herrera 2. WC: Fernandez 18 pts, Pmcynzski 14, Perez 11, Norat 2, Lesman 2. Halftime: LaS 38-24. 3-Ptrs: Fernandez, Pmcynzski, Perez, Aversa, S.Gonzalez-Casar. Rebounds: Villarreal 13. Assists: Acevedo 7. Steals: Haliwa 5. Blocks: Villarreal 3.
BOYS: Belen Jesuit 78, Westwood Christian 61: Bel: Orlando Roche 29 pts, 4 rebs, 3 stls; Alec Arnholt 12 pts, 6 asts, 7 rebs; Lucas Baldor 12 pts, 2 rebs; Lucas Diaz 11 pts, 5 asts, 6 rebs; Alejandro Bird 5 pts. WC: Mayar Dhieu 16 pts, 10 rebs, 1 blk, 2 stls; Jason Martinez 10 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks; Julian Caragol 11 pts, 3 rebs; Zamari Dewberry 10 pts, 7 rebs, 7 asts. Bel 6-0, WC 6-2.
BOYS: Everglades 59, Westwood Christian 58: WC: Zamari Dewberry 14 pts, 8 asts, 1 blk; Julian Caragol 14 pts, 4 rebs; Mayar Dhieu 12 pts, 13 rebs, 2 stls. WC 6-3.
BOYS: Calusa Prep 56, Westwood Christian 48: WC: Julian Caragol 25 pts, 5 rebs, 1 stl, 1 blk; Mayar Dhieu 9 pts, 9 rebs, 4 blks; Jason Martinez 7 pts, 8 rebs, 2 blks. WC 6-4.
BOYS: Westwood Christian 54, Ferguson 49: Jason Martinez 14 pts, 5 rebs, 3 stls; Zamari Dewberry 14 pts, 10 asts, 3 rebs; Mayar Dhieu 12 pts, 7 rebs, 2 blks. WC 5-1.
Soccer
Miami Beach boys’ soccer is now 9-0-2 after wins over Florida Christian and Coral Gables and a tie with Doral Academy. The Firebirds are 7-1-3.
BOYS: Belen Jesuit 3, SLAM 0: Simon Parra 1 goal, 2 assists; Mattias Monge 1 goal; Sebastian Barrientos 1 goal; Gkp Santi Fernandez shutout. Bel 9-2-3.
BOYS: Cardinal Gibbons 1, Calvary Christian 1: CG: Eugene Gibbons 1 goal; Henry Copelin 1 assist. CG 2-3-3.
BOYS: Stoneman Douglas 1, Cardinal Gibbons 0: CG 2-4-3, SD 5-1.
BOYS: Cardinal Gibbons 4, Pompano Beach 1: Dillion Young 2 goals, 1 assist; Brody Boerstler 2 goals; Sam Vanderwiel 1 assist; James Coszi 1 assist; Eugene Gibbons 1 assist. CG 3-4-3.
BOYS: Cooper City 2, NSU University School 1: NSU U: Raul Leyva 1 goal; Daniel Ciffoni 1 assist. NSU U 7-1-3.
BOYS: Miami Beach 0, Doral Academy 0: MB: Joaquin St. Pierre excellent defense; Gkp Kingley Cospolite 9th shutout. MB 9-0-2, Dor 7-1-3.
BOYS: South Florida Champions League: Miami Beach 6, Florida Christian 0: Valentino Levy 2 goals, 1 assist; Joshua Zephyrine 1 goal, 1 assist; Luka Munoz 1 goal; Camilo Grajales 1 goal; Jeferson Herrera 1 goal; Josmel Nunez 1 assist; Gkp Kingley Cospolite 7th shutout. MB 8-0-1.
BOYS: South Florida Champions League: Miami Beach 4, Coral Gables 0: Valentino Levy 1 goal; Jeferson Herrera 1 goal, 1 assist; Ignacio Bustillo 1 goal; Juan Cardona 1 goal; Gkps Santiago Lemos and Kingley Cospolite 8th shutout. MB 9-0-1.
BOYS: Stoneman Douglas 1, Cardinal Gibbons 0: CG 2-4-3, SD 5-1.
GIRLS: Lourdes Academy 3, Gulliver Prep 1: Cecilia Rodriguez 2 goals; Lorena Alvarez 1 goal; Alana Garcia-Menocal 1 assist. Lour 7-1.
Send sports results
For high schools in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, if you have varsity sports results and top performers (with stats), email hssports@miamiherald.com.
They will run in the newspaper and online. Photos accepted, too. No deadline. You will be alerted when it will appear.
Also, some will be considered athlete of the week nominations.
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Compiled by Jim Varsallone
jvarsallone@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM.
