Cardinal Gibbons wins regional wrestling championship
Michael Lopouchanski’s left leg swept an ankle and sent his opponent face first into the mat, giving host Cardinal Gibbons one of its three individual Region 4-1A championships Saturday.
The Chiefs also won the team title. Somerset Academy, Key West, Jackson and Keys Gate rounded out the top 5.
“Getting to state is not that important because I did it last year,” said the 49-0 Lopouchanski, who pinned Coral Shores’ Lazaro Rodriguez in 1:44. “Trying to place and win is actually what matters.”
There was more at play for second-ranked Ryan Thomas, a 195-pound two-time state champ who transferred from Cardinal Gibbons to American Heritage Delray Beach. He pinned the Chiefs’ Christopher Williams in 4:54.
“This one was different,” Thomas said. “I used to go to Gibbons and I wrestled a Gibbons guy in the final. It’s a better feeling than last year. I used to wrestle here so I can’t lose to the school I left.”
Dominick Venturi was locked in a tight 145-pound match, before the stands gave him the motivation to beat Gibbons’ Osani Ley in a six-minute, 2-1 decision.
“I knew it was going to be a fight and go the full six minutes, but at the end I was going to come out on top because I understood how he wrestles,” Venturi said. “He pushed the pace hard. It was a thinking match … toward the end I heard them start chanting his name and it fueled my fire.
“It meant everything. It’s my senior year. I came back knowing I had to win. This is my last chance I have to make it count.”
Dominic Gibson won an 8-1 decision in his 120-pound match, and Julian Georgescu pinned his opponent in 3:39 to represent the Chiefs at state.
Top 10 team standings — 1. Cardinal Gibbons 226; 2. Somerset Academy 180.5; 3. Key West 150.5; 4. Miami Jackson 106; 5. Keys Gate 103; 6. American Heritage (DB) 95; 7. American Heritage (P) 80.5; 8. Coral Springs Charter 75.5; 9. Mater Lakes 71.5; 10. Coral Shores 70.
Championship Finals — 106: Aaron Palacios (KW) dec. Jacob Delgado (KG) 2-1; 113: Christopher Riley (SA) dec. Devon Smith (J) 6-0; 120: Dominick Gibson (CG) dec. Nickolas Piraino (KW) 8-1; 126: Nicholas Benton (SA) pin Kenny Lopez (BTW) 3:43; 132: Frankie TalShahar (AHDB) dec. Kameron Maynard (H) 12-4; 138: Alex Perez (MP) dec. Alyis Mursuli (SC) 17-8; 145: Dominick Venturi (AHP) dec. Osani Ley (CG) 2-1; 152: Juan Vernaza (SA) dec. Devon Nelson (CG) 9-5; 160: Michael Lopouchanski (CG) pin Lazaro Rodriguez (CS) 1:44; 170: Julian Georgescu (CG) pin Aryam Bonnin (KG) 3:39; 182: Kevin Soltis (CSC) dec. Benson Dorvil (CC) 6-3; 195: Ryan Thomas (AHDB) pin Christopher Williams (CG) 4:54; 220: Bradley Clement (AHP) pin Cole Schwartzberg (ML) 2:42; 285: Dante Jiovenetta (CS) pin George Ellis (AHP) 1:03.
Consolation finals – 106: Darian Estevez (SA) dec. Jed Huerkamp (CG) 9-0; 113: Eric Barnes (JC) dec. Joseph Scirghio (CM) 23-12; 120: Colby Singletary (SA) pin Omar Armengol (ML) 3:15; 126: Nick Desola (AHDB) pin Tarique Daley (CC) 3:40; 132: Daniel Valledor (SA) pin Alejandro Estrada (J) 3:05; 138: Calab Ashe (KW) dec. Joey Lopez (CG) 13-4; 145: Vincent Blasucci (SA) dec. RaShaund Williams (J) 8-3; 152: Cameron Taylor (CSC) dec. Nestor Nunez (ML) 13-7; 160: Ron Evans (KG) pin Josh Hettel (KW) 5:28; 170: Brandon Petit (J) pin Anthony Machado (WC) 0:46; 182: David Small (CG) dec. Tarivis Williams (J) 5-2: 195: Wanderley Mesa (PP) pin Jon Moltimer (CSC) 0:53; 220: Isaac Exilus (KW) dec. Andrew Vazquez (SA) 3-0; 285: Jaden Glover (KW) pin Adam Fox (CG) 2:38.
▪ Region 4-2A Tournament at Jensen Beach: South Broward’s Andrew Valverde decisioned Paul Steger of Boca Raton Olympic Heights 11-8 to win the 113-pound division.
South Broward was the highest finisher among Dade and Broward teams as the Bulldogs finished fourth followed by Norland, Goleman and Miami Springs, which finished seventh through ninth, respectively.
Miami Springs’ David Sanchez was the other local winner as he won by decision over South Broward’s Andre L’Abadie 5-3 to win the 138-pound division. Randall Sandoval (Miami Springs), Cednet Jean (Norland), Trent Boudreau (South Broward), Ariel Jimenez (Belen), and Ivan Martinez (Goleman) were other top-four finishers, qualifying them for next week’s state tournament in Kissimmee.
BILL DALEY
▪ Region 3-3A: St. Thomas Aquinas won the region title with 210 points, well ahead of second-place Wellington (179.5). St. Thomas won individual titles in four weight classes — 120, 126, 138 and 145 pounds — in the tournament held at Lake Worth.
WALTER VILLA
GIRLS’ TRACK
▪ Spartan Invitational: 1. Northwestern 181.50, 2. Northeast 94, 3. Southridge 89.50, 4. Barron Collier 57, 5. Carol City 33.50. 100 MD: 1. Williams (SR) 11.81. 200 Meter Dash: 1. Williams (SR) 24.75. 400 MD: 1. Ford (NE) 55.50. 800: 1. Johnson (SR) 2:15.44. 1600: 1. Powell (NE) 5:41.36. 3200: 1. Powell (NE) 12:37.13. 100 M Hurdles: 1. Mitchell (NW) 13.67. 300 M Hurdles: 1. Young (NW) 44.10. 4x100 Meter Relay: 1. Northeast 47.34. 4x400 Meter Relay: 1. Northwestern 3:48.08. 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Northwestern 9:40.80. High Jump: 1. Turner (OSC) 5-04.00.Pole Vault: 1. Valencia-Parra (BC) 7-06.00. Long Jump: 1. Alexander (NW) 18-06.00. Triple Jump: 1. Eskridge (NW) 39-08.50. Shot Put: 1. Clark (NW) 42-02.00. Discus Throw: 1. Zaldo (SR) 142-04.
▪ Falcon Invitational: 1. Ransom 92.50, 2. Ferguson 71.50, 3. Gulliver 69, 4. Jackson 66, 5. Lourdes 65. 100MD: 1. Mair (KIL) 12.76. 200 MD:1. Mair (KIL) 25.82. 400MD: 1. Folston (RE) 58.02. 800: 1. Archer (RE) 2:16.51. 1600: 1. Varela (GP) 5:10.20. 3200:1. Tomaini (NAP) 11:44.33. 100 Meter Hurdles: 1. McMinn (JAX) 15.65. 300 MH: 1.Bendross (JAX) 46.73. 4x100 Meter Relay: 1. Jackson 50.22. 4x400: 1. Gulliver 4:08.95. 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Ransom 9:59.42.
BOYS’ TRACK
▪ Spartan Invitational: 1. Columbus 101, 2. Northwestern 65, 3. Southridge 62.50, 4. American 55, 5. Hallandale 47: 100 Meter Dash: 1. Cooper (AME) 10.49. 200 MD: 1. Cooper(AME) 21.30. 400 MD: 1. Cooper (AME) 46.96. 800 Meter Run: 1. Freire (COL) 1:57.56. 1600: 1. Freire(COL) 4:26.34. 3200: 1. Torres (BRA) 10:04.77. 110 Meter Hurdles: 1. Davis (SR) 14.49. 300 Meter Hurdles: 1. Burns (NW) 37.37. 4x100: 1. Columbus 41.86. 4x400: 1. Northwestern 3:14.29. 4x800: 1. Columbus 8:11.72. High Jump: 1. McCray (MP) 6-04.00. Pole Vault: 1. Stubblefield (BC) 13-06.00. Long Jump: 1. Wiggins(SD) 22-05.00. Triple Jump: 1. Jeudi (SD) 45-11.00. Shot Put:1. Murillo(HIA) 47-11.00. Discus Throw: 1. Mitchell(HAL) 147-09.
▪ Falcon Invitational: 1. Belen 139, 2. Coral Reef 138.50, 3. Jackson 109.50, 4. Ferguson 73, 5. Killian 46: 100 Meter Dash: 1. Curry (CR) 11.48. 200 MD: 1. Curry (CR) 22.93. 400 MD: 1. Moultrie (CR) 49.99. 800 Meter Run: 1. Cameron Berryhill (CR) 1:58.70. 1600: 1. Garcia(GUL) 4:54.19. 3200: 1. Garcia (DA) 10:54.36. 110 Meter Hurdles: 1. Mejia (BEL) 15.53. 300 MH: 1. Mejia (BEL) 40.96. 4x100 Meter Relay: 1. Jackson 44.05. 4x400: 1. Coral Reef 3:28.67. 4x800 Meter Relay: 1. Coral Reef 8:12.00.
BOYS’ WATER POLO
▪ Boca Raton Invitational — Belen 13, Boca Raton 2: Pablo Kurzan 5 goals. Adrian Hernandez 3 goals. Alex Alepuz 2 goals. Erick Labrador 9 blocks.
▪ Boca Raton Invitational — Belen 17, Western 3: Fede Tamborrel 3 goals. Pablo Kurzan 2 goals. Thomas Kurzan 2 goals. Norberto Menendez 2 goals. Andre Cozier 2 goals. Erick Labrador 5 blocks.
▪ Boca Raton Invitational — Belen 16, Lake Mary 5: Pablo Kurzan 5 goals. Fede Tamborrel 3 goals. Alex Alepuz 2 goals. Nico Tamborrel 2 goals. Erick Labrador 4 blocks.
▪ Boca Raton Invitational — Belen 9, St. Thomas Aquinas 3: Fede Tamborrel 5 goals. Adrian Hernandez 3 goals. Jose Chaviano goal. Erick Labrador 7 blocks.
▪ Gulliver 14, Lake Mary 10: Felipe Tilkian 7 goals, 2 assists, 7 steals. Max Sabo goal, 6 assists, 4 steals. Phillip Gubbins 7 saves, 6 steals. GUL 2-7.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
▪ Gulliver 13, St. Andrews 7: Margaret Rodriguez 5 goals. Shani Rupp 3 goals, 3 assists. Elizabeth Perez 10 saves, assist
▪ Gulliver 16, Lake Mary 6: Samantha Rosenberg 7 goals. Nicole Aulicino 2 goals, 7 assists, 7 steals. Shani Rupp 2 goals, 2 assists, 5 steals.
▪ Gulliver 20, West Orange 4: Shani Rupp 6 goals. Kalei Ganser 4 goals. Elizabeth Perez 7 saves, 2 steals, assist
▪ Gulliver 14, Suncoast 1: Nicole Aulicino 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 steals. Samantha Rosenberg 3 goals, 2 steal. Ashlyn Pelletier 2 goals. GUL 8-1.
BASEBALL
▪ Somerset 5, Pine Crest 1: Mark Bejar (3-0), 4 IP, 2 H, ER. SV: Angel Perez 3 IP, 0 R, 3 K’s. Jack Khawly 1-3, 4 RBI, HR (GS), R. Kenny Moreno-Costa: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, BB. SOM 5-2 (2-1).
▪ University School 14, Naples Seacrest 3: Buddy Hayward (2-1), 4 IP, 6 K’s, 0ER. Jake Kubiliun 3-5, 2 RBI. Michael Glantz 2-3, 2 RBI. US 7-1.
▪ Late Friday — Ransom Everglades 7, Marathon 6: WP: Ilan Lindenfeld. SV: Steve Vinson. MatthewJackson 2-3, 3R, 2 RBI. Sam Bolduc 2-4, 2R. Ricky Suarez 2-4, 2 R, RBI. RE 5-1.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
▪ St. Thomas Aquinas 14, Winter Park 5: Carly Steinlauf 5 goals. Alli Beekhuizen 3 goals. Carley Adams 2 goals. STA 5-0.
This story was originally published February 28, 2016 at 12:02 AM with the headline "Cardinal Gibbons wins regional wrestling championship."