Douglas’ Caro secures another first for Broward girls’ wrestling at BCAA championships
Gabriela Caro is on the cusp of becoming the first legend of Broward County girls high school wrestling.
The Stoneman Douglas senior, nearly a year shy of celebrating Broward’s first female FHSAA state wrestling championship, has her sights set to become the first to duplicate the achievement.
Her path forward got off to strong start on Saturday pinning Nayara Stubna of Nova in 1:22 at the 130-pound weight class in the first BCAA championships ever for girls wrestlers Saturday at Pompano Beach High.
Caro and four other teammates collectively would help lead the Eagles to the team title. South Broward finished second.
Though it’s taken three years of effort and hard work to achieve this milestone, Caro has the intent to become Broward first two-time state champion and first to wrestle for a state title for the third consecutive year.
Last year, Caro became the first girls state champion from Broward, finishing her junior year at 21-0.
“I don’t think of myself being a trailblazer in the sport,” Caro said. “I just go out and wrestle and influence other girls. It’s a cool feeling that I’ve been able to help the girls team grow.
“I didn’t even know there was a state championship when I started. I take every match one at a time. I’m jumping the gun if I think that way.”
Caro credits her success on wrestling from her years of competing in jiu jitsu after she began at eight years old. She has won two world titles and two Pan American titles in jiu jitsu at the juvenile level.
“We knew nothing about her when she came to us to wrestle,” said Douglas coach Kenny Gendason. “We never knew she would get to the state finals, but we knew we had something we could work with. It’s been a great journey to have her.”
Other winners for Douglas were Haasini Vattikuti (110), Grace McKenzie (115), Mickayla Surgrano (120) and Addison McMahan (125).
RESULTS
Team scores (Top 2): 1. Douglas; 2. South Broward.
Championship results - 100: Thomas (COOP) d. Velazquez (MSD) 7-0; 105: Kleine (MON) p. Francisco (WEST) 3:59; 110: Vattikuti (MSD) d. Kushnir (MSD) by forfeit; 115: Mackenzie (MSD) p. Kepler (WB) 5:26; 120: Surgrano (MSD) p. Valentine (MIR) 2:19; 125: McMahan (MSD) d. Nina (DB) 7-4; 130: Caro (MSD) p. Stubna (NOVA) 1:22; 135: Moya (MON) p. Velasco (MSD) 1:20; 140: Ramos (WEST) p. Quiroga (EVER) 0:51; 145: Devichkina (SB) by injury default over Doce (EVER) 3:24; 155: Knight (SB) p. McBride (NOVA) 3:47; 170: Moyer (MON) d. Blanc (MSD) 3-0; 190: Sylvestri (SB) p. Bryan (CS) 2:18; 235: Dugard (NOVA) p. Ellison (EVER) 0:36.
Consolation finals - 100: Romero (SB), bye; 105: Kerber (CB) p. Gosier (DILL) 1:14; 110: Posada (SB) d. Plesser (WEST) by forfeit; 115: Canals (WEST) p. Gutierrez (NOVA) 4:31; 120: Nina (DB) p. Hernandez (FLAN) 0:46; 125: Harrison (WEST) bye; 130: vacant; 135: Velasco (MSD) bye; 140: Morsillo (SB) bye; 145: Homidas (SP) p. Baron (CB) 1:24; 155: Smith (MSD) d. Yelder (EVER) by forfeit; 170: Milfort (SB) d. Thomas (DB) by forfeit; 190: Sands (DB) p. Joseph (MIR) 1:19; 235: Rice (MSD) d. Calcaneo (SB) by forfeit.