Franco Valdez leads Southwest wrestlers to District 15-3A title | Miami Herald

Southwest captured its first district wrestling title since 1997, but coach Joel Mendez called it bittersweet as nine of 10 wrestlers lost in their final bouts.

Still, the Eagles accumulated 211 points to take the District 15-3A championship on Friday afternoon at Coral Park High School.

Franco Valdez pinned Anthony Codinach of Columbus in the 120-pound class for Southwest’s lone individual title. Jesse Acedo, last year’s district winner at 120, dropped a 7-4 decision to Columbus’ Christopher Bentley.

“We won the district title, but it still hurts to see those kids lose in the finals,” said Mendez, whose team got second last year. “There’s always next week. Maybe it’ll be a good wakeup call for them and motivate them and prepare them better for next week. “Braddock, which graduated six wrestlers last season, came in second with 183.5 points.

Six Bulldogs won their respective classes, a mark the program hadn’t accomplished in years. Three of the first five weights went to Braddock.

Three of their wrestlers redeemed themselves from last year. Nicholas Villamil, who lost at 106, bested Southwest’s Carlos Zaragoza in an 11-1 major decision. Sebastian Calderon, who finished fourth at 160, earned a 6-3 decision over Coral Park’s Lazaro Acosta; John Wesley, who got fourth in 2013, became heavyweight champion with a 2:34 pin on Southwest’s Roberto Herrera.

“We’ve had a few minor setbacks and we didn’t come in with a full squad, but they were aware that it’s an uphill battle,” coach Saul Tejada said. “The guys knew traditionally we’re just getting better as the weeks go by, and they believe.”

Defending district champion Columbus had four wrestlers win their matches to place third with 163.5 points.

Damian Penichet, who lost to eventual state champion Nosomy Pozo in 2013, pinned South Miami’s Joel Amaya at 1:27 for his first district title since sophomore year.

After a fifth-place finish at state, Penichet has just three losses this season after focusing more on another element of his wrestling: “My mental game because that takes a lot out of you,” Penichet said.

Other wrestlers who rebounded from tough defeats last year include Columbus’ Kier Rodriguez (160 pounds) and South Miami’s Jean Concepion (195).

Regionals will take place Feb. 7-8 at Ronald Reagan High School in Doral.

Team scores: Southwest 211, Braddock 183.5, Columbus 163.5, South Miami 85, Coral Gables 67.5, Coral Park 52.5, Miami 24.

Championship – 106: Alex Victor (BRD) tech fall Alean Gonzalez (SWM) 19-3; 113: Nicholas Villamil (BRD) maj. dec. Carlos Zaragoza (SWM) 11-1; 120: Franco Valdez (SWM) pin Anthony Codinach (COL) 1:32; 126: Christopher Bentley (COL) dec. Jesse Acedo (SWM) 7-4; 132: Joel Alvarez (BRD) dec. Emmanuel Nordelo (SM) 6-5; 138: Ramon Ferrer (CG) pin Angel Del Cueto (SWM) 3:03; 145: Damian Penichet (COL) pin Joel Amaya (SM) 1:27; 152: Salvador Lopez (BRD) dec. Jordan Delacruz (SWM) 9-3; 160: Kier Rodriguez (COL) maj. dec. Maykel Dolorit (SWM) 12-4; 170: Sebastian Calderon (BRD) dec. Lazaro Acosta (CP) 7-3; 182: Bert Martinez (COL) dec. Adolfo Sotolongo (SWM) 8-4: 195: Jean Concepcion (SM) dec. Luis Hernandez (SWM) 8-2; 220: Eliezer Garcia (CP) pin Kyle Mann (COL) 3:48; 285: John Wesley (BRD) pin Roberto Herrera (SWM) 2:34.

Consolation – 106: Edgar Martinez (COL) pin Carlos Leon (CG) 4:56; 113: Mikael Codinach (COL) tech fall Jose Carlo Palemo (SM) 18-2; 120: Carlos Perez (BRD) maj. dec. Anthony Vizcaino (CG) 11-3; 126: Bryan Dominguez (BRD) dec. Alejandro Menendez (SM) 3-1; 132: Ariel Mendez (SWM) dec. Mario Orozco (MIA) 11-10; 138: Marcieus Brown (BRD) pin Hector Fernandez (MIA) 4:12; 145: Julian Hernandez (SWM) pin Preston Borges (BRD) 2:07; 152: Kelvin Suarez (CG) pin Jean Guervens (MIA) 1:32; 160: Angelo Martinez (CP) pin Darian Lazo (BRD) 1:25; 170: Mike Serria (COL) pin Eddy Mendez (SWM) 1:10; 182: Christian Guzman (SM) pin Joshua Zambrano (CG) 3:51; 195: Carmichael Leiva (COL) bye; 220: Gabriel Marrero (SM) pin Joel Obregon (SWM) 3:53; 285: Mitscher Gallerdo (CG) pin Brian Lastra (COL) 0:39.

ELSEWHERE

• District 15-1A Team scores: Somerset Academy 175.5, Monsignor Pace 172.5, Chaminade-Madonna 97.0, Jackson 64.0, Booker T. Washington 56.0, Mater Lakes 45.5, Archbishop Curley 22.0, Hallandale Beach 15.0, Edison 0.0.

• Championship finals: 106 Steven Moreno (MP) Dec 3-0 Frankie Talshahar (SA). 113 Daniel Valledor (SA) Pin 1:06 Austin Henriquez (ML). 120 Joey Lopez (SA) Pin 1:28 Daniel Rodriguez (CM). 126 Justin Cohen (MP) Pin 1:10 Alex Recendiz (ML). 132 Alex Perez (MP) Dec 6-5 Jonathan Astacio (SA). 138 Scott Pomare(AC) MD 14-3 Amadeus Concepcion(SA). 145 Christian Perez (Monsignor Pace) Dec 4-2 Dravon Golden (HAL). 152 Godwin Ferrier(MP) Dec 4-1 Joshua Herbert(CM). 160 William Herbert (CM) Pin 5:05 Ernest Gerard (BTW). 170 Matt Rodriguez Kirkland (MP) Pin 2:24 Brandon Petit (JAC). 182 Raekwon Reggler (SA) Pin 5:02 Aaron Fluitt (MP). 195 Michael Telesco (CM) Dec 5-1 Ronald Jacques(MP). 220 Osvelt Joseph (BTW) Pin 1:50 Juan Cornett (MP). 285 Brandon Bodden (JAC) Pin 1:45 Alberto Espinosa (SA)

• Consolation finals: 106 Sherman Claudest (BTW) Bye. 113 Nicolas Wells (MP) Dec 5-1 Hillary Geffard (JAC). 126 Vinnie Blasucci (SA) Bye. 132 David Colatorti (CM) Pin 2:21 Marquan Byrd (JAC). 138 Ervyn Gregoire (MP) Dec 6-5 Tommy Seilkop (CM). 145 Isaiah Martinez (SA) Dec 4-3 Cody Short (CM). 152 Rayquan Harding (SA) Dec 5-4 William Pollock (JAC). 160 Andres Chao (ML) Pin 2:30 Dmitrius Estevez (SA). 170 Anthony Milord (SA) Pin 1:54 Lionel Flores (ML). 182 Giovani Garces (JAC) INJ DFT Travis Miley (BTW). 195 Andrew Vazquez (SA)Dec 12-10 Tavious Straughter (BTW). 220 Yohana Fasida (SA) Dec 2-1 Vinnie Cristafaro (CM). 285 Aramni Kerr (MP) Dec 9-4 Jeremiah Anilus (BTW).

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

• District 16-7A final: American 62, Central 29: AME (24-3): McCloud 17, Smith 15, Jones 9, Griffin 7, Jenkins 5, Vargas 3, Riley 2, David 2, Martinez 2. CEN: Walker 9, Williams 8, Chambers 3, Jones 2, Britt 2, Jones 2, Knowles 2, McNeil 1. Rebounds: Smith 10, Assists: Jones 4. Steals: McCloud 3. Three-pointers: McCloud 3. Halftime 41-10 AME.

• District 15-3A championship: Miami Country Day 61, Sagemont 29: MCD (21-3): Mackenzie 7, Anyagaligbo 9, Berry 9, Lewis 6, Minott 17, Alvarez 13. SAG (17-8): Provenzano 3, Black 14, Smith 4, Marshall 2, Correa 5, Rucker 1. Three-pointers:Alvarez 4. Rebounds: Anyagaligbo 12, Correa 6. Steals: Mackenzie and Berry 3 Correa 4. Assists: Lewis 11, Rucker 3. Halftime 32-16 MCD.

• District 15-4A final: Booker T. Washington 61, LaSalle 35: BTW (19-4): Bello 13 Leite 16 Miller 13 Haugabook 4 L. Berry 4 Harris 4 Durant 5 Matthew 2. LS: Monroe 15 Xigues 4 Lorenzo 2 Montoto 2 Tuto 4 Cruz 3 Perez 2. Steals: Durant 2 L. Berry 2 Miller 4 Bello 2 Burke 2. Rebounds: L. Berry 4 Miller 3 Bello 5 Burke 4.

• South Miami 46, Ferguson 39: SM (20-8): Graham 12 Cummings 11 Gil 3, Yanes 5, KH. Brown 6 King 4 Ayerdis 3, Ka. Brown 2. FER: Osceola 2, Justinian 3, Gonzalez 14, Dejesus 9, Johnson 11. Rebounds: KH. Brown 12, Ka. Brown 13. Assists: Graham 5, Cummings 4. Steals: Graham 2. Blocks: Graham 3.

• Miami High 46, Krop 31: MH: Mendoza 7, Alvin 6, Dukes 2, Mompremier 17, Jackson 2. KRO: Roberts 2, Upshur 9, Alberts 9, Oliver 2, GAy 2, Roman 7. Rebounds: Mompremier 9. Steals: Alvin 4. Assists: Mendoza 6, Kimborough 5. Blocks: Mompremier 2.

• Late Thursday-District 16-4A: Florida Christian 54, St. Brendan 42: FC (21-7): N. Jimenez 22, K. Martinez 10, K. Jim 8, E. Prinz 7. Rebounds: N. Jimenez 8, K. Jim 9. Steals: K. Martinez 4, N. Jimenez 6.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

• Westland Hialeah 54, Hialeah Gardens 42: Westland Scoring: Gato 14, Hernandez 13, Marino 9, F. Rodriguez 6, Menendez 5, Martinez 3, Montina 2. HG: Vasquez 15, Kimbrough 15. Halftime 20-19 WHS. Rebounds: Marino 8, Menendez 7, Montina 5, Hernandez 4. Assists: Hernandez 2. Steals: Marino 3.

• Miami Country Day 63, Marathon 52: MCDS (19-6): Clements 9, Lynott 9, Cambo 4, Parizo 33, Kappos 2, Sherwood 4, Gomez 2. MAR: Rojas 11, Chavez 20, Guerra 5, Wells 2, Garcia 4, Allen 5, Chaplin 5. Three-pointers: Clements 2, Lynott 2, Parizo 4, Rojas 2, Chavez 5. Rebounds: Kappos 8. Assists: Sherwood 9. Steals: Parizo 6.

• American Prep 54, Somerset 50: AP (25-5): Lindsay 4, Coleman 6, Avery 10, Sawyer 17, Allen 17. SOM: Galin 8, Dubouse 3, B. Bauerun 2, Francois 15, Edwards 22. Rebounds: Lindsay 15, Allen 10. Assists: Coleman 6. Steals: Avery 5. Three-pointers: Sawyer 2, Allen 2, Edwards 3. Halftime 29-24 SOM.

• Belen 54, Reagan 40: BEL (14-11): E. Cruz 10, N. Iparraguirre 5, M. Fernandez 11, J. Herrera 9, G. Nunez 1, J. Cirera 6, A. Perez 4, F. Battle 4, J. Medina 4. RR: Curtis 17, Kenya 3, Barrios 6, Humphries 4, Sarmiento 7, Arcila 3. Assists: N. Iparraguirre 10. Rebounds: N. Iparraguirre 10. Steals: E. Cruz 4.

• Ransom Everglades 65, Westwood Christian 57: RE: Mourning 40, Rivlin 9, Bercow 2, Tomasino 2, Stern 4, Woolworth 2, Spiegleman 6. Assists: Speigleman 5. Rebounds: Mourning 14. Blocks: Mourning 4

BOYS’ SOCCER

• Late Thursday-Region 4-3A Quarterfinal: Archbishop McArthy 3, Doral Academy 2 (4-2, PKs).

• Late Thursday-Regional Quarterfinals Hillel 3, Archmedian 1: Albert Dichy goal. Daniel Furmanski goal. HIL 16-2.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

WRESTLING

District 16-3A at Sunset: 10 a.m.

District 16-2A at Central: 10 a.m.

CHEERLEADING

State championships at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee