South Dade cruises to GMAC wrestling championship as it eyes another state title
As much as South Dade wrestling has dominated the state for over a decade, winning the GMAC championship (considered the Miami-Dade County crown), hasn’t been easy in recent years.
But the Bucs once again withstood the challenge from the county’s best on Saturday as they secured their third consecutive GMAC team title at the Miami Central gym.
Fresh off winning its third consecutive dual meet state championship and seventh overall, South Dade finished comfortably ahead of rival Southwest with 334.5 team points.
The Bucs had seven individual county champions and three runners-up while Southwest finished second with 276 points and Southridge not far behind in third place with 271 points.
Southwest had three individual champions and one runner-up while Southridge had two individual champs and four runners-up.
Two wrestlers for South Dade remained unbeaten as they look to help the Bucs extend their state-record streak in the individually-bracketed tournament next month in Kissimmee to 12 consecutive state championships.
Elvis Solis Jr. beat Southridge’s Andres Rojas via a tech fall 22-5 to win the 144-pound weight class championship. At 165 pounds, Willie White had no trouble topping Palmetto’s Drake Bonney with another tech fall, 20-3.
Bonney’s brother, Connor, secured a measure of payback moments later as he stayed unbeaten for the season with a 13-1 major decision win over South Dade’s Jonathan Moreno.
Southridge also had two unbeaten wrestlers entering the meet, who remained unscathed.
At 120 pounds, Jovanni Tovar secured a pin on Columbus’ Victor Zanolini in 2:25. Meanwhile, junior Ryan Miret beat South Dade’s Daguy Massillon to win the heavyweight title.
Solis’ brother, Jovani, continued his dominant season by winning the 138-pound title with a dominant 17-2 win over Southwest’s Dillon Smith. Lazaro Soto (106) and Antonio Morales (113) opened the championship finals with back-to-back wins to lead the Eagles.
RESULTS
Team: 1. South Dade 334.5; 2. Southwest 276; 3. Southridge 271.5; 4. Columbus 240.5; 5. Miami Beach 156.5; 6. Palmetto 148; 7. North Miami 96; 8. Homestead 92.5; 9. Coral Reef 85.5; 10. Goleman 83.5.
Championship finals - 106: Lazaro Soto (SW) pin Jose Callava (SD) 1:12; 113: Antonio Morales (SW) maj. dec. Damel Martinez (SR) 10-2; 120: Jovanni Tovar (SR) pin Victor Zanolini (Col) 2:25; 126: Guillermo Jaramillo (SD) dec. Rocco Ruiz (Col) 16-12; 132: Nathaniel Williams (SD) dec. Alfredo Cheang (SR) 15-14; 138: Jovani Solis (SD) tech Dillon Smith (SW) 17-2; 144: Elvis Solis Jr. (SD) tech Andres Rojas (SR) 22-5; 150: Armand Williams (SD) dec. Dylan Lopez (BR) 7-1; 157: Tyree Graham (SD) maj. dec. Adlan Dzhabrailov (MB) 14-3; 165: Willie White (SD) tech Drake Bonney (Pal) 20-3; 175: Connor Bonney (Pal) maj. dec. Jonathan Moreno (SD) 13-1; 190: Tedrick Lee (Col) pin Tiberius Buckley (MB) 1:26; 215: Myron Mendez (SW) pin Anthony Romero (SR) 1:47; 285: Ryan Miret (SR) dec. Daguy Massillon (SD) 4-1.
Consolation finals - 106: Alex Laguardia (SR) tech Dylan Presman (NOR) 21-6; 113: Janmichael Broche (BR) maj. dec. Marco Vides-Olivencia (Pal) 12-1; 120: Gary Jackson (Pal) pin Lucas Milan (SW) 3:30; 126: Stefano Garcia (SR) tech Leonardo Mendoza (MHS) 20-4; 132: Joshua Perez (Col) dec. Randy Rodriguez Del Ray (Col) 4-3; 138: Tomas Campian (Col) pin Dionel Ramos 0:29; 144: Didier Novoa (SW) tech Jordan Pineda (Var) 16-1; 150: Tyrell Robby (MB) pin Jorge Pacheco (Ferg) 0:58; 157: Julian Sierra (Col) pin Cameron Dorval (Krop) 2:16; 165: Leonard Gilley (SR) dec. Gabriel Noguel (SW) 8-3; 175: Evanangelo Mercado (SW) dec. Daniel Sanchez (SR) 4-1; 190: Sebastian Morera (Col) pin Rubier Oliva (Var) 4:47; 215: Apollo Benito (Col) dec. Gregory Gonzalez (CR) 7-2; 285: Jaelen Smith (Krop) pin Jordan Diaz (Sun) 2:26.
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
South Dade also won the girls’ GMAC championship last week in a meet held at Coral Park High. It was the Bucs girls’ fourth county title in a row.
The Bucs cruised to the team title with 257 points to finish well ahead of runner-up North Miami, which totaled 166 points.
South Dade finished with seven individual GMAC champions and four runners-up. The Bucs’ champions were Lydia Gonzalez (100 pounds), Kimberly Picado (105), Beyonce Espinosa (115), Willow White (125), Arianna Garcia (135), Shamari Smith (140) and Geraldine Honore (145).
North Miami was led by Mya Bethel, who continued her unbeaten run with a championship in the 155-pound weight class, and Shenshaila Baron (170-pound champion).
Team results: 1. South Dade 257, 2. North Miami 166, 3. Southwest 108, 4. Norland 76, 5. Palmetto 73.5, 6. Homestead 44, 7. Miami High 36, 8. Coral Gables, Central and Ferguson 31.
Championship finals - 100: Lydia Gonzalez (SD) pin Immawnee Walden (Hom); 105: Kimberly Picado (SD) pin Belindina Lucce (NOR); 110: Melanie Loynaz (SW) pin Isabella Offenburger (CR); 115: Beyonce Espinosa (SD) pin Corinne Manis (Pal); 120: Carmen Moya (Pal) maj. dec. Rebekkah Kinkade (SD) 13-2; 125: Willow White (SD) pin Leanna Curry (SW); 130: Isis Severe (NM) dec. Eysis Estes-Brinson (Pal) 2-0; 135: Arianna Garcia (SD) dec. Kamora Willis (CG) 6-0; 140: Shamari Smith (SD) pin Carmen Dragustinovis (Pal); 145: Geraldine Honore (SD) pin Emily Pomar (Ferg); 155: Mya Bethel (NM) tech Freeyana Morris (NOR) 18-3; 170: Shenshaila Baron (NM) pin Amaris Echezarreta (SD); 190: Tacara Nixon (NOR) pin Amirah Williams (SD); 235: Camila Halaby-Bravo (SW) pin Kenzie Barrett (SD).
Consolation finals - 100: Danelly Rodriguez (MHS) pin Savannah Gonzalez (BR); 105: Rosemarie Fuentes (MHS) dec. Joceline Ovalle-Diaz (NM) 17-12; 110: JaNiyah Moreland (Pal) pin Danetchy Janvier (NM); 115: Sylvia Betancor (MB) dec. Nai Sanchez (SW) 3-1; 120: Cameron Echeverria (MB) maj. dec. Suzie Polidor (NM) 11-2; 125: Christelle Joseph (NM) pin Mariyah Lester (Hom); 130: Hailey Hernandez (SW) inj. Arawin Recio (SD); 135: A’Niyah Leon-Goodrich (SR) pin Jakaylla Occenat (Cen); 140: Scarlett Sans (SW) pin Olivia Horne (NOR); 145: Viktoriya Devochkinn (NM) pin Jaidyn Diaz (Sun); 155: Anayalee Morris (SD) pin Lauren Martinez (Ferg); 170: Ariel Alexander (Hom) pin Jada Haughton (Krop); 190: Joveline Joseph (NM) pin Aaliyah White (Cen); 235: Colmise Jean-Baptiste (NM) pin Sarah Solomon (Ferg).
