South Dade wrestling achieves another milestone with 20th state IBT championship
It was business as usual for South Dade on Saturday night, but a historic milestone for its wrestling program.
The Bucs won their 20th IBT wrestling state championship at the FHSAA state finals after capturing the Class 3A crown at Silver Spurs Arena.
The Buccaneers racked up 227.50 points, easily beating second-place Southridge with 154.
“Coming in we looked very vulnerable because two of our wrestlers didn’t make weight (for the postseason),” South Dade coach Victor Balmeceda said. “So these kids had to overcome knowing that we just lost 50 or 60 points in the state tournament. We looked like there was an opportunity to beat us.
“But these guys stood up. They trusted the name across their chest and they felt the edge that South Dade gives you.”
South Dade now has 27 wrestling state championship trophies having also won its seventh Duals state title earlier this year. The 20 IBT titles is the most for any Miami-Dade school and trails only Brandon High’s 28 on the state’s all-time list. The Bucs also won their 12th in a row, which is the second-longest title streak behind Brandon’s 16 in a row from 2001-2017.
“Realistically, anyone would have been happy to get four or five guys in the finals, but we went 18-0 on Day 2 with the quarterfinals and semifinals,” Balmeceda said. “They answered the bell.”
South Dade placed nine wrestlers in the finals and came away with six individual champions, including Guillermo Jaramillo (126), Jovani Solis (138), Elvis Solis (144), Armand Williams (150), Tyree Graham (157) and Willie White (165).
Jovani and Elvis, who are brothers, both won their third state title and both held up three fingers to the crowd after winning their match.
“Going into the tournament I was very excited. This was my last run,” Elvis said. “I just wanted to enjoy the last moments and wrestle my hardest and dominate the matches.”
Jovani, a junior, still has another year of eligibility to seek a fourth state title.
“We put in a lot of hard work and we got the result we wanted,” Jovani said. “My brother is like a role model to me and I want to follow in his path and hopefully be better.”
Additionally, Kaleb Williams (120), Jonathan Moreno (175) and Daguy Massillon (285) finished as state runners-up for South Dade.
Also winning individual 3A state championships were: Lazaro Soto (Southwest) 106, Jovani Tovar (Southridge) 120, Conner Bonney (Palmetto) 175, Myron Mendez (Southwest) 215 and Ryan Miret (Southridge) 285. Bonney and Miret each finished their seasons unbeaten.
Also, Elijah Castanon (Miami Christian) won a 1A title at 106.
Finishing as 3A state runners-up were: Stefano Garcia (Southridge) 126, Dilloon Smith (Southwest) 138 and Christian Soto (Southridge). Gary Mendez (Mater Academy) finished as a 2A runner-up at 106.
Also winning medals: (3A) Third: Drake Bonney (Palmetto) 165, Evangelo Mercado (Southwest) 175; Fourth: Alex Laguardia (Southridge) 106, Damel Martinez (Southridge) 113, Victor Zanolini (Columbus) 120, Didier Novoa (Southwest) 144, Zachary Ruiz (Columbus) 150, Tyrell Robby (Miami Beach Senior) 157; Fifth: Antonio Morales (Southwest) 113, Eliel Santos (Southridge) 190; Sixth: Gary Jackson (Palmetto) 120, Mateus Sgai (Doral) 132, Apollo Benito (Columbus) 215; Seventh: Alfredo Cheang (Southridge) 132, Adlan Dzhabrailov (Miami Beach Senior) 150; Eighth: Nathaniel Williams (South Dade) 132. (2A) Fourth: Kenny Alvarado (Mater Lakes) 157; Eighth: Adonis Severe (North Miami) 165,Bruce Li of (Mater Lakes) 144, Darian Vargas (Mater Lakes) 175. (1A) Fourth: Anthony O`dell (Mater Lakes) 138, Fifth: Mason O`dell (Mater Lakes) 150, Spencer Voss (Miami Christian) 285.