3A-16 Preview: South Dade set to lead loaded ‘District of Doom’
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Last season: South Dade just keeps on winning and they did it again here.
How did Kabra do?: We picked South Dade to win.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Lazaro Soto (SW Miami), Bryan Morales (South Dade), Jovanni Tovar (Miami Southridge), Nathaniel Williams (South Dade), Jovani Solis (South Dade), Elvis Solis (South Dade), Willie White (South Dade), Connor Bonney (Miami Palmetto), Myron Mendez (SW Miami), Ryan Miret (Miami Southridge), Armand Williams (South Dade), Tyree Graham (South Dade), Drake Bonney (Miami Palmetto), Jonathan Moreno (South Dade), Nicholas Santiago (South Dade), Dillon Smith (SW Miami), Didier Novoa (SW Miami), Eliel Santos (Miami Southridge), Gregory Gonzalez (Coral Reef), Kaleb Williams (South Dade), Guillermo Jaramillo (South Dade), Dylan Lopez (Braddock), Leonard Gilley (Miami Southridge), Evangelo Mercado (SW Miami), Damel Martinez (Miami Southridge), Nelson Hued (SW Miami), Daguy Massillon (South Dade), Oscar Llaguno (SW Miami), Anthony Romero (Miami Southridge), Sebastian Gonzalez (SW Miami), Antonio Morales (SW Miami)
The favorite: South Dade. The Bucs are not just the favorites here, but they’re big favorites for another Class 3A state title.
Team to watch: Miami Southridge. Southwest Miami is still ranked #2 in the state, but they could be getting some pressure from their district rival.
District duals: Thursday, January 9 at Miami Southridge
District IBT: Date TBD at Homestead
South Dade Buccaneers (#1/#1)
Coach: Victor Balmeceda (29th year as HC, 32nd at school)
Assistant Coach: Humberto Reyna, Markel Shropshire
23-24 dual record: 16-0
Recent district results: 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1; 2012:1
Last state champions: Bryan Morales, 2024 (106); Elvis Solis, Jr., 2024 (138); Gavin Balmeceda, 2024 (165); Kevin Olavarria, 2024 (175); Christopher Sanchez, 2024 (190); Sawyer Bartelt, 2024 (215).
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Luis Acevedo, 34-3, 2nd, RC, DC; Gavin Balmeceda, 37-4, SC, RC, D2; Christopher Sanchez, 50-6, SC, RC, DC; Sawyer Bartelt, 39-0, SC, RC, DC; Joshua Aviles, 34-4, 2nd, RC, DC; Kevin Olavarria, 41-6, SC, RC, DC; Jaiden Oliver, Jr., 25-8 (Transfer to Lake Gibson)
Notable returning wrestlers: Bryan Morales, Jr., 51-4, SC, RC, DC; Nathaniel Williams, Sr., 40-11, 2nd, R2, D2; Elvis Solis, Sr., 40-0, SC, RC, DC; Tyree Graham, Jr., 63-11, 2nd, RC, DC; Guillermo Jaramillo, Jr., 35-6, RQ, DC; Jonathan Moreno, So., 35-13, 5th, R4, D2; Armand Williams, So., 38-14, 6th, R2, D2; Daguy Massillon, Sr., 40-17, SQ, R4, D2; Matthew Abreu, Sr., 13-12.
New wrestler: Jovani Solis, Fr., 63-0, SC, RC, DC (Transfer from Somerset); Willie White, Sr., 51-6, 3rd, R2, DC (Transfer from SW Miami); Kaleb Williams, Jr., 43-17, 3rd, R3, DC (Transfer from Winter Springs); Nicholas Santiago, Sr., 29-9, SQ, R3, DC (Transfer from Doral Academy)
What they are saying: “We have extremely talented athletes that just love to compete. The bigger the event, the better they seem to wrestle. It is hard to rattle a team that believes with every fiber in their body that they are simply the best.”
On replacing seniors: “We are ready to prove to the rest of the state that “The Dynasty” can keep the streak alive even after graduating six state champs and one state runner-up.”
On this group’s experience: “Whether they are freshmen or seniors, everyone that steps out on that mat with a South Dade singlet on are seasoned vets. Most of our team already have more years of experience than I had when I graduated from college. These young men are talented, savvy and extremely confident about their abilities.”
Outlook: The Bucs graduated five state champions and one state runner-up and are ready to prove to the rest of the state that “The Dynasty” can keep its streak alive.
The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews
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Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Southwest Miami Eagles (#2/#2)
Coach: Mick Arteaga (15th at school)
Assistant coaches: Denys Ribot, Franco Valdes, Sebastian Melguizo, Franklyn Ordonez
23-24 dual record: 10-2
Recent district results: 2024:2; 2023:2; 2022:2; 2021:2; 2020:2; 2019:1-3A15; 2018:1-3A15; 2017:1-3A15; 2016:1-3A15; 2015:1-3A15; 2014:1-3A15; 2013:2-3A15; 2012:2-3A15
Last state champion: Gabriel Tellez, 2024 (126)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gabriel Tellez, 50-4, SC, RC, DC; Angel Delgado, 29-11, 4th, R4, D3; Shannon Davie, 30-11, SQ, R2, D3; Matthew Rubio, 15-19, RQ-BR, D4; Willie White, Sr., 51-6, 3rd, R2, DC (Transfer to South Dade)
Notable returning wrestlers: Myron Mendez, Sr., 41-14, 6th, R2, D2; Dillon Smith, Sr., 51-4, 2nd, RC, DC; Antonio Morales, So., 41-18, 5th, R3, D2; Nelson Hued, So., 30-18, SQ, R2, D3; Lazaro Soto, So., 25-9, RQ-BR, D2; Iam Garcia, Jr., 33-21, SQ, R4, D2; Didier Novoa, Jr., 34-19, RQ-BR, D3; Sebastian Gonzalez, So., 32-6; Evangelo Mercado, Sr., 39-17, RQ, D3; Oscar Llaguno, Sr., 27-16.
New wrestler: Maikol Perdomo, Jr., 17-10, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Coral Park)
What they are saying: “We have great team chemistry and are focused on all of the right things.”
Outlook: The Eagles are loaded again this year with three state placers back and a room filled with wrestlers ready to join them in Kissimmee.
Miami Southridge Spartans (#3/#4)
Coach: Albert Pardo (2nd at school, 27th overall)
Assistant coaches: Manny Nordelo, Alien Cervantes
Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:4; 2022:4-2A16; 2021:1-2A16; 2020:1-2A16; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:2; 2013:3; 2012:7
Last state champion: Frederick Mitchum, 2024 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Frederick Mitchum, 46-5, SC, R2, D2; Jacob Diaz, 26-13, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Ryan Miret, Jr., 46-4, 3rd, RC, DC; Eliel Santos, Sr., 42-17, SQ, R3, D3; Leonard Gilley, Sr., 30-16, RQ, D3; Damel Martinez, Sr., 40-13, 7th, R3, D3; Anthony Romero, Jr., RQ-BR, D3; Alfredo Cheang, So., 29-22, RQ, D3; Daniel Sanchez, Jr., 27-15; Spencer Voss, Sr.
New wrestler: Andres Rojas, Fr., 22-5, RQ, DC (Transfer from Miami Christian); Jovanni Tovar, Fr., 20-0, SC, RC, DC (Transfer from Miami Christian)
What they are saying: “I think this is year one of a team that will be special for at least a few years. We’re very young, but when the season is midway through, people are going to start saying, oh shit, Southridge. I don’t think we’re going to be as much as a surprise as earlier but we also didn’t think it was going to happen this soon.”
On Ryan Miret: “The expectation is that he’s going to be a state champion and I told him that nobody is going to send you the trophy. It’s an expectation that he’ll work to live up to it. And we have a Class 1A state champion here now in Tovar and again, the expectation is there but he’ll have to work to live up to it.”
On implementing his style at Southridge: “It’s a silly line from Star Wars, but Yoda says you have to ‘unlearn what you have learned’ and we have done some of that here. I don’t teach defense as much as I teach counters. I try to teach that counters are your best defense.”
Outlook: The Spartans in any other district in the state might not be able to fly under the radar, but they enter the season ranked #3 in the state - and #3 in this district. The turnaround has been quick and this could be a big year for Southridge.
Miami Palmetto Panthers
Coach: Anthony Fadelle (8th as head coach/28th season)
Assistant coaches: Michael Graham, Ronald Butler
23-24 dual record: 23-8
Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:3; 2022:4; 2021:4; 2020:4; 2019:3; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:3; 2015:3; 2014:3; 2013:2; 2012:2
Last state champion: John Rost, 2002 (135)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Cameron Gallivan, 16-6, D5; Max Luis, 32-18, RQ, D4; Alex Geffrard, 32-14, RQ-BR, D3; Julian Conde, 4-6, D5; Alex Pineda, 32-14, D5.
Notable returning wrestlers: Drake Bonney, Jr., 50-6, 6th, R3, DC; Connor Bonney, Jr., 39-9, 4th, R2, D2; Matthew Padgett, Jr., 24-11, RQ, D4; Adonis Ferro, Sr., 13-9, D5; Adrian Mayari, Sr., 3-5, D6.
New wrestlers: Gary Jackson, Fr.; Marcos Vides-Olivenci, Fr.
What they are saying: “We really feel like we are going to be able to compete with the big dogs. We have a young team but everyone on the team can wrestle and they understand how to wrestle. We’ve been working 3-4 days a week since last season to get better.”
On Palmetto’s history: “I talk about our history. Not many people know the tradition of wrestling that we have and we were the team to beat. Now that we’ve put up the state champions on the wall and they see we’ve had 30 state champions and they see it’s not just a wrestling room and not just talk, but we have a real history here.”
Outlook: Finishing third in this district two straight years is not to be looked down upon, but the Panthers are poised for some bigger breakouts once they take the next step in their development.
Miami Braddock Bulldogs
Coach: Sergio Hernandez (4th season)
Assistant coach: Saul Tejada, Jean Rodriguez
Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:6; 2022:5; 2021:7; 2020:6; 2019:6-3A15; 2018:6-3A15; 2017:7-3A15; 2016:4-3A15; 2015:2-3A15; 2014:2-3A15; 2013:3-3A15; 2012:3-3A15
Last state champion: Alex Victor, 2016 (113)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Noah Sanabria, 41-5, SQ, R2, D2; Luke Snyder, 19-12, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Dylan Lopez, Sr., 26-11, SQ, R4, D2; Danny Tabares, Sr., 33-18, D5; Janmichael Broche, Jr.
What they are saying: “These is more experience than last season, but still many first-year wrestlers will be cutting their teeth. The schedule will be tougher and those with experience should be able to meet the challenge.”
Outlook: The room is filled with first and second-year wrestlers and while there is some talent at the top with Lopez, this will be another season of the Bulldogs learning the ropes and looking to improve.
Homestead Broncos
Coach: Frank Melo (First year)
Assistant coaches: Fernando Melo, Joshua Swann, James Williams, Frank Torres, Alejandro Nodarse
See the 24-25 schedule here
23-24 dual record: 20-8
Recent district results: 2024:5-2A16; 2023:6-2A16; 2022:7-2A16; 2021:5-2A16; 2020:4-2A16; 2019:5; 2018:6; 2017:6; 2016:6; 2015:2-2A16; 2014:2-2A16; 2013:1-2A16; 2012:1-2A16
Last state champion: Earl Hall, 2008 (103)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Trell Jones, 10-9, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Fabio PerezLeguizamo, Sr., 21-12, RQ, D2; Nicholas Rainey, So., 15-8, RQ, D3; Darien Hernandez, Jr., 18-11, RQ, D4; Kemauri Middleton, So., 20-11, RQ, D3; Corey Lester, Jr., 15-7; Maikel German, Sr., 24-11, RQ, D3.
What they are saying: “My expectation this year is to have our first state qualifier in ten years. I feel like I have a good four to five kids to make that happen.”
On taking over at alma mater: “It means the world to us because we’re from these areas, the low-income areas, and that’s a lot of the kids who wrestler for us. When we were on the team, that was a lot of our teammates too. We were district champions as a team here, we were regional champs as a team here, and to bring back the program to how we remember it is probably the most important thing. We want to give these kids a good team, a good program to wrestle for.”
On Fabio PerezLeguizamo: “Fabio is a model student. He’s a Silver Knight candidate. He has a GPA around 3.8. He’s been wrestling since last season was over in all types of tournaments from then until now. He’s probably had over 100 preseason matches already. He hasn’t taken a day off or had a break since since the season started last year. I think his hard work is going to pay off.
Outlook: The Broncos are looking for their first state qualifier since 2015, the last year that twins Frank and Fernando Melo competed for Homestead. The Melos are first-year coaches that have loaded up the state with past state champions and different skillsets to bring out the most in the room.
Coral Gables Cavaliers
Coach: Thomas Hardy (8th season)
Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:7; 2022:8; 2021:5; 2020:8; 2019:4-3A15; 2018:7-3A15; 2017:3-3A15; 2016:3-3A15; 2015:4-3A15; 2014:5-3A15; 2013:6-3A15; 2012:8-3A15
Last state champion: Marino Eatman, 2004 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Diego Imbert, 37-8, SQ, R3, D3; Angel Obando, 23-10, RQ, D4; William Altamirano, 27-14, RQ, D4; John SaintCloud, 12-16, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Levon Johnson, Sr.; Damien Morera, Sr.; Ian Sepulveda, Jr.
What they are saying: “We are a very young team, but are eager to get better.”
On last season: “Last year was one of our better years. We had a state qualifier and some region qualifiers out of our district, which is the toughest in the state. We did graduate a lot of seniors and valuable kids but we have kids behind them that will just have to pick up the slack. It will be interesting because we are very young.”
Outlook: A veteran Cavaliers team placed third in district duals and saw its top wrestlers all graduate. They do have plenty of depth in the room and there will be some new guys ready to step into some roles.
Miami Ferguson Falcons
Coach: Luis Cabal
Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:8; 2020:7; 2019:7-3A15; 2018:4-3A15; 2017:5-3A15; 2016:7-3A15; 2015:6; 2014:5; 2013:6; 2012:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Xavier Gordo, 8-9, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Nikolas Frezzotti, Jr., 16-8, RQ-BR, D4; Jake Fernandez, Sr., 44-15, RQ, D4; Joshua Viera, So., 19-9, RQ, D3; Andres Viera, Jr., 19-14, RQ, D4; Julian Ruiz, Sr., 10-9, D5.
What they are saying: “We have a multitude of high-ranking athletes ready to take it to the next level.”
On leaders: “Jake Fernandez is our team captain and we have a group of junior that have that competitive advantage in the room and they’re really pushing the room.”
On getting out of the district: “We really need to elevate and perform just to get out of our district. It’s hard. We are competing with teams that are nurturing programs since kids are very young. We get athletes who are freshman and we have to develop them to that.”
Outlook: There are 13 seniors in the room from both teams and that leadership will be key. The Falcons also have some developing hammers in the room and could have a group of wrestlers battle for a trip to Kissimmee.
Miami Coral Reef Barracudas
Coach: Miguel Dominguez (12th at school/25th total)
Recent district results: 2024:8; 2023:8; 2022:7; 2021:6; 2020:5; 2019:4; 2018:4; 2017:5; 2016:5; 2015:4; 2014:4; 2013:4; 2012:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Gregory Gonzalez, Sr., 36-11, SQ, R4, D2; Elijah Garcia, Jr., 23-13; Elijah Almonte, Jr.
What they are saying: “We are more experienced and hungry to make the podium at every event we attend.”
On Gregory Gonzalez: “One thing I love about Greg is that he doesn’t really care who he is wrestling. He goes out with the same attitude whether he’s wrestling a nationally-ranked kid or a JV kid. He’s put on a lot of muscle, and he finally went to play football his senior year and I think that’s helped him.”
Outlook: The Barracudas are led by state qualifier Gonzalez who returns with a goal to end the season on the podium. The team is developing, with only three seniors in the starting lineup.
Notes
Rankings listed next to teams are the preseason Kabra rankings in both IBT and Duals. (IBT/Dual)
Rankings listed in front of wrestlers are the official Kabra Wrestling preseason rankings
SC = State Champion last season
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th = State placer
SQ = State qualifier
RC = Region champion
R2, R3, R4 = Region placer
RQ-BR = Region qualifiers who reached the blood round
RQ = Region qualifier
DC = District champions
D2, D3, D4, D5, D6 = District placer