South Dade returns to top of 3A state duals
BY BRANT PARSONS — The journey to the Class 3A state duals championship for South Dade started after a stinging semifinal loss in last year’s dual.
“That one night after the loss we had bad feelings and bad emotions,” Sawyer Bartelt said. “We used that as motivation for the rest of the year and we really pushed ourselves hard the past 2-3 weeks to grind it out and make sure we got this title back.”
On Saturday, the Bucs excised the ghosts of a season before with a convincing 44-9 win over Kissimmee Osceola to claim the schools’ fifth state duals title in the six years that it’s been held.
“We have ten kids that experienced that loss last season,” Balmeceda said. “Kids that aren’t usually leaders were stepping up and saying the right things and running the laps extra hard and they were on point about everything because of that bitter taste in their mouth. They weren’t going to let it happen again.”
South Dade won the first eight bouts that were contested to build a 33-0 lead.
Ansel Cervantes (195), Bartelt (285), Bryan Morales (106), Guillermo Jaramillo (113), Luis Acevedo (120), Joshua Aviles (126), Tyree Graham (132), and Elvis Solis (138) all picked up wins.
Cordell White (160) and Chris Sanchez (182) also earned victories for South Dade.
The three losses came to Osceola’s defending state champions Anderson Heap, Cooper Haase, and Gunner Holland.
Misha Arbos jumped out to a 5-2 lead on Heap at 145 pounds, before the Osceola junior battled back and eventually forced overtime where Heap eventually prevailed 10-7.
Gavin Balmeceda got the first takedown in his match with Haase before the three-time defending state champion evened the match in the second period. Haase would complete the win in the third with a takedown to seal a 6-3 victory.
At 170 pounds, Lawrence Rosario battled two-time state champion Holland to a 1-1 tie until the Osceola junior scored the winning takedown with 23 seconds left.
“I feel more accomplished for the three kid who lost in this dual meet,” Balmeceda said. “We went toe-to-toe with the best kids in the nation.”
“To keep it close with those three guys makes it that much more special because even in our losses we proved something.”
The runner-up finish completed a solid weekend for the Kowboys after they showcased some depth in beating Palmetto Ridge for the 3A-2 region duals title and then Fort Pierce Central in the state semifinals.
“Osceola has done a great job to get to the finals, they’re well-coached and they battle,” Balmeceda said.
Final
South Dade 44, Kissimmee Osceola 9
195: Ansel Cervantes (SD) dec. Jomar Sanchez (O) 7-5; 220: Double FF; 285: Sawyer Bartelt (SD) p. Elijah Vansickle (O) 1:21; 106: Bryan Morales (SD) p. Kealonie Vega (O) 3:37; 113: Guillermo Jaramilo (SD) maj. Talyn Fisk (O) 16-6; 120: Luis Acevedo (SD) dec. Evan Martinez (O) SV-1 5-3; 126: Joshua Aviles (SD) dec. Isfandier Sharipov (O) 7-4; 132: Tyree Graham (SD) dec. Davian Rivera (O) 12-7; 138: Elvis Solis (SD) p. Samuel Giraldo (O) 17-1; 145: Anderson Heap (O) dec. Misha Arbos (SD) TB-1 10-7; 152: Cooper Haase (O) dec. Gavin Balmeceda (SD) 6-3; 160: Cordell White (SD) p. Deacon Delong (O) 0:58; 170: Gunner Holland (O) dec. Lawrence Rosario (SD) 3-1; 182: Chris Sanchez (SD) tech. Bryan Gari (O) 15-0.
Semifinals
South Dade 67, DeLand 12
106: Bryan Morales (SD) p. Edwin Alsina (D) 1:22; 113: Encarnacion Obby (SD) p. Tyler Bracero (D) 2:21; 120: Luis Acevedo (SD) maj. Phoenix Krauth (D) 9-1; 126: Nathaniel Williams (SD) maj. Grady Bryant (D) 11-3; 132: Tyree Graham (SD) p. Peyton Senez (D) 0:56; 138: Elvis Solis (SD) tech. Kellen Chapman (D) 22-4; 145: Joshua Folsom (D) p. Matthew Abreu (SD) 1:24; 152: Gavin Balmeceda (SD) p. Mathias Franz (D) 1:26; 160: Cordell White (SD) p. Zane Canada (D) 0:20; 170: Lawrence Rosario (SD) p. Mason Perkins (D) 1:42; 182: Chris Sanchez (SD) p. Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro (D) 4:54; 195: Ansel Cervantes (SD) p. Garrett Perkins (D) 1:52; 220: Sawyer Bartelt (SD) by FF; 285: Marion Smokes (D) p. Marcelo Rosario (SD) 3:14.
Kissimmee Osceola 38, Fort Pierce Central 30
182: Aidan Madden (FTPC) dec. Bryan Gari (O) 5-4; 195: Jomar Sanchez (O) p. Malankov Daceus (FTPC) 5:35; 220: Hernan Ortiz (FTPC) dec. Elijah Vansickle (O) 4-1; 285: Alaq Dowd-Grant (FTPC) p. Joshua Fuentas (O) 1:14; 106: Myles Henkel (FTPC) dec. Kealonie Vega (O) 8-7; 113: Talyn Fisk (O) maj. Brittney Vincens (FTPC) 9-1; 120: Daniel Echeverria (FTPC) p. Noah Shriver (O) 0:36; 126: Evan Martinez (O) by FF; 132: Isfandier Sharipov (O) maj. Ashton Hager (FTPC) 10-2; 138: Jayden Romanello (FTPC) p. Davian Rivera (O) 1:40; 145: Anderson Heap (O) p. Damion Allison (FTPC) 3:21; 152: Cooper Haase (O) p. JT Apicella (FTPC) 3:07; 160: Gunner Holland (O) p. Bryan Malara (FTPC) 1:53; 170: Colin Madden (FTPC) dec. Deacon Delong (O) 5-4.
