Bell Creek honors teammates’ mom, wins title | Thursday recap
BY BRANT PARSONS — This year’s road to a district title was a tougher one for Bell Creek Academy.
The Panthers lost four starters off of last year’s team, including two state placers. Then before the season, one of the seniors, Judy Lubin, lost her mother Cheryl.
“She was one of our biggest supporters and an amazing person,” Bell Creek coach Willie Murphy said. “We dedicated our season to her.”
The patch that Bell Creek wrestlers are wearing on this shirt this year to honor Cheryl Lubin. The C is for Cheryl and the J is for senior Judy. (Photo courtesy of Bell Creek Wrestling)
On Thursday, Bell Creek honored her memory by winning the girls 1A-9 district title, edging out Strawberry Crest by 13 points in the team race. It was the third straight district win for the Panthers.
“This team will always be remembered for all the adversity they overcame,” Murphy said.
Every point is important in a tight team race and Madisyn Kowal rallied for a huge win against her Strawberry Crest opponent in the third place match at 115 pounds. Kowal trailed 16-2 after two periods and was one point away from losing by technical fall when the third period begin.
The freshman scored a takedown and pinned her opponent, picking up placement and bonus points and keeping her opponent from doing the same.
“That was a pivotal head-to-head win that helped us win the title,” Murphy said.
On the day, Bell Creek advanced seven wrestlers to next weekend’s region tournament with Jessie Griffin (105) winning an individual title. The seventh-grader was the youngest in school history to win a district crown.
Ten different schools finished with a district champion with Newsome’s Grace Jawulski (100), Strawberry Crest’s Jordan Deglace (110) and Ariel Goble (130), Durant’s Evelyn Valdespino-Fierro (115), East Bay’s Shaniah Martinez (120), Brandon’s Caly Rodriguez (125), Bloomingdale’s Tatiana Ruiz Hernandez (135), Tampa Bay Tech’s Afiyah McLean (140), Sumner’s Lilyanna Nolan (145), Mariska Gray (190), and Hazuki Sykes (235), and Plant City’s Yadira Rivas (155), and Isabelle Broeders (170) all winning.
South Dade makes it four-for-four in district titles
South Dade’s girls Have some big goals for the postseason and on Thursday they got the road kicked off in style, winning the girls 1A-16 district title.
“The team performed great overall and showed lots of grit today,” South Dade girls wrestling coach Chino Duran said. “What’s stood out to me were those tough matches that came down to the last second and we came out on top.”
Five South Dade wrestlers finished op top of the podium.
Beyonce Espinosa (115), Willow White (120), Arianna Garcia (135), Shamari Smith (140), and Geraldine Honore (145) all won titles for the Bucs.
Lydia Gonzalez (100) and Rebekkah Kinkade (110) also both reached the finals.
“A year ago we would have dropped most if not all those tough match ups,” Duran said. “This year the girls just believe in the overall vision of this program and that’s to become the very best.”
The Bucs automatically advanced 11 wrestlers to next weekend’s region tournament and likely will have a 12th when the brackets are released because of open spots from other districts.
“This was a very good springboard forward to motivate our younger girls,” Duran said. “We have the region tournament at home next weekend and we are looking forward to defending the title and qualifying as many girls as possible.”
North Miami had a strong tournament, finishing second with 199 points, just 45 behind the Bucs.
Isis Severe (130), Mya Bethel (155), and Shenshaila Baron (170) won titles for the Pioneers.
It was a fourth-straight district for Bethel. She is looking to become Florida’s first-ever four-time girls state champion and has not lost a high school match.
Also winning individual titles were Florida Christian’s Melissa Gallo (100) and Rachel Silva (125), Doral Academy’s Rebecca Marin (105) and Tessa Diaz (190), Miami Southridge’s Abigail Gonzalez (110), and Southwest Miami’s Camila Halaby-Bravo (235).
Boca Ciega wins fourth straight
Boca Ciega made it four-for-four with a strong team performance in winning the girls 1A-10 district title on Wednesday.
The Pirates advanced 10 wrestlers to next weekend’s region tournament.
Brenda Games (125) and Kinea Moore (235) both won titles for the Pirates with Raziah Mills (110), Artavia Sanders (135), and India Graham (155) reaching the finals.
Other champions were Palm Harbor University’s Sophie Booe (100), Savannah Stephan (110), and Addison Hartley (120), St. Petersburg’s Isabella Angulo (105), Admiral Farragut’s Vanessa Whitelock (115), Emma Goodman (135), and Riley Lancaster (170), Dunedin’s Arianna Wilson (130), St. Pete Northeast’s Gwendolyn Anderson (140), Gibbs’ Cohlee Abbott (145), Jefferson’s Janessa Gomez (155), Countryside’s Cerenity Whiting (190).
Wellington stays dominant in district, wins fourth title
Wellington scored 192 points and cruised to the team title at the girls 1A-14 district tournament on Thursday.
It was a true team effort as the Wolverines advanced 11 of 12 wrestlers to the region tournament.
“We have such a great group of girls this year that are very tight knit and growing together,” coach Travis Gray said. “We have three seniors this year that have been with us, which was very helpful for them to help set the tone for our new girls that just got involved this year.”
Alyssa Garcia (105), Emma Kosza (115), and Morgan Suniga (135) won district title for Wellington.
Garcia suffered a devastating injury in the preseason and was just cleared this week to compete.
“Having her come out and win a district title was a huge boost to the team,” Gray said.
Coral Springs finished as runners-up with Abigail Moyer (130) and Arheanna Bryan (190) winning district titles for the Colts.
Monarch’s Rosie Kleine (100), and Park Vista’s Sophia DeAngeles (110), Sheyla Ochoa Salgado (120), and Samantha Tobia (125), Jupiter’s Aubrey Brunnett (140), Olympic Heights’ Alli Blanco-Cruz (145), Forest Hill’s Christal Desir (155), Douglas’ Ariana Blanc (170), and Deerfield Beach’s Dynasty Gass (235) all won titles.
South Broward repeats at district title winners
In a tight race, South Broward won the girls 1A-15 district title.
The Bulldogs advanced eight wrestlers to the region tournament and finished with 156 points, 14 more than runner-up Western.
Latoya Sylvestre (190) won a district title for South Broward.
Western’s Tiffany Francisco (105), Avery Presser (110), Micayla Hull (115), and Rebecca Mashian (130) won titles to lead the Wildcats to that second-place finish.
Cooper City’s Alexandra Thomas (100), Mater Lakes’ Arianna Ruiz (120) and Alena Rik (155), Archbishop McCarthy’s Kaileia Villaviciencio (125) and Anna-Sofia Baker (145), Miami Norland’s Nayeli Chinique (135), Everglades’ London Yelder (140), Dr. Krop’s Jada Haughton (170) and Flanagan’s Kaylie Eugene (235) all won individual titles.
Click here for complete results from 1A-15 (PDF)
On Today’s Schedule
G1A-5: at Ocoee, 1 p.m.
G1A-7: at George Jenkins, 4 p.m.
Friday’s duals
Delray Beach Atlantic at Boca Raton
Lake Weir at Dunnellon (Senior Night)
South Fort Myers at St. John Neumann (Senior Night)
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
