North Bay Haven’s David Mercado makes jump to top of the podium

North Bay Haven’s David Mercado has his arm lifted after winning his first state title in the Class 1A 220-pound final at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

BY BRANT PARSONS —When the decision was made to move up a weight class just days before the FHSAA wrestling postseason began, there wasn't much time for North Bay Haven's David Mercado to prepare for facing bigger opponents.

The junior competed at 195 pounds during the season and often gave up five pounds to opponents without even having to cut weight, but he quickly saw a benefit to moving up to 220 pounds.

The bigger opponents had a more noticeable tell when they started to get tired.

"I was able to keep up explosive moments all the way to the end," Mercado said. “And in the bigger guys, it’s just easier to see in their body when they’re tired and they can only move fast for so long.”

Mercado, who begin jiu-jitsu at six years old, has thrived in the sport he started as a freshman by having a better motor than his opponents thanks to his competition experience in jiu-jitsu.

“In jiu-jitsu there’s the same amount of time just without individual periods,” Mercado said. “I was used to going all six minutes and I wasn’t getting tired like most of my opponents.”

This next season will bring an additional challenge for the rising senior - he's now a marked man.

"I was very happy afterwards but even after the initial rush from winning, there was the realization that I have to defend a title now," Mercado said. "I have more to lose than I normally would as a kid that just placed but now, I’m a champ and people want to beat me.”

It's a position that brings both anxiety and excitement for Mercado, who knows that he'll take everybody's best shot while trying to work to defend his title.

"I’m going to have to start working even harder during practice to make sure I can keep the title," Mercado said. “I need to keep going over the summer, I can’t slack or anything because there’s more to it now.”

Mercado celebrates his state title victory with North Bay Haven coach Zane Turnipseed. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

STATE CHAMPION FEATURES

Kabra Wrestling is looking to feature as many state champions as we can over the next few months and tell a little story about what makes them special.

If you won a state championship and would like to be featured, please contact Kabra Wrestling to set up an interview.

2023 State Champions

3A-106: Andrew Punzalan (Cypress Bay)

3A-113: Tyler Washburn (Palmetto Ridge)

3A-120: Luis Acevedo (South Dade)

3A-126: Ethan Vugman (Bartram Trail)

3A-132: Cavarius Liddie (Buchholz)

3A-138: Elvis Solis (South Dade)

3A-145: Anderson Heap (Kissimmee Osceola)

3A-152: Cooper Haase (Kissimmee Osceola)

3A-160: Adrian Ochoa (Southwest Miami)

3A-170: Lawrence Rosario (South Dade)