State champion Gabriela Caro thrives under pressure

Douglas’ Gabriela Caro has her hand raised after winning the 125-pound weight class at the FHSAA State Wrestling Championships at Silver Spurs Arena in March. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

BY BRANT PARSONS — Douglas’ Gabriela Caro doesn’t feel pressure.

Whether she is competing on the wrestling mat or giving life-saving CPR to her mother, Caro always remains calm.

She credits her years of competing at a high level in jiu-jitsu.

“I think the experience of jiu-jitsu and all of the competitions that I’ve done just allows me to be calm going into matches,” Caro said. “And I also think that jiu-jitsu is what allowed me to be so calm when I had to give CPR.”

In March, Caro finished off a 21-0 season with an 8-4 win over Sarasota Military Academy’s Christina Turner in the girls state final of the 125-pound weight class.

The junior Caro is in just her second season wrestling and reached the state final in her first year.

“All of the hard work paid off,” Caro said of winning. “After reaching the finals in my first year I realized that if I really put in the work and put my mind to it and commit that I could go for this.”

Caro, who has won two world title and two Pan American titles in jiu-jitsu, always wanted to wrestle when she got to high school. At first, she figured it would be a way to develop skills for jiu-jitsu, but fell in love with the sport while also having success.

Caro doesn’t know if wrestling will be in her future after her upcoming season but she does plan to be a doctor, something she’s always wanted to pursue.

“I’m a very loving person,” Caro said. “And I don’t want to be a doctor for the money, I want to be a doctor because I want to help people.”

Her mother’s situation just intensified her desire to become a doctor.

Back in 2020, Lisette Caro collapsed in a full cardiac arrest while Gabriella and her brother were home. Gabriela called 911 and dispatchers talked her through CPR while waiting for the paramedics to arrive.

Gabriela’s actions saved her mother’s life and the doctors that treated her back to health left their mark on her.

“Seeing how much doctors impact other people’s lives and making a connection with just solidified me wanting to be a doctor even more,” Caro said. “I got to see how much doctors can affect other people.”

The moment also influenced her view on life.

“It definitely changed my outlook on life,” Caro said. “If you are going to do something, give it all you have and there’s no reason to hold back because anything can happen at any moment.”

For her senior season, Caro would like to defend her title and finish school a two-time champ, but that’s not her focus now.

She takes things one day - and one match - at a time.

“All of my training is aiming toward getting first at state but I’m also just going to take it one match at a time and just focus on each match while it’s happening.”

No matter what though, you know Caro will be able handle the pressure.

Gabriela Caro is the first girls state champion in Douglas history. (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)