State champion Kendall Bibla shares joy of winning, love of wrestling with sister Brielle

Matanzas’ Kendall Bibla (L) celebrates her state title with sister Brielle Bibla after winning the 145-pound weight class at the FHSAA State Wrestling Championships at Silver Spurs Arena in March. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

BY BRANT PARSONS —When Matanzas’ Kendall Bibla won her Florida state wrestling title back in March, her sister Brielle was standing mat side waiting to celebrate.

It was a fitting moment for the two siblings and training partners.

“She has helped me with everything,” Kendall said of her sister. “She’s why I started my wrestling career. I would watch her do these great things and I was just like ‘wow’, I want to do that too.”

There was no hint on her sister Brielle’s face that minutes before Kendall’s win she had fallen just short of her own state champion goal in the final. Brielle was all smiles for her sister.

“She made me love the sport and I wouldn’t have become who I am or even a state champion without her,” Bibla said.

Kendall started wrestling in 8th grade after having spent time in both karate and jiu-jitsu after watching her sister wrestle, and at the suggestion of her jiu-jitsu coach.

After a fifth place finish at the FHSAA State Tournament, Kendall entered this year’s state tournament in Marh looking to improve on that finish.

At the state tournament, Bibla pinned her first three opponents, spending less than five minutes total on the mat in those wins.

That set up a region final rematch with Katherine Stewart.

The Bartram Trail junior had pinned Bibla in the region finals and was 3-0 during the season, including a win in the district final too.

Bibla never trailed in the final, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first period before earning the state title with a major decision win and sparking the emotional celebration.

“I still can’t believe it to this day,” Bibla said on winning. “All of my coaches, my family and friends have helped me so much to get where I am, and I’m really glad that it happened.”

Along with winning an individual state title, Kendall got to enjoy winning a state team title with Brielle and their new team at Matanzas.

After spending the first year of sanctioned wrestling at Tocoi Creek, the duo moved to Matanzas and were part of the team that won the team championship in March.

“Because we didn’t have a team who really cared about us so we decided we wanted a team that was going to support me and my teammates,” Bibla said. “My coaches and teammates (at Matanzas) have really shown me what family is in the wrestling world and I’m glad to have to joined them and that I’m going to be there for the next two years.”

Most of her teammates at Matanzas will be back next season but there will be one big missing component - Brielle - who is off to wrestle at the University of Mount Olive.

“It will definitely be a bit weird with not having her here to help and not be my warmup partner but I think I can finally now set the example because she’s the one who was my leader and now, I can be the next leader because she showed me how to be one.”

Kendall Bibla celebrates her state title with Matanzas girls wrestling head coach Michael Fries. (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)