South Dade dominates field on way to seventh duals title
KISSIMMEE — On paper, this year’s South Dade team might not look as strong as recent Buccaneer teams.
But that’s why they don’t wrestle on paper.
South Dade was commanding at the FHSAA State Duals Tournament, winning its seventh duals state title with a 64-3 win over Wellington.
Over the three duals, the Bucs outscored their opponents 195-12 and only losing one match in each dual.
“This is not the most dominant team we've had and they just came here and dominated,” coach Vic Balmeceda said. “We always strive to do something a little bit different each year so the fact that we dominated is something that I'll brag about and that's what I will remember about this team.”
South Dade won the first eight bouts in the final with Tyree Graham leading it off at 157 pounds with a major decision win.
Willie White (165), Jonathan Moreno (175), Brandon Valdes (190), Jamie Freeney (215), Daguy Massillon (285), Jose Callava (106), and Bryan Morales (113) all scored wins for the Bucs, who raced out to a 40-0 lead.
Massillon’s 4-3 win over Liam Higgins was his first against the Wellington senior. Higgins was 2-0 on the season in meetings between the two.
Wellington’s Mark Bonfante picked up the Wolverine’s win at 120 pounds with a 7-6 win over Kaleb Williams.
The Bucs then finished with wins from Guillermo Jaramilo (126), Nathaniel Williams (132), Jovani Solis (138), Elvis Solis (144), and Armand Williams (150).
For the weekend, South Dade had 17 different wrestlers win a match as some younger guys added to the fun.
“We had first-year wrestlers here and they won,” Balmeceda said. “We brought extras and we were able to get them all out there and when you can get your young kids in and wrestle on this level, then when you need them next year, they've already been here.”
South Dade’s Willie White battles Wellington’s Mac Andrews in the state duals final. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)
Top-ranked White was one of those South Dade’s 17 winners.
White, a senior transfer from SW Miami, went 2-0 and won a Top 3 matchup in the final.
“This feels so great to win,” White said while admiring his medal. “I've never won states before so this feeling is totally new.”
White has blossomed with the Bucs and is 34-0 on the season and got to play a part in leading South Dade to the win.
“These guys make me so much better. They've made me a better person and everything,” White said. “I love these guys.”
Semifinals
South Dade won 13 of 14 matches against George Jenkins to advance to the finals.
Wellington scored wins from James Kosza (165), Mac Andrews (175), Roderick Jones (215), Liam Higgins (285), Jaden Williams (113), Mark Bonfante (120), Kai Benedetti (132), and Tyler Gray (138) to knock off Hagerty 40-28.
South Dade 64, Wellington 3
106: Jose Callava (SD) p. Kai Kihei (W) 0:28; 113: Bryan Morales (SD) p. Jaden Williams (W) 1:42; 120: Mark Bonfante (W) dec. Kaleb Williams (SD) 7-6; 126: Guillermo Jaramilo (SD) tech. Connor Walshe (W) 16-1; 132: Nathaniel Williams (SD) maj. Kai Benedetti (W) 10-2; 138: Jovani Solis (SD) tech. Tyler Gray (W) 16-1; 144: Elvis Solis (SD) p. Nikolas Gray (W) 0:13; 150: Armand Williams (SD) tech. Cael Mitton (W) 17-2; 157: Tyree Graham (SD) maj. James Kosza (W) 15-3; 165: Willie White (SD) tech. Mac Andrews (W) 20-4; 175: Jonathan Moreno (SD) p. Leland Snelgrove (W) 1:30; 190: Brandon Valdes (SD) dec. Julian Perez (W) 3-2; 215: Jamie Freeney (SD) p. Roderick Jones (W) 1:37; 285: Daguy Massillon (SD) dec. Liam Higgins (W) 4-3.
Wellington 40, Hagerty 28
106: Chase Wolgamuth (H) p. Kai Kihei (W) 0:17; 113: Jaden Williams (W) dec. Brentley Crawley (H) 9-5; 120: Mark Bonfante (W) p. Brandon Khamis (H) 0:17; 126: Hunter Jessee (H) maj. Connor Walshe (W) 14-6; 132: Kai Benedetti (W) p. Aurelio Gutierrez (H) 4:36; 138: Tyler Gray (W) maj. James Zena (H) 12-0; 144: Ben Wolgamuth (H) maj. Nikolas Gray (W) 8-0; 150: Nikolas Blake (H) p. Luis Gonzalez (W) 1:19; 157: Josue Batista (H) dec. Cael Mitton (W) 11-7; 165: James Kosza (W) dec. Aiden Wood (H) 7-4; 175: Mac Andrews (W) p. Gavin Nelson (H) 1:47; 190: Thomas Thorne (H) tech. Leland Snelgrove (W) 17-2; 215: Roderick Jones (W) p. Jude DiCicco (H) 1:42; 285: Liam Higgins (W) p. Bradley Sealander (H) 2:00.
South Dade 65, George Jenkins 6
150: Armand Williams (SD) tech. Kaleeb Tribbett (GJ) 19-4; 157: Tyree Graham (SD) p. Braxton Gerber (GJ) 1:23; 165: Matthew Abreu (SD) p. Rakeem Green (GJ) 12-7; 175: Jonathan Moreno (SD) dec. Jackson Lietz (GJ) 2-0; 190: Raymond Shaw (GJ) p. Brandon Valdes (SD) 1:12; 215: Jamie Freeney (SD) p. Jaxson Peugh (GJ) 0:42; 285: Daguy Massillon (SD) dec. Elliot Ortiz (GJ) 2-0; 106: Jose Callava (SD) dec. Joseph Handley (GJ) 12-6; 113: Bryan Morales (SD) p. Andrew Taylor (GJ) 1:17; 120: Kaleb Williams (SD) p. Everett Smith (GJ) 0:45; 126: Cameron Haines (SD) p. Kyle Gay (GJ) 2:00; 132: Nathaniel Williams (SD) p. Michael Woodruff (GJ) 3:02; 138: Jordan Fearon (SD) p. Zavious Brown (GJ) 5:05; 144: Elvis Solis (SD) p. Adriel Jaramillo (GJ) 0:15.
