Over the past 59 years, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties have certainly had their share of elite wrestlers.
In that time there were numerous state champions and highly-regarded nationally rated performers.
When the 2024 state wrestling championships get under way on Thursday afternoon (12:30) at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee – while team and individual state titles are up for grabs, all eyes will be on South Dade senior 215-pounder Sawyer Bartelt.
Considered one of the best of this generation, this amazing Iowa State-bound standout will be after his fourth consecutive state championship at the high school level after a fifth-place finish as a seventh grader and second as an 8th grader.
When the competition begins, this amazing athlete (also All County football defensive end) will bring a high school record of 163-0 into the three days of competition.
Bartelt is one of 11 wrestlers who head into the state championships from Miami-Dade and Broward with an undefeated record.
In 3A, his teammate Elvis Solis Jr. (South Dade) 36-0, Jr. is also unbeaten. In 1A, eighth grade 106-pounder Jovanni Tovar (Miami Christian School) 16-0 and 132-pounder Jovani Solis (Somerset) 59-0 have not lost.
144-pound senior Frankie Florio (Cardinal Gibbons) 20-0 and Coral Springs Charter 190-pound eighth grader Peter Mocco (13-0), and Miami SLAM Academy 285-pound senior Darren Georges comes in at 6-0.
The girls also have four – with multiple state champions Gabriela “Gaby” Caro (Douglas, 130 – 14-0, Sr.), Sofia Delgado (Coral Park, 140 – 33-0, Sr.) and Mya Bethel (North Miami, 155 - 34-0, Jr.) along with Mater Lakes eighth grader Abigail Gonzalez (Mater Lakes, 105 - 13-0).
TEAM TITLE
1A
Expect a real dogfight between Pembroke Pines Somerset and Mater Lakes with Cardinal Gibbons also staying in the fight along with Live Oak Suwannee, Palm Bay and Zephyrhills Christian.
In 2A, Lake Gibson and Tampa Jesuit are always fighting it out, but longtime power Brandon, Merritt Island and Fleming Island will be in the hunt along with Miramar, who led Region 4 after the first day last week.
3A
This is perennial powerhouse South Dade’s team title to lose – plain an simple. The Bucs are a machine! Keep an eye on Southwest Miami, Naples Palmetto Ridge, host Kissimmee Osceola, Wellington and Orlando Timber Creek.
GIRLS
Palm Coast Matanzas is the defending champion and will be tough to beat and will hold off city rival Flagler Palm Coast. Keep an eye on Fort Myers Riverdale, South Dade, Wellington and Mater Lakes.
There will be 152 boys and girls from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties who will be in action this year.
BOYS
3A
106
Bryan Morales (South Dade) 47-4
Rocco Ruiz (Doral Academy) 28-4, 8th
Damel Martinez (Miami Southridge) 37-11
Rocco Duygulu (Douglas) 36-4, Jr.
113
Christian Vazquez (Doral Academy) 38-1, Sr.
Lajuan Ingraham (Miami Beach Senior) 19-7, Fr.
Antonio Morales (Southwest Miami) 37-16.
Alexander Laguardia (Miami Southridge) 23-17, So.
120
Luis Acevedo (South Dade) 31-2, Sr.
Fredrick Mitchum (Miami Southridge) 42-5, Sr.
David Leiva (Douglas) 32-2, Jr.
Angel Delgado (Southwest Miami) 26-9, Sr.
126
Gabriel Tellez (Southwest Miami) 46-4, Sr.
Nathaniel Williams (South Dade) 37-10, Jr.
Diego Imbert (Coral Gables) 36-6, Sr.
David Yagerman (Nova) 32-5, Sr.
132
Dillon Smith (Southwest Miami) 48-3, Jr.
Armand Williams (South Dade) 38-14, Fr.
Joshua Whitter (South Plantation) 45-4, Sr.
Alejandro Rodriguez (Miami Beach) 38-9, Sr.
138
Elvis Solis Jr. (South Dade) 36-0, Jr.
Noah Sanabria (Braddock) 40-3, Sr.
Alec Gonzalez (Columbus) 54-18, Sr.
Adlan Dzhabrailov (Miami Beach) 38-12, So.
144
Tyree Graham (South Dade) 60-10, So.
Nelson Hued (Southwest Miami) 29-16, Fr.
Tyrell Robby (Miami Beach) 44-3
Dylan Lopez (Braddock) 25-9, Jr.
150
Joshua Aviles (South Dade) 31-3, Sr.
Zachary Ruiz (Columbus) 41-13, Jr.
Omar Faris (Western) 28-2, Sr.
Iam Garcia (Southwest Miami) 33-19, So.
157
Jose Gutierrez (Doral Academy) 39-3, Jr.
Shannon Davie (Southwest Miami) 29-9, Sr.
Drake Bonney (Miami Palmetto) 48-3, So.
Jonathan Moreno (South Dade) 31-11, Fr.
165
Gavin Balmeceda (South Dade) 33-4, Sr.
Willie White (Southwest Miami) 46-5, Jr.
Naushad Bashir (South Plantation) 44-6, Sr.
Cedric Daniels (Nova) 30-7, Sr.
175
Kevin Olavarria (South Dade) 41-6, Sr.
Connor Bonney (Miami Palmetto) 36-7, So.
Nicholas Santiago (Doral Academy) 28-7, Jr.
Mateo Martinez (South Broward) 38-4, So.
190
Christopher Sanchez (South Dade) 46-6, Sr.
Myron Mendez (Southwest Miami) 39-11, Jr.
Eliel Santos (Miami Southridge) 41-15, Jr.
Kenneth Canales (Columbus) 38-11, Sr.
215
Sawyer Bartelt (South Dade) 35-0, Sr.
Nathan Adras (Dr. Krop) 36-4, Sr.
Joel Carillo (Doral Academy) 32-9, Sr.
Gregory Gonzalez (Coral Reef) 36-9, Jr.
285
Ryan Miret (Miami Southridge Hs) 42-3, So.
Apollo Benito (Columbus) 21-7, Jr.
Maxmiliano Taboada (West Broward) 48-6, Sr.
Daguy Massillon (South Dade) 39-15, Jr.
2A
106
Gary Mendez (Mater Academy) 47-8, So.
Joshua Sanchez (Felix Varela) 23-5, Sr.
113
Ericson Coney (Mater Academy) 44-9, 8th.
Rahsaan Robinson (Miami Norland Senior) 27-10, Sr.
120
Dully Brutus (Miramar) 35-8, Jr.
126
Quinton Brownlee (Miramar) 32-9, Sr.
Yaisel O`farrill (Mater Academy) 29-9, Fr.
132
Gregory Mendez (Mater Academy) 49-5, Sr.
Salaahddinn Hightower (Dillard) 36-6, Sr.
Ranzer Wallace (American Senior) 5-4, Sr.
138
Luis Rosa (Archbishop McCarthy) 43-7, Sr.
Famous Nealy (Miramar) 28-8, Jr.
144
Jordan Pineda (Felix Varela) 39-7, Jr.
Isaac Jacobs (Plantation American Heritage School) 36-7, Sr.
150
Dylan Sweeney (Felix Varela) 23-2, Sr.
Maddox Buth (St. Thomas Aquinas) 36-13, Sr.
157
Gerson Alette (North Miami) 50-6, Sr.
Isaac Fayer (Plantation American Heritage School) 48-3, So.
Dylan Ibanez (Archbishop McCarthy) 38-17, Sr.
165
Jovany Franklin (Miami Norland Senior) 30-16, Sr.
Adonis Severe (North Miami) 40-12, Jr.
175
Maximiliano Munoz-lysius (Archbishop McCarthy) 41-13, Sr.
190
Jivari Milton (Miramar) 27-7, Sr.
215
Lucson Emile (Dillard) 43-5, Sr.
Maxinot Mondesir (Miramar) 18-4, Sr.
285
Noel Guycen (Mater Academy) 16-11, So.
Samuel Boatwright (Archbishop McCarthy) 22-19, Fr.
1A
106
Jovanni Tovar (Miami Christian School) 16-0, 8th.
Cano Austin (Somerset) 31-13, 6th.
Andres Garcia (Cardinal Gibbons) 28-12, Fr.
113
Jake Austin (Somerset) 51-4, 8th.
Kellen Mesina (Mater Lakes Academy) 23-7, So.
Jason Ramirez (SLAM Academy) 29-6, So.
120
Matteo Gonzalez (Somerset) 42-8, 7th.
Christopher Greene (Mater Lakes Academy) 14-4, Fr.
126
Ethan Tran (Mater Lakes Academy) 21-4, Fr.
Dylan Fernandez (Somerset) 39-16, Fr.
R.J. Linares (Miami Westminster Christian) 34-9, So.
132
Jovani Solis (Somerset) 59-0, 8th.
Anthony O`Dell (Mater Lakes Academy) 22-6, Jr.
138
Malikai Badillo (Mater Lakes Academy) 16-6, Sr.
Darion Shannon (Somerset) 34-12, Fr.
144
Frankie Florio (Cardinal Gibbons) 20-0, Jr.
Preston Lindsay (Coral Springs Charter School) 52-11, Jr.
Eric Hodge (Somerset) 50-8, Jr.
150
Luis Bellon (Somerset) 31-6, Jr.
Bryan Picallo (Cardinal Gibbons) 13-1, Jr.
Kenny Alvarado (Mater Lakes Academy) 33-13, Jr.
157
Kalias Nazario (Mater Lakes Academy) 29-2, So.
Nicholas Lopez (Cardinal Gibbons) 28-3, Sr.
Dylan Gonzalez (Miami Florida Christian) 24-7.
165
Kendrick Hodge (Somerset) 51-3, Sr.
Bluny Davilma (Miami Central) 15-4, Jr.
Jason Simmons (Cardinal Gibbons) 27-4, Sr.
175
Myles Sadeek (Mater Lakes Academy) 33-8, Sr.
Noah Perez (Somerset) 48-6, Sr.
Dominic Pantuso (Cardinal Gibbons) 33-8, Sr.
Andrew Lopez (Miami Westminster Christian School) 23-17, So.
190
Peter Mocco (Coral Springs Charter School) 13-0, 8th.
Rafael Lopez (Somerset) 14-5, Sr.
Nicholas Winter (Cardinal Gibbons) 23-13, So.
215
Michael Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons) 37-2, So.
Nathan Chen (Pine Crest) 12-3, Jr.
Damian Soto (Mater Lakes Academy) 17-1, Jr.
Adrian Tejada (Somerset) 41-12, Sr.
285
Darren Georges (SLAM Academy) 6-0, Sr.
Abdur Bey (Somerset) 12-7, Jr.
GIRLS
100
Paola Perez (Doral Academy) 19-2, 7th.
Mia Comesana (Mater Lakes) 23-12, Fr.
105
Abigail Gonzalez (Mater Lakes) 13-0, 8th.
Gabi Kerber (Cypress Bay) 35-8, So.
Rosie Kleine (Monarch) 29-8, So.
110
Sofia Ferran (Mater Lakes) 31-4, Sr.
Zoe Delgado (Florida Christian School) 29-7, 7th.
Rebekkah Kinkade (South Dade) 30-10, Jr.
115
Kamora Willis (Coral Gables) 24-4, Jr.
Arianna Garcia (South Dade) 21-11, So.
120
Isis Severe (North Miami) 33-5, Jr.
Iliana Gracey (Western) 10-3, Sr.
Willow White (SLAM Miami) 38-1, So.
125
Arianna Ruiz (Mater Lakes) 20-2, 8th.
Kaitelynn Oliver (South Dade) 31-1, Jr.
Chloe Parets (Miami Florida Christian) 27-7, Sr.
130
Gabriela “Gaby” Caro (Douglas) 14-0, Sr.
Rachel Silva (Florida Christian) 24-3, Jr.
Geraldine Honore (South Dade) 24-8, Jr.
Alexa Paz (SLAM Miami) 35-4, Jr. (Dec 4-1)
135
Lesane Heid (North Miami) 28-7, So.
Eysis Brinson (Miami Palmetto) 8-2, So.
140
Sofia Delgado (Coral Park) 33-0, Sr.
Ta`Jah Broadnex (South Dade) 17-5, Sr.
145
Emily Jaspe (Mater Academy Hialeah Gardens) 27-1, Sr.
Anisah Paz (South Dade) 22-10, Sr.
Viktoriya Devochkina (South Broward) 8-3, So.
155
Mya Bethel (North Miami) 34-0, Jr.
Valentina Mora (Miami Beach) 22-10, So.
170
Tala Salao (Archbishop McCarthy) 12-6, Jr.
190
Tessa Diaz (Doral Academy) 14-5, Jr.
Latoya Sylvestre (South Broward) 24-2, So.
Orlisia Sands (Deerfield Beach) 16-6, Sr.
235
Day`Jah Clarke (Miami Norland) 25-3, Sr.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MIAMI HERALD
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