By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
FORT LAUDERDALE – It may surprise many sports fans that high school wrestling is perhaps the most attended sport of any championship series events in the state of Florida.
For the past 60 years, high school wrestling has become more and more popular in the Sunshine State – and with the recent state team dual championships in Kissimmee, and the upcoming individual state event in Kissimmee in March, more and more fans are finding out about one of the world’s oldest competitions.
With the girls added to the mix, and college scholarships now being awarded to boys and girls, there is more of a rush to participate in a sport that goes hand-in-hand with self-defense martial arts that many parents have been urging their children to take part in throughout the year.
BCAA ROLLS OUT THE MATS
For the first time ever, the Broward County Athletic headed to Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale for the annual County Meet, and by the end of the two days, over 20 wrestlers, boys and girls, were crowned champions in front of family, friends, administrators and many who were watching the sport for the first time.
With districts coming up in two weeks, it was the perfect way to get everyone excited about the sport.
Led by five individual champions, including Frankie Florio, and brothers Peter and Michael Mocco, the Cardinal Gibbons High boys wrestling teams and head coaches Jamel and Jamal Morris, continued is hold on the BCAA County Championships.
The Chiefs won their eighth consecutive title, scoring 294, outdistancing second place Miramar with 188.5 points. It was Gibbons 21st overall title since the event began in 1965. Their five individual winners improved the school’s tournament record to 113.
They’ve also had at least one individual champion over the past 27 consecutive meets.
The boys’ championship matches were historic in nature.
For the first time two sets of brothers wrestling for the same team won individual titles at the same meet.
It marked the 12th time brothers won championships at a single meet since it first happened in 1970 when Pete and Charles Collins of Stranahan were victorious.
Illia and Ivan Kyryianenk, a freshman and junior from South Broward, who came to the United States from Ukraine around 10 months ago, fit well into the Bulldogs wrestling ending the day as undefeated county champs.
Illia defeated Joseph Scott of Hollywood Hills at 132 pounds with a pin at 3:52. Ivan followed his brothers’ lead with a 14-1 major decision over Famous Nealy of Miramar 14-1.
“It has been hard finding the same level of wrestling as we had in Ukraine,” said Illia Kyryoanenk. “We came to South Broward and liked the wrestling here. It was easy to change the style here from freestyle.”
Said Ivan, “It was difficult coming to the United States, but we like it here. It would feel great if we could win a state title, because our father is still in Ukraine, and he would be happy for us.”
The brothers finished the night undefeated with a combined record of 68-0 on the season.
Peter and Michael Mocco also kept their drive as undefeated state champs.
Peter (40-0), who won the county title as an eighth grader when he was at Coral Springs Charter last year, defeated J’vier Romeus of Coral Springs 20-1 at 190 pounds.
“This feels good,” said Peter about the victory. “I consider my brother as one of the best in the country. Practicing with him motivates me.”
Michael (33-0) won his record tying fourth county title (one at Coral Springs Charter, three at Gibbons) with a technical pin over Jeffery Lujano 20-3.
“I’m going to keep training and working my hardest to get better,” said Michael. “It feels amazing being here with a program that can help us. I can always improve as much as I can.”
The Mocco brothers are following in the rather large footsteps of their father, Steve, who is a world legend in wrestling and mixed martial arts. When Steve Mocco isn't helping coaching the Chiefs at Cardinal Gibbons, he is currently teaching at the popular American Top Team in Coconut Creek.
Florio won his third consecutive county championship when he pinned Noah Catala of Miramar at 3:30. His first two county titles came at 145 and 144 weight classes.
Other winners for the Chiefs were Andrew Isek (37-5) at 144 pounds and Bryan Picallo (24-1) at 150 pounds.
David Leiva of Douglas remained undefeated at 38-0 winning the championship at 126 pounds.
BOYS
Teams scores (Top 5)
1. Cardinal Gibbons 294; 2. Miramar 188.5; 3. South Broward 184.5; 3. Cypress Bay 179.0; 5. South Plantation 178.5
Individual results
106: Jenkins (SP) d. Metellus (MON) 11-3; 113: Duygulu (MSD) p. Saint-fleut (SP) 3:56; 120: Shapiro (CB) d. Derby (SP) 12-9; 126: Leiva (MSD) t.p. Barreto (CB) 20-2; 132: Il. Kyryianenk (SB) p. Scott (HH) 3:52; 138: Iv. Kyryianenk (SB) d. Nealy (MIR) 14-1; 144: Isek (CG) m.d. Lindsay (CSC) 15-5; 150: Picallo (CG) m.d. Harding (MIR) 14-3; 157: Keery (CS) d. Rojas (WEST) 8-2; 165: Florio (CG) p. Catala (MIR) 3:30; 175: Rosenberg (SP) m.d. Ortiz (NOVA) 13-3; 190: P. Mocco (CG) t.p. Romeus (CS) 20-1; 215: M. Mocco (CG) t.p. Lujano (SP) 20-3; HWT: Dickenson (SB) p. Flack (CG) 2:28.
CORAL SPRINGS GIRLS STAND TALL
Coral Springs High with veteran head coach Dan Jacob leading the way, won the second girls BCAA wrestling title with 121 points, a year after Douglas won the inaugural championship.
Six wrestlers advanced to the finals, with Abigail Moyer (18-5) at 130 pounds, Nylah Smith (6-4) at 135 pounds, Maryaliz Bernardina (5-4) at 155 pounds and Arheanna Bryan (11-4) at 190 pounds winning championships for the Colts.
Latoya Sylvestre of South Broward was victorious at 235 pounds after winning at 190 pounds in 2024.
“Winning the title has motivated me to be better,” said Sylvestre.
“They know I’m coming for a state title because they know my name. this is telling me I’m on the right track.”
GIRLS
Teams scores (Top 5)
1. Coral Springs 121; 2. Douglas 113; 3. South Broward 103; 4. Western 76.5; 5. Deerfield Beach 52.0
Individual results
100: Kleine (MON) p. Thomas (COOP) 1:53 105: Francisco (WEST) t.p. Kerber (CB) 18-3; 110: Presser (WEST) d. Vattikuti (MSD) 7-2; 115: Valentine (MIR) p. Harris (CS) 1:51; 120: N. Arroyo (SB) p. Urdaniva (HH) 0:58; 125: Nina (DB) p. Canals (WEST) 3:46; 130: A. Moyer (CS) p. Mashian (WEST) 1:32; 135: Smith (CS) by forfeit over McMahon (MSD); 140: Yelder (EVER) p. Balk (MSD) 4:59; 145: Ross (NOVA) p. A. Arroyo (SB) 1:37; 155: Bernardina (CS) p. Gutierrez (SB) 0:18; 170: Blanc (MSD) p. P. Moyer (CS) 2:27; 190: Bryan (CS) p. Smith (MSD); 235: Sylvestre (SB) p. Gass (DB) 1:43.
HALL OF FAME RECOGNIZED
Each year, wrestlers, referees, coaches and contributors are recognized for elevating the sport in Broward County.
Under the direction of committee members Frank Pettineo, Allen Held and Ron Schultz, the task of picking new members every year keeps wrestling in such a positive spotlight.
This year, Cardinal Gibbons coaching brothers and state champions Jamel and Jamal Morris were joined by Andrew Wisdom (Cardinal Gibbons), Alex Uhre and John Weiss (St. Thomas Aquinas) and longtime Dillard head coach Larry Barnswell.
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
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