MIAMI – One week after South Dade brought home yet another 3A state wrestling title and Hialeah’s Mater Lakes Academy won back-to-back 1A titles, the root of those programs was once again on display at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
What began back in 1966 and had been the reason why Miami-Dade County has led the way statewide throughout the years, the annual Middle School Wrestling Tournament was held.
When the day was over, Cutler Bay Middle School, which had won in 2023 and 2024, losing to Richmond Heights a year ago, took the team title in a battle with an up-and-coming program from Hialeah Gardens, 188.5-177.5.
Middle School wrestling in Miami-Dade County has always set the table for the future, and coaches at this level had never been recognized for what they had done to help further the sport and give high school teams a major advantage.
Coaches such as Hall of Famers Walt Allison, Wilbert Johnson, Pat McNamara and Sam McWoodson certainly left their mark. So did Don Dorshimer, John Davis, Lonnie Hill, Bob Mack, Frank Presentation, Jose Mendez, Clint Riley, Tony Carroll, Michael Graham, Aaron Washington, Ron Osorio, Doc Holloway, Pat Lugo, Jose Mendez, Miguel Dominguez, Matt Greene, Steve Morejon, Tirso Valls, Rudy Trevino, Oswaldo Benitez, Jacob Woodrome, Lorenzo Walker, Johnny Silva, Manny Sevilla and Melvin Roberts, who all continued to set the table for the future.
2026 RESULTS
Once again, this year, there were a number of standouts who took home individual titles in this competitive event.
There were only two repeat winners from last year. Eighth grader Paul Moore, who won at 155 pounds at Richmond Middle School a year ago, captured the 170-pound weight class at Southwood. Last year’s 170-pound winner Yadiel Lazo from Hialeah Gardens, won at 195 pounds this year as an 8th grader.
75 POUNDS
1. Arin Melo (Cutler Bay)
2. Eli Leben (Hialeah Gardens)
3. Jacob Hernandez (Palmetto)
4. Jake Foley (Southwood)
85 POUNDS
1. Alejandro Ortega (Glades)
2. John Foley (Southwood)
3. Jeremiah Cuyuch (Cutler Bay)
4. Devin Aleu (Rockway)
95 POUNDS
1. Dominick Hernandez (Jorge Mas Canosa)
2. Elijah Michael (Cutler Bay)
3. Gino Angs (Hammocks)
4. Daniel Serrano (Southwood)
105 POUNDS
1. Damian Legorburo (Southwood)
2. Beymar Campo (Cutler Bay)
3. Dalian Acosta (Jorge Mas Canosa)
4. Delvi Perez (Rockway)
112 POUNDS
1. Bryan Gonzalez (Jorge Mas Canosa)
2. Steven Martin (Riviera)
3. Dexter Townsend (Southwood)
4. Jacarree Green (Cutler Bay)
120 POUNDS
1. Nathan Alonso (Hialeah Gardens)
2. Pablo Casaya (Palmetto)
3. Knox Hyland (Southwood)
4. Alejandro Pavon (Jorge Mas Canosa)
128 POUNDS
1. Micah Thomas (Palmetto)
2. Jorge Hidalgo (Cutler Bay)
3. Carter Buckner (Hammocks)
4. Julian Liranzo (Nautilus)
135 POUNDS
1. Marlon Loynaz (Riviera)
2. Colton Tuttle (Palmetto)
3. Leo Cruz (Glades)
4. Bryan Rodriguez (Cutler Bay)
145 POUNDS
1. Giovanny Castro (Hialeah Gardens)
2. German Arellano (Cutler Bay)
3. Jordon Ross (Nautilus)
4. Daniel Fombellida (Jorge Mas Canosa)
155 POUNDS
1. Alfredo Rivero (Hialeah Gardens)
2. Kennedy Graham (Cutler Bay)
3. Orlando Padilla (Ruben Dario)
4. Richard Leyva (Glades)
170 POUNDS
1. Paul Moore (Southwood)
2. Jayden Cueto (Hialeah Gardens)
3. Somhad Watson (Cutler Bay)
4. Aiden Zuniga (Rockway)
195 POUNDS
1. Yadiel Lazo (Hialeah Gardens)
2. Jeovani Encarnacion (Riviera)
3. Taylon Barnes (Southwood)
4. Pedro Suau (Cutler Bay)
250 POUNDS
1. Julius Escobar (Jorge Mas Canosa)
2. Maykol Martinez (Hialeah Gardens)
3. Adrian Cedeno (Redland)
4. Ezra Perez (Glades)
TEAM RESULTS
1 Cutler Bay – 188.5
2. Hialeah Gardens – 177.5
3. Southwood – 155
4. Jorge Mas Canosa – 142
5. Palmetto – 106.5
6. Glades – 94
7. Riviera – 79
8. Rockway – 53
9. Hammocks – 50.5
10. Ruben Dario – 40.5
MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/
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