Last weekend – while powerhouse South Dade (3A) and Mater Lakes Academy (1A) were taking home team wrestling titles, and Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy (2A) was doing what the Panthers do – there was another south Florida team who also made some news.
For the first time in school history, the Parkland Douglas Eagles’ wrestling team took part in the state dual championships at Osceola High School in Kissimmee.
This program, which has been competitive through the years with more than its share of elite competitors, had the opportunity to turn the program up a notch.
Head Coach Kenny Gendason and his team were one of 16 Class 3A programs who had the chance to showcase all 14 wrestlers as a team.
With the Broward County Athletic Association (BCAA) championships being held in a few weeks, the Eagles showed why they will be right in the mix with Cardinal Gibbons and others for a team title when the individuals compete, preparing for a run at the district, region and state meet at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
What this team has done this season is use a mix of veteran wrestlers with plenty of young competitors – some competing at this level for the first time.
This is a program that has compiled a 29-9 record against elite competition.
They captured the Dual meet district championship as well as winning the District 13/14 dual meet regional title. The Eagles won the Palm Beach Classic Tournament, the Trichon-Myerson dual champions at Deerfield Beach, and the Celebration Storm Front Champions last weekend at Celebration High School, getting by Key West, a 1A state dual meet championship round team.
Among that senior (2025) class includes (113 Pounds - Rocco Duygulu, 34-3), unbeaten (126 - David Leiva, 34-0), (132 - Jimmy Messmer, 25-4), (144 - Jeremy Lopez, 19-8), (144 - Reid Kalvaitis, 9-8), (175 - Lucas Siqueira, 22-5), and (285 - Jackson Zajkowski, 32-8).
Setting the table for the future, the 2026 (juniors) have been making major strides with (106 - Bryce Siddens, 31-8), (120 - Arav Shintre, 13-4), 190 – Aaron Porudominsky, 17-9), and (215 - Dante Reynolds, 18-6).
The sophomore class (2027) has also been impressive and one of the reasons why the Eagles have been able to accomplish what they have so far. Versatile (113-120 - Timothy Carroll, 26-5) has been an incredible asset this season while Duygulu went up to 120. The class also has (150 - Jacob Balk, 38-6) and (165 - Keegan Lake, 34-4).
Freshmen (138 - Santiago Caro, 14-5) and (157 - Josh Lopez, 23-12) have also shown that the future is bright. Caro’s sister, Gaby, was a two-time undefeated state champion for the Eagles.
“Kalvaitis, Josh Lopez, and Reynolds were all first-year wrestlers for us. Gendason pointed out. “Both have made a valuable impact in our line up.”
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