Cardinal Gibbons senior Michael Mocco capped off a dominant high school career with his fourth straight individual state title, and he was joined by brother and teammate Peter Mocco and Somerset Academy teammates Tristan Sainz and Mateo Martinez as individual champions from Broward County at the FHSAA boys wrestling state championship at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee on Saturday.
Michael Mocco, a University of Iowa signee, captured the 1A state title with a 54-0 record in the 285-pound weight class. He won by fall in both round one and the quarterfinal. He won by technical fall in both the semifinal and championship match. He also had an undefeated record during his junior season.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to close out this chapter of high school wrestling with a win,” Michael Mocco said. “I’m super grateful and blessed to be able to do what I did.”
Peter Mocco had a 55-0 record in the 215-pound weight class during his sophomore season in 1A. He won three straight matches by fall and had a victory by technical fall in the championship match. He previously won an individual state title in eighth grade at Coral Springs Charter and finished as a state runner-up as a freshman at Cardinal Gibbons.
“The feeling is so surreal,” Peter Mocco said. “I couldn’t do it without God, my family, my teammates, and my friends. I’m glad I got it back since last year didn’t go my way. This season seemed to just fly by. I guess time flies while you’re having fun.”
Sainz had a 34-0 record in the 157-pound weight class during his senior season to win his second consecutive state championship in 2A. He won by technical fall in both round one and the quarterfinal. He won by major decision in the semifinal and captured the state title with a victory by technical fall.
Martinez had a 57-5 record in the 190-pound weight class during his senior year to win his second straight state title in 2A. He won by technical fall in round one, by decision in both the quarterfinal and semifinal, and won by major decision in the final
match.
Wellington’s Clervoyant, Park Vista’s Valdez, Romero runners-up in 3A
Wellington senior Shawnley Clervoyant finished as the state runner-up in the 113-pound weight class in 3A. Mac Andrews (175) placed fourth, Kai Benedetti (138) placed fifth, Jaden Williams (120) and Tyler Gray (157) both finished seventh and Nikolas Gray (150) placed eighth.
Park Vista junior Eli Valdez placed second in the 106-pound weight class and Raymundo Romero also earned second in the 285-pound weight class. South Plantation junior Donovan Jenkins (113) finished third and senior Lincoln Derby (120) placed fifth.
West Boca senior Daniel Damm (215) and John I. Leonard junior Jad Urribarri (175) both placed third.
Olympic Heights junior Chris Schnobrick (113) finished fourth and teammate Elias Enzner (165) placed sixth.
Monarch senior Diddier Carrillo Castillo (285) placed fourth and junior Tyler Metellus (113) finished seventh. Dwyer senior Bryce Johnson (190) finished seventh while Boca Raton sophomore Javin Taylor (144) and Nova senior Xander Ortiz (175) both placed eighth. Wellington finished sixth overall in the 3A championship. South Dade captured the title with 174 points.
Somerset Academy with state runner-up finish in 2A
Somerset Academy finished second overall in the 2A championship with 173 points. Lake Gibson earned the title with 179 points.
Somerset Academy had the two individual champions and several other top performers. Caio Sainz (106) and Carlos Sainz (132) each finished second. Darion Shannon (144) placed third, Dylan Fernandez (138) and Sidney Katz (165) both placed fourth, Eli Diaz (175) finished sixth, Cano Austin (113) placed seventh and Marlo Jimenez (150) finished eighth.
Archbishop McCarthy junior Joseph Scott (138) finished second, junior Christopher Smith (126) placed fifth, sophomore Deaven Montanez (132) placed sixth and sophomore Jacob Rhodes (120) finished eighth. Atlantic senior Nestor Colaire (150) placed fifth while teammate Roger Valeus (285) placed seventh and Miramar junior Jayden Rivas (144) finished eighth.
Cardinal Gibbons fourth in 1A
Cardinal Gibbons finished fourth overall in the 1A championship with two individual champions. Mater Lakes Academy placed first with 210.5 points.
Cardinal Gibbons also had other top performers. Andres Garcia (113), Skyler Barreto (138) and Isaac Fayer (165) each placed fifth while Logan Bajor (120) finished eighth.
Pine Crest junior Andrew Chen (165) finished second and senior Jacob Lobis (157) placed fifth. Jupiter Christian junior Duke Rimes (215) placed third while King’s Academy senior Tyce Porcher (190) placed eighth.
Taravella’s Bryan, Douglas’ Mourad state runners-up honors on girls side
Taravella junior Arheanna Bryan and Stoneman Douglas freshman Zeinab Mourad both placed second at the FHSAA girls wrestling state championship. Bryan finished with a 30-1 record in the 190-pound weight class. Mourad had a 25-1
record in the 235-pound weight class.
Forest Hill junior Christal Desir (155) finished with a 31-1 record and placed third. Archbishop McCarthy junior Makayla Ocean (190) also finished third. Western junior Tiffany Francisco (105) placed fifth, Archbishop McCarthy senior Kailea Villavicencio (120) finished sixth, Park Vista freshman Rose Karakolis (130) placed sixth while teammates Gabi Nathan (105) and Samantha Tobia (125) both
finished seventh, Douglas senior Ariana Blanc (170) placed seventh and Olympic Heights senior Allison Blanco-Cruz (145) finished eighth.