KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA – There was a three-peat, a repeat and a former championship team returned to its throne.
Lake Gibson, Miami South Dade and Jensen Beach captured state titles at the FHSAA Duals Wrestling State Championships on Saturday at Osceola High School.
Lake Gibson captured the three-peat after defeating Fleming Island 37-19 in the Class 2A final. The victory gave the Braves its fifth Duals state championship, having won in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
The program had also won three consecutive IBT state championships (2018-20) for a grand total of eight state championships under head coach Danny Walker.
“A lot of kids put their individual goals on hold for team goals,” Walker said. “We got to a point where we knew we couldn’t give up pins, so we wrestled a little conservative in the last few matches. It was tight.”
Walker, whose Braves won the school’s first wrestling state championship in the Osceola gym five years ago, said he knew the team was going to win it early in the morning.
“When I went to every individual room, every kid was up and ready to go,” Walker said. “I walked into the room (and told our assistants) we are winning today. Those kids are focused.
“We have the picture (of the first state title) hanging over our water fountain and our kids see it every time they get water. Our kids are just comfortable here.”
After a quick rehab stint, Lake Gibson senior Hayden Whidden dramatically returned to the Braves lineup during the semifinals win against Charlotte, where he quickly pinned Carson Bennett during a 145-pound match at 1:38.
Whidden was sidelined with a fractured foot he suffered during a match with South Dade senior Misha Arbos at Knockout Christmas Classic this past month.
In the finals against Fleming Island, Whidden topped Kaden Schaefer 7-2 to put the Braves up 25-16 in the match.
“We preach team and we preach family, but when Hayden Whidden got hurt in December, the doctor said there was no way he would wrestle (here),” Walker said. “But he went to the pool every day and didn’t miss rehab. He worked his butt off.”
South Dade avenged its loss from a year ago to capture its fifth Duals state title after knocking off Osceola, 44-9. At one-point, the Buccaneers held a 33-0 lead against Osceola, which holds a roster chucked full of individual state champions.
“This was with an exclamation point,” South Dade head coach Victor Balmeceda said. “We went against their best kids, their two-timers and their three-timers, and we were right there in those matches until the very end.
“I knew our team was good enough to win, but to also be there with the best-of-the-best, is great. You’re not going to shut a team out like Osceola. Their studs are studs. They have nationally ranked kids.”
South Dade has now won 22 state wrestling state championships, which includes 17 Individually Bracketed Tournaments (IBT) and five Duals under Balmeceda.
South Dade was dethroned as the 3A Duals state champions a year ago after losing a semifinals duel to eventual state champions Palmetto Ridge.
South Dade had eight wrestlers finish with 3-0 records at the Duals, which included Bryan Morales, Luis Acevedo, Tyree Graham, Elvis Solis, Cordell White, Chris Sanchez, Cervantes and Sawyer Bartelt.
“We used last year’s loss as motivation this past year,” Bartelt said. “Especially this past two or three weeks. We have been pushing really hard in the room and weight room.”
South Dade advanced to the 3A finals by routing DeLand 67-12 in the semis and almost shutting out Cypress Bay 68-3 in the quarterfinals.
“Now the hardest part is bringing them down off this cloud they are on and getting them focused for the state series and IBTs. But I can’t be happier than I am now,” Balmeceda said.
Jensen Beach repeated as the 1A state champions and now have won three consecutive state championships, including taking the 1A IBTs this past March.
“I am just super-proud of our kids. They just dominated all weekend,” Jensen Beach coach Tom McMath said. “They’ve done it all year and they did it last year. They stayed dialed in and never got too high or too low. They never under-estimated anybody. They just went out there and took care of business.”
Jensen Beach lost four starters from last year’s championship team but regrouped and came out stronger.
Jensen Beach senior Dylan Fox posted a 3-0 mark wrestling at 152 pounds. He has been part of all three state championships.
“I just can’t wait for individual states because we are going to make it happen again.” Fox said.
Jensen Beach reached the finals by knocking off Suwannee 49-19 in the semis and beating Mater Lakes Academy 42-25 in the quarterfinals.
“I feel like if we did what we are supposed to do, it was just going to happen,” Jensen Beach senior 145-pounder Jewell Williams said.
Jensen Beach reached the finals by knocking off Suwannee 49-19 in the semis and beating Mater Lakes Academy 42-25 in the quarterfinals.
Fleming Island reached the finals after pasting Merritt Island 51-19 in the semifinals and beating Miramar 47-27 in the quarterfinals.
Photos by Bill Kemp
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