Miami South Dade wins expanded Braves Invitational wrestling tournament, Crowns 3 Champions

Miami South Dade ventured north to the annual Lake Gibson wrestling tussle for the first time and came away with the 54-team tournament title. It was the Buccaneers first IBT championship this season after rolling up 274 points.

Willie White (South Dade) wins 8-2 over Kyle Gallo (Zephyrhills Christian) at 167-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA – There were plenty of wrestling firsts at the Braves Invitational this weekend.

Miami South Dade ventured north to the annual Lake Gibson wrestling tussle for the first time and came away with the 54-team tournament title. It was the Buccaneers first IBT championship this season after rolling up 274 points.

“We still haven’t fielded a full team yet. Either someone is on vacation or someone is hurt,” South Dade coach Victor Balmeceda said. “We are still missing Jovani Solis, a two-time state champ.”

Jovanni Tovar (Southridge) picks up a 7-4 win over Lucas Barrios (Mater Academy) in the 122-pound division at the Braves Invitational Saturday. / Bill Kemp

It was also the first time the Invitational relocated from the Lake Gibson gym to the AdventHealth Fieldhouse in Winter Haven, where a girls and junior varsity tournament was held simultaneously.

“The last two years we have been struggling with out-growing the high school and numerous people wanted to add the girls,” Lake Gibson coach Danny Walker said.”That was the goal last year but we just couldn’t get the date to work. 

“A lot of us coaches are trying to build Florida into a Top 10 wrestling state in the country. I feel we are already a Top 10 state, but some would say that is not happening yet. Our goals as coaches is to build this state with depth, and the only way to do that is holding these big events. You go to Ohio or California, and these tournaments are common week in and week out.”

Xavier Barnhart (St. John Neumann) wins a 4-1 decision over Alfredo Corrales (Key West) at 177-pounds at the Braves Invitational Saturday / Bill Kemp

South Dade thrusted four wrestlers into the finals and came away with three champions: Jose Callava (108), EJ Solis (146) and Willie White (167). Nathaniel Williams (134) finished second for the Bucs.

Yianni Marinis (Zephyrhills Christian) wins a 9-5 decision over Jake Wyatt (Palmetto) in the 140-pound division at the Braves Invitational Saturday. / Bill Kemp

“(Callava) is a pleasant surprise,” Balmeceda said. “We knew he was tough but we didn’t know he could make (106). He is tougher than we even imagined. He put Florida on notice that he is here. 

“(EJ Solis) is a man wrestling boys right now. Willie is fun because everything you say to do, he looks at you and does it instantly. It’s like I have been coaching him since he was a baby but I have only been coaching for one year.”

Jose Callava (South Dade) edges Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee) 3-2 at 108-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Zephyrhills Christian (231) finished second, Miami Southridge (187) third and Lake Gibson (162.50) was fourth. 

Zephyrhills suffered several first-day injuries yet Yianni Marinis (140) finished first while Kyle Gallo (167) and Talon Maple (146) were second.

“We’ve been coming here for a number of years and it’s a nice-strong tournament,” Maple said. “We got backups for the injured.”

Nathan Lyttle (Harmony) wins in overtime over Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze) at 115-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

More first-place finishes were: Nathan Lyttle (Harmony) 113, Jovanni Tovar (Southridge) 122, Ayden Balma (Riverdale) 128, Lincoln Sledzianoweki (St. John Neumann) 134, Jose Gutierrez (Doral Academy) 152, Marshall White (Suwannee) 159, Xavier Barnhart (St. John Neumann) 177, Jeremiah Chavis (Hernando) 192 and Ryan Miret (Southridge) 287.

Jeremiah Chavis (Hernando) wins 6-3 over Derek Washington Jr. (Evangelical Christian School) at 192-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Girls tournament champions are: Emmerson Webber (Hernando) 102, Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra) 107, Abigail Gonzales (Southridge) 112, Beyonce Espinsoa (South Dade) 117, Savanna Porter (St. John Neumann) 122, Willow White (127) South Dade, Kaitelynn Oliver (South Dade) 132, Kailani Barrientos (Oakleaf) 137, Julianna Caisse (Riverdale) 142, Kristy More (Sunlake) 147, Mariah Earl (Hernando) 157, Chole Stinnett (Hernando) 172, Grace Leota (Hernando) 192 and Rotchiva Clermont (Orlando Freedom) 237

Ryan Miret (Southridge) wins 9-5 over Ryder Luck (Lincoln) at 287-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Marshall White (Suwannee) wins 8-3 over Juan Viera (Timber Creek) at 159-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Jose Gutierrez (Doral Academy ) pinned Nathan Barrett (Tohopekaliga) at 152-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Bryant Taylor (Oakleaf) wins 8-1 over Quin Enquita (Bishop Verot) in the 217-pound division at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Lincoln Sledzianoweki (St. John Neumann) wins by tech fall over Nathaniel Williams (South Dade) at 134-pounds at the Braves Invitational. / Bill Kemp

EJ Solis (South Dade) wins a major decision. over Talon Maple (Zephyrhills Christian) at 146-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp

Ayden Balma (Riverdale) wins 1-0. over Roberto DeJesus (Lake Gibson) 128-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven. / Bill Kemp