G1A-16 Preview: South Dade looking to reach another new height, win first team state title
BY BRANT PARSONS — South Dade’s girls team has had both a team to mimic and a shadow to live under while sharing a wrestling room with a multi-time state champion.
While the boys team has continued to dominate Class 3A, the girls team has been building a program to match the boys and are hoping this year is the one they earn their first state title.
“This thing didn’t happen overnight,” South Dade girls wrestling coach Chino Duran said. “We’ve been putting in the work for years and we’re just happy to belong to a system that’s already been proven to work, so we were able to speed it up a little bit faster than others.”
“You just look at the blueprint and follow it, that’s it.”
The Buccaneers enter the season with what is likely the top lineup in state from 1-14, with a potential state qualifier at every weight class. If the girls can stay healthy and on target, they can maybe start to emerge from the shadow of the boys team and create their own South Dade legacy.
“It's just frustrating to be prepared to be compared to the boys program,” Duran said. “Every year while they're getting their rings and the girls are just watching them get their rings, it's really a challenge to keep their heads up and not let them quit because they're not meeting the expectations of the dynasty.”
That could all change this year with a deep team led by returning state champion Willow White.
The senior wrestler went 39-0 last season and earned her first state crown and leads the team on the mat and off of it.
“She's just a coach's dream as far as respect and how she trusts you to tell her to do stuff and follow the strategy,” Duran said. “She's a great kid to be around. She likes to be my assistant coach and she calls herself Coach Willow. She's following around and just watching and learning and then sometimes she'll make a better call than me and I trust her and I'll be like, ‘Okay, let's do it’ and we'll go with that”
Willow leads a charge of wrestlers that include Kenzie Barrett, Shamari Smith, Arianna Garcia, Lydia Gonzalez, and more.
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: South Dade won its fourth district title and then ran away with the region title before tying for second place finish in the state IBT.
How did Kabra do?: We picked the top two spots (which have been the same all four years) but we missed out on Doral jumping into the third spot.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Abigail Gonzalez (Miami Southridge), Willow White (South Dade), Eysis Estes-Brinson (Miami Palmetto), Zoe Delgado (Florida Christian), Kenzie Barrett (South Dade), Melissa Gallo (Florida Christian), Shamari Smith (South Dade), Paola Perez (Mater Lakes Academy), Rebecca Marin (Doral Academy), A'Niyah Leon-Goodrich (Miami Southridge), Eowyn Reeves (South Dade), Viktoriya Devochkina (North Miami), Lydia Gonzalez (South Dade), Kimberly Picado (South Dade), Maria Halushka (Key West), Amaris Echezerrata (South Dade), Amirah Williams (South Dade).
The favorite: South Dade. Five titles in five years for the Bucs who keep growing in numbers.
Team to watch: Southwest Miami. The Eagles have been building a program up and are looking to win their first tournament this season.
District IBT: Thursday, February 12 at TBD
South Dade Buccaneers (#1 IBT, #2 Duals)
Coach: Chico Duran
Assistant coach: Alejandro Hernandez
Click here for 25-26 schedule
24-25 dual record: 3-2
Recent district results: 2025:1; 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1
Last state champion: Willow White, 2025 (120)
South Dade has gone four-for-four in district titles since girls wrestling was sanctioned.
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Beyonce Espinosa, 35-3, 3rd, RC, DC; Geraldine Honore, 32-8, 6th, R3, DC; Rebekkah Kinkade, 21-12, RQ-BR, D2; Arawin Recio, 14-9.
Notable returning wrestlers: Willow White, Sr., 39-0, SC, RC, DC; Shamari Smith, Sr., 34-5, 3rd, RC, DC; Kenzie Barrett, So., 23-12, 3rd, R2, D3; Arianna Garcia, Sr., 30-7, SQ, RC, DC; Lydia Gonzalez, Jr., 20-15, SQ, R4, D2; Kimberly Picado, Jr., 21-14, RQ-BR, D4; Aanyalee Masso, So., 16-8, RQ-BR, D4; Amaris Echezerrata, Sr., 21-11, RQ, D3; Amirah Williams, So., 18-13, RQ, D5.
New wrestlers: Victoria Sifuentes, Fr., 25-13, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Florida Christian); Eowyn Reeves, Jr., 33-17, SQ, R4, D5 (Transfer from Doral Academy); Layla Rodriguez (Transfer from Miami Southridge)
What they are saying: “This team is fun to watch. Their strength is that they are not afraid to try new things, but are confident enough that if they do something wrong they can back to a good position and work their way back into the match. They are pushing each other and are super competitive.”
On Kenzie Barrett: “Kenzie Barrett has just been killing it and she gets better every single day. This girl is just doing things that you've never seen a heavyweight do. In one of the tournaments, she picked up another girl like nothing with full control in a folkstyle tournament, and then in another tournament, she does a gator roll. She's just getting better and better and better and when she commits, she commits. So, I'm excited for her.”
On comparisons to the boys team: “It's definitely always a plus to have the same kind of kids, from the same neighborhoods and stuff like that as the boys. And they're exactly the same. I mean, we're talking about we have doppelgangers for every kid when a boy and a girl will do the same move in the same weight class.”
Outlook: The FHSAA has had a different girls state team champion each year since the sport was sanctioned five years ago. South Dade is poised to compete to become the fifth different team champion this season. They key to this team will be learning from past state appearances and improving upon their performance there.
The Florida High School Wrestling 2025-2026 Season District Previews
Click on link to see preview
Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Independent: Ind
District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Doral Academy Firebirds
Coach: Willy de Armas (8th season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:3; 2024:4; 2023:7; 2022:10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tessa Diaz, 37-9, 7th, R2, DC; Naomi Arias, 23-18, RQ-BR, D2; Eowyn Reeves, Jr., 33-17, SQ, R4, D5 (Transfer to South Dade).
Notable returning wrestlers: Rebecca Marin, Jr., 38-10, SQ, R3, DC; Isabella Tellez, Sr., 24-13, RQ, D2; Keyla Lobelo, Sr., 17-19, RQ, D4; Natalie Sastre, Fr., 10-21, RQ, D6.
Outlook: The Firebirds are down three hammers, but Marin and Tellez can lead this team to success.
Southwest Miami Eagles
Coach: David Viveros (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Tony Morales, Lorenzo Walker, Marco Miranda
Click here for 25-26 schedule
24-25 dual record: 2-0
Recent district results: 2025:5; 2024:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Hailey Hernandez, 29-17, SQ, R4, D3; Melanie Loynaz, So., 32-10, RQ, D4 (Transfer to Mater Academy).
Notable returning wrestlers: Scarlett Sans, Sr., 19-10, RQ-BR, D3; Nai Sanchez, Sr., 29-12, RQ, D4; Lia Colome, Sr., 10-19, D5; Camila Rafael, Sr., 12-20, D6; Leanna Curry; Andrea Leano.
What they are saying: “We have a good mix of experienced and developing wrestlers that will challenge teams during IBT's and duals. This year’s sophomores are now ready to contribute with a year of learning in their pockets. We have also been successful in recruiting a large amount of freshmen during this preseason. We take pride in knowing that we are building from within and teammates are also classmates.”
On team goals: “ I think one of the emphasis that we've made over the offseason as we're growing the team is that we do want to take first place at a tournament for the first time in the school history. That's an open goal that we have.”
On establishing a unique team history and culture: “We're going to have our own board over the girls room because we're one of the few programs in Florida where the high school girls have their own wrestling room. I think it's an emphasis of goal setting and letting them know that once they move on from the program they're not forgotten, they're remembered. They're going to maintain a sisterhood. The boys program have a great alumni program put together there and all the girls that graduate from our program are going to be remembered and with their effort that they make now is not going to be, pushed aside or forgotten after a few years.”
Fast fact: Senior Camila Rafael is looking to make an impact this season while also chasing Valedictorian honors at Southwest.
Outlook: The Eagles are building something special and could see another jump this season with an increase in numbers.
Florida Christian Patriots (#5, NR)
Coach: Nick Alvarez
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:4; 2024:5; 2023:9; 2022:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Rachel Silva, 29-2, 5th, RC, DC; Edana Ramirez, 5-9, D5; Sofia Rodriguez, 16-13, D6; Victoria Sifuentes, Fr., 25-13, RQ, D3 (Transfer to South Dade)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Zoe Delgado, Fr., 30-6, 2nd, R2, D2; Melissa Gallo, 7th, 22-5, 3rd, R2, DC.
New wrestlers: Eowyn Reeves, Jr., 33-17, SQ, R4, D5 (Transfer from Doral Academy)
North Miami Pioneers
Coach: John Severe
Recent district results: 2025:2; 2024:2; 2023:2; 2022:2
Last state champion: Mya Bethel, 2025 (155)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Mya Bethel, 20-0, SC, RC, DC; Isis Severe, 27-3, 2nd, RC, DC; Joveline Joseph, 27-12, SQ, R4, D2; Shenshaila Baron, 20-4, RQ, DC; Christelle Joseph, 13-8, RQ-BR, D4; Colmise JeanBaptiste, 18-12, RQ-BR, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Viktoriya Devochkina, Sr., 10-5, SQ, R2, D2; Suzie Polidor, So., 9-16, RQ, D4; Zitali Palafox, So., 2-13, RQ, D4; Karen Martinez, Jr., 13-9, D5.
Outlook: Gone is the first four-time, undefeated state champion in Florida high school girls wrestling with Bethel graduating.
Key West Conchs
Coach: Chaz Jimenez (17th season)
Assistant coaches: Saint Pierre Anilus, Angelo Guieb
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:7; 2024:7; 2023:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Sunisa Kuhn, 14-13, RQ, D5; Isabella Cosme, 4-14, RQ, D6; Sheyla Figueira, 24-7, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Maria Halushka, So., 30-9, SQ, R3, D3; Yarnesie Corrales, Sr., 9-10, D6; Emily Nolasco, Jr., 6-17; Wenxin Yu.
New wrestlers: Maple Brady (Transfer from Mariner)
What they are saying: “Our girls team is continuing to grow and get bigger. For me personally, I love coaching the girls. It's reinvigorated me as a coach. I really have a great time coaching the girls. If I ever had got to the point I had to choose, which I don't want to get to that point, but if I had to choose, I might stick with the girls. The girls are really passionate and it's growing.”
On Maria Halushka: “I felt should have been a state placer last year, but the moment got to her at the state tournament. She didn't wrestle her best and she's put in a lot of work and done some really good things in the offseason and I think she's going to be a force this year. Someone to look out for.”
On team getting bigger: “We have some young girls coming along and it's just continuing to grow. We wrestle in a tough district and region for the girls, so that's always a challenge, but it's something to look forward to. I'm excited about the growth of girls wrestling. Like I said, I love coaching the girls.”
Outlook: The girls are in a tough district and region and want to climb it as a team and put some girls on the podium at the end.
Miami Southridge Spartans (#13, NR)
Coach: Albert Pardo (3rd at school, 28th overall)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:8
Last state champion: Abigail Gonzalez, 2025 (110)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Abigail Gonzalez, So., 35-1, SC, RC, DC; A'Niyah Leon-Goodrich, Jr., 10-12, 5th, R4, D5.
Outlook: Pound-for-pound, Gonzalez may be one of the top three wrestlers in the state.
Miami Palmetto Panthers
Coach: Anthony Fadelle (9th year, 23rd overall)
Assistant coach: Michael Graham
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:6; 2024:14; 2023:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Francesca Lara, 19-5, 6th, R2, D2; Daniela Canals, 29-17, RQ, D2; JaNiyah Moreland, 12-15, D6.
Notable returning wrestlers: Eysis Estes-Brinson, Sr., 21-7, 5th, R2, D2; Carmen Moya, Jr., 19-6, RQ-BR, D3.
Outlook: The team said goodbye to a state placer amongst its senior class, but Estes-Brinson is a state contender and could be joined in Kissimmee by Moya.
Ferguson Falcons
Coach: Luis Cabal (6th season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:12; 2024:12; 2023:4; 2022:13
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Emily Pomar, 12-3, RQ-BR, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Asiah Williams, Jr., 9-10, RQ, D4; Naryia Collins, Sr., 2-7, D5; Sarah Solomon, Jr., 9-12, D6.
Miami Beach Hi-Tides
Coach: Fred Robby (17th season)
Assistant coaches: Anthony Nunez, Hector Jimenez
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:14; 2024:13; 2023:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Valentina Mora, Sr., 14-6, RQ, D2; Cameron Echeverria, Sr., 20-9, D5.
What they are saying: "Valentina is a state placer and two-time state qualifier. Cameron never made it to state. She battled injuries the last few years, every year. She was able to have a complete off season this year finally. I'm looking forward to them. They both went undefeated at Disney, became all-Americans, got undefeated rings and they were the two best kids on their team that they competed with. I'm super excited for them to see what they're going to do, how they're going to step up for their senior seasons and I'm excited for them."
Outlook: Mora failed to reach Kissimmee last season for the first time in her high school career and will be looking to end up her senior year on the podium with Echevarria joining her at the tournament.
Mater Academy Lions
Coach: Eduardo Lamazares
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:13; 2024:6; 2023:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Camilla Delgado, 25-11, SQ, R2, D3; Samantha Ferrer, 31-12, SQ, R4, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
New wrestlers: Melanie Loynaz, So., 32-10, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Southwest Miami)
Miami Coral Park Rams
Coach: Angel Vazquez
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:15; 2024:8; 2023:6
Last state champion: Sofia Delgado, 2024 (140)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Carmen Dragustiovis, 18-6, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: None
Coral Gables Cavaliers
Coach: Thomas Hardy (9th season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:11; 2024:10; 2023:13; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kamora Willis, 33-8, 8th, R3, D3; Genevis Hudson, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Isabella Alfonso, Jr., 13-9, D6.
Coral Reef Barracudas
Coach: Miguel Dominguez (14th at school/26th total)
Assistant coaches: Kevin Whelan, Amanda Gates
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:16; 2024:15; 2023:10; 2022:13
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Chameli Jacques, Jr., 9-11, RQ, D3; Isabella Offenburger, So., 12-5.
What they are saying: “I have two girls with experience. I have about four girls that have come out to our preseason conditioning stuff that are brand new. We have about six girls in the room right now. I'm trying to grow that program more as well. It's kind of tough with it being on, the same season. We practice the girls and the boys together.”
Outlook: The Barracudas program should see an increase in numbers this season as it works to build up.
Miami High Stingarees
Coach: Lalo Baborich (15th season)
Assistant coaches: Enoc Aguado, Jhonny Morales, Johanel Reyes
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:16
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Danelly Rodriguez, 6-8, D6; Yadira Andrade, 2-8, D6.
Notable returning wrestlers: Rosemarie Fuentes, Jr.; Elida Gutierrez, Sr., 6-10, RQ, D6.
What they are saying: “Our program started a little bit prior to last year and we only had one girl when we started and then last year that one girl, because she did so good, got us five more girls and then those five girls got us to seven or eight girls now this time around. We're building off of that.”
On Rosemarie Fuentes: “A second-year wrestler and she was very engaged this past season, wrestling alongside the boys like Leo and Miguel and going with them to the camps, going with them to the competitions, to the clinics and she's really been on top of that. She's been part of the girls team that they had this past summer where they went to I forgot it was like I don't want to say it seemed like it was the Disney duels. I'm not sure, but they had other schools from all around the country and she did very good competing against those girls.
On Elida Gutierrez: “She had a pretty good season, she had a pretty good start to last year's season and came out at the H-Town Throwdown and placed second she lost to Latoya who is a very good wrestler from South Broward and very hard fought match obviously she saw the difference between going against the more experienced and the more driven competitors. That really pushed her to the point of okay, if I'm going to be able to compete with these, high level athletes, I'm going to need to work a little bit more. She did drift away a little bit during the season because, of course, it's gruesome. And to be quite honest, it was new for us, too. We have taken her to a couple of the clinics and she's been very engaged in these last practices that we've had and really trying now to go at the 190 pound weight class and she's working very hard to be a tough competitor in that weight class. Not only is she wrestling hard but she's getting her cardio game up. doing the extra work after practice, which, we tell them all like it's not just what you do here, but what do you do after.”
Outlook: The Stingarees girls team is slowly building just like the school’s boys team.
SLAM Academy Titans
Coach: Joseph Plair
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:10; 2024:11; 2023:15; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alexa Paz, 29-6, 7th, R2, D2; Sophia Gonzalez, 15-17, D5.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Saryiah Ford, Jr., 19-14, RQ, D5.
Homestead Broncos
Coach: Fernando Melo (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Frank Melo, Joshua Swan, James Williams
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:9; 2024:16
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ariel Alexander, 24-12, SQ, R4, D2; Immawnie Walden, 21-9, D5; Kaliyxia Grunert, So., 8-7, RQ, D4 (Moved to Kentucky).
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they are saying: “The girls team is still in the process of growing. Ariel Alexander was our first girls state qualifiers in school history and Ariel and Immawnie Walden are both in Andrew College wrestling in college so we’re just trying to build our girls program using them as examples.”
On Ariel Alexander qualifying for state: “I think when she qualified and we put it on the forefront. I think she inspired a lot of girls here in Homestead to wrestle and I keep promoting Ariel because she had a Cinderella run in regionals. I think everybody in her weight class was pretty much ranked and Kabra had her not qualifying. I think you guys had her as a shocker, the ones who can qualify. I think her beating the odds and making in the states was beautiful. It was a beautiful run.”
More on Ariel: “I think that it made my brother (Fernando Melo) believe himself as a coach that he can coach these girls to a level where they can make it to state. So I feel like because Ariel making it there, you had a lot of girls looking at wrestling now thinking that they can do the same and achieve the same goal if not more. So right now we're got a good seven girls I believe we are still growing by the day. So hopefully we have a full lineup eventually. But eight girls was better than our Ariel's junior year was her first year wrestling and she was the only girl on the team.”
Outlook: The girls in the room are new to the sport but have been inspired by Alexander’s dream senior season.
Braddock Bulldogs
Coach: Sergio Hernandez
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:19 ;2024:18; 2023:11; 2022:12
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Savanah Gonzalez, 10-7, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
Miami Sunset
Coach: Gabriel Malcer
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:20
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jaidyn Diaz, So., 8-7, RQ, D4.
Miami Central
Coach: Javon Drayton (14th season)
Assistant coaches: Amir Nolasco, Patrick Pierre
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:18
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Aaliyah White, Jr., 13-14, RQ, D4; Christina Chery, So., D5; Jakaylla Occenat, So., 9-8;
Marathon Dolphins
Coach: Ken Wolfe
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None.