Braves Wrestling Club wins epic semifinal match, finishes 2nd at AAU Nationals
Braves Wrestling Club poses after finishing second in the Community 1 division at the AAU Scholastic National Duals at the Broward Convention Center. (PHOTO COURTESY OF JASON GREGORY)
BY BRANT PARSONS — Winning by single point with two matches left, Braves Wrestling Club needed it’s final two wrestlers to come up big to get the win over Eagle Empire Purple in the Community 1 semifinals at the AAU Scholastic Duals at the Broward Convention Center.
They came through.
Kaleb Johns scored a key technical fall win at 215 pounds to put the Braves up by six going into the heavyweight match, and then Leyland Callahan was able to stay off his back at 285 against a Florida state champion and the team secured a 31-29 win.
Braves Wrestling Club finished second in pool-play on Tuesday behind Camden Greasers, who then won the championship dual between the two 52-13 on Wednesday.
Eagle Empire Purple, who won its pool on Tuesday, bounced back to beat Westside WC 40-21 for third place.
Eagle Empire Purple went 12-1 over the three days.
In the Community 2 division, Somerset Academy narrowly lost its first dual on Wednesday but bounced back to win the consolation bracket and finish ninth.
Monster performances by Florida Wrestlers
Roberto De Jesus Rivera (126-132) and Husam Mustafa (165) both finished the tournament 13-0 for Braves Wrestling Club.
Eagle Empire Purple’s Lazaro Soto (113), Didier Novoa (150), and Myran Mendez (215-285) all went undefeated for the Pool B winners.
Somerset had a quartet of perfect wrestlers with Darion Shannon (132), Bluny Davilma (157), Eric Hodge (165-175), and Mateo Martinez (190-215) finishing the three days with 11-0 records. Arath Preciado (175) was 9-0 in Community B for Bonita Buc-ee’s.
Husam Mustafa was one of 10 Florida wrestlers to go undefeated in at least nine matches over the three days. (PHOTO COURTESY OF AL MUSTAFA)
More top wrestlers for Florida
12-1: Jarold Beune (113, Braves Wrestling Club); Antonio Morales (120, Eagle Empire Purple); Joshua Perez (126, Explorer Wrestling Club); Massimiliano Pellicano (144, Venice Takedown Club); Tomas Campian (150, Explorer Wrestling Club); Nicholas Velazco (157, Explorer Wrestling Club); Kevion Williams (165, Westside WC); Evanangelo Mercado (175-190, Eagle Empire Purple); Kaleb Johns (215, Braves Wrestling Club)
12-2: Jonathan Diaz (120-126, Eagle Empire Black)
11-1: Jacob Rodriguez (175, Westside WC)
11-2: Sebastian Gonzalez (126, Eagle Empire Purple); Anthony Romero (190-215, Eagle Empire Purple)
10-1: Sage Suarez (190-215, Somerset Academy)
10-2: Janmichael Broche (113, Team Blue Steel); Mateus Sgai (138, Maximum Performance)
9-2: Shantavous White (285, Somerset Academy)
8-2: Rocco Ruiz (138, Explorer Wrestling Club); Eli Diaz (175, Somerset Academy)
7-1: Antonio Cordoves (190, Eagle Empire Black); Liam Higgins (285, Wellington Com)
6-0: Tyrell Robby (144, Eagle Empire Purple)
5-0: Aadyn Gruver (120, Braves Wrestling Club)
Key duals
Community 1
Championship
Camden Greasers 52, Braves Wrestling 13
106: Clayton Newton (CG) tech. Jaxson Hackett (BWC) 19-0; 113: Jarold Beune (BWC) dec. Kalob Rodriguez (CG) 8-5; 120: Elijah Hattaway (CG) dec. Tyler White (BWC) 6-2; 126: Roberto Rivera (BWC) maj. Jayden Buehler (CG) 17-4; 132: Isaac Santos (CG) p. Jordan Harrison (BWC) 5:41; 38: Cane Smolarsky (CG) p. Jaxon Arfaras (BWC) 2:30; 144: Brandon Higgins (CG) dec. Noah Gregory (BWC) 4-0; 150: Hunter Prosen (CG) p. Travonte Burgess (BWC) 2:49; 157: Brock Weaver (CG) tech. Jerry Ware (BWC) 15-0; 165: Husam Mustafa (BWC) dec. Julian Dailey (CG) 5-0; 175: Brian Wright (CG) p. Paul Wright (BWC) 1:37; 190: Ryder Wilder (CG) p. Mason Desandolo (BWC) 0:17; 215: Kaleb Johns (BWC) dec. Caleb Gaskin (CG) 4-2; 285: Joseph Schulze (CG) p. Leyland Callahan (BWC) 2:55.
Third Place
Eagle Empire Purple 40, Westside WC 21
106: James Godwin (W) maj. Alejandro Ravelo (EEP) 14-3; 113: Lazaro Soto (EEP) tech. Trenton Smith (W) 17-1; 120: Antonio Morales (EEP) maj. Jacob Rivera (W) 10-1; 126: Sebastian Gonzalez (EEP) dec. Zavian Chaves (W) 8-3; 132: Tyson Horel (W) maj. Bryan Garcia (EEP) 14-4; 138: Nelson Hued (EEP) maj. Rudley III (W) 17-9; 144: Adlan Dzhabrailov (EEP) dec. Cayden Torres (W) 10-3; 150: Didier Novoa (EEP) by FF; 157: Matthew Lefevre (EEP) maj. Ayden Keys (W) 19-11; 165: Kevion Williams (W) maj. Andrew Lopez (EEP) 11-2; 175: Evanangelo Mercado (EEP) p. Logan Sullivan (W) 1:14; 190: Aidan Buck (W) dec. Anthony Romero (EEP) 4-0; 215: Myron Mendez (EEP) tech. Marco Gonzalez (W) 21-5; 285: Frankie Marquez (W) p. Leroy Thomas (EEP) 1:12.
Semifinals
Braves Wrestling Club 31, Eagle Empire Purple 29
106: Jaxson Hackett (BWC) dec. Alejandro Ravelo (EEP) 5-3; 113: Lazaro Soto (EEP) maj. Jarold Beune (BWC) 11-2; 120: Antonio Morales (EEP) dec. Tyler White (BWC) 8-3; 126: Roberto Rivera (BWC) dec. Sebastian Gonzalez (EEP) 12-6; 132: Bryan Garcia (EEP) maj. Jordan Harrison (BWC) 15-3; 138: Nelson Hued (EEP) tech. Isaac Lowe (BWC) 20-3; 144: Noah Gregory (BWC) maj. Adlan Dzhabrailov (EEP) 8-0; 150: Didier Novoa (EEP) tech. Travonte Burgess (BWC) 19-3; 157: Jerry Ware (BWC) maj. Matthew Lefevre (EEP) 12-3; 165: Husam Mustafa (BWC) by FF; 175: Paul Wright (BWC) p. Andrew Lopez (EEP) 4:39; 190: Evanangelo Mercado (EEP) maj. Mason Desandolo (BWC) 11-1; 215: Kaleb Johns (BWC) tech. Anthony Romero (EEP) 15-0; 285: Myron Mendez (EEP) maj. Leyland Callahan (BWC) 22-8.
Camden Greasers 59, Westside WC 4
106: Clayton Newton (CG) tech. James Godwin (W) 18-2; 113: Kalob Rodriguez (CG) dec. Trenton Smith (W) 6-0; 120: Elijah Hattaway (CG) maj. Jacob Rivera (W) 10-0; 126: Zavian Chaves (W) maj. Jayden Buehler (CG) 13-3; 132: Isaac Santos (CG) dec. Tyson Horel (W) 4-0; 138: Cane Smolarsky (CG) maj. Rudley III (W) 14-6; 144: Brandon Higgins (CG) p. Cayden Torres (W) 1:36; 150: Hunter Prosen (CG) p. Ayden Keys (W) 1:11; 157: Brock Weaver (CG) by FF; 165: Julian Dailey (CG) p. Kevion Williams (W) 4:31; 175: Brian Wright (CG) tech. Jacob Rodriguez (W) 15-0; 190: Ryder Wilder (CG) tech. Aidan Buck (W) 18-1; 215: Ricky Herman (CG) dec. Marco Gonzalez (W) 7-4; 285: Joseph Schulze (CG) dec. Frankie Marquez (W) 3-0.
Community 2
Ninth place
Somerset Academy 42, Team Montana Sydney 35
106: Eli Lonski (TMS) p. Zayd Aziz (SA) 0:59; 113: Max Kleinke (TMS) p. Danny Acosta (SA) 0:35; 120: Jose Callava (SA) dec. Bodee Bright (TMS) 13-6; 126: Jack Kozvsko (TMS) by FF; 132: Darion Shannon (SA) p. Yuriah Camacho (TMS) 1:25; 138: Brenner Mullin (TMS) tech. Cameron Haines (SA) 20-5; 144: Aaron Schmitz (TMS) p. Marlo Jimenez (SA) 1:25; 150: Brody Keysor (TMS) p. Brandon Delgado (SA) 0:47; 157: Bluny Davilma (SA) p. Brady Garoutte (TMS) 1:55; 165: Amir Bataineh (SA) p. Calder Vollmer (TMS) 1:07; 175: Eric Hodge (SA) dec. Holden Hoiness (TMS) 13-9; 190: Sage Suarez (SA) by FF; 215: Mateo Martinez (SA) p. Cooper Fulgham (TMS) 0:35; 285: Shantavous White (SA) p. Stetson Armes (TMS) 0:39.
Bracket competitions
Community 1
Gold Bracket
2. Braves Wrestling Club
Braves Wrestling Club 61, Team Montana Butte 11
Braves Wrestling Club 42, Austintown Finch Falcons 23
Braves Wrestling Club 31, Eagle Empire Purple 29
Camden Greasers 52, Braves Wrestling Club 13
3. Eagle Empire Purple
Eagle Empire Purple 69, Lapeer 12
Eagle Empire Purple 59, Springboro 13
Braves Wrestling Club 31, Eagle Empire Purple 29
Eagle Empire Purple 40, Westside WC 21
4. Westside WC
Westside WC 46, Team Montana Senior 26
Westside WC 45, MXW Gold 33
Camden Greasers 59, Westside WC 4
Eagle Empire Purple 40, Westside WC 21
7. Explorer Wrestling Club
Explorer Wrestling Club 49, Wellington Com 28
Camden Greasers 61, Explorer Wrestling Club 6
MXW Gold 38, Explorer Wrestling Club 35
Explorer Wrestling Club 53, Springboro 24
9. Eagle Empire Black
Austintown Finch Falcons 49, Eagle Empire Black 24
Eagle Empire Black 42, Team Montana Butte 38
Eagle Empire Black 39, Lapeer 37
Eagle Empire Black 41, Wellington Com 33
10. Wellington Com
Explorer Wrestling Club 49, Wellington Com 28
Wellington Com 37, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 36
Wellington 41, Venice Takedown Club 29
Eagle Empire Black 41, Wellington Com 33
12. Venice Takedown Club
MXW Gold 45, Venice Takedown Club 33
Venice Takedown Club 41, Team Montana Senior 39
Wellington 41, Venice Takedown Club 29
Lapeer 41, Venice Takedown Club 39
16. Bad Bay Wrestling Club
Camden Greasers 78, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 0
Wellington Com 37, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 36
Team Montana Senior 12, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 12
Team Montana Butte 41, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 34
Silver Bracket
1. Cowboy WC
Cowboy WC 62, Colosseum Wrestling Club 17
Cowboy WC 58, Team Blue Steel 15
Cowboy WC 57, Maximum Performance 23
2. Maximum Performance
Team Blue Steel 44, Maximum Performance 30
Maximum Performance 52, Colosseum Wrestling Club 15
Cowboy WC 57, Maximum Performance 23
3. Colosseum Wrestling Club
Cowboy WC 62, Colosseum Wrestling Club 17
Maximum Performance 52, Colosseum Wrestling Club 15
Colosseum Wrestling Club 42, Team Blue Steel 40
4. Team Blue Steel
Team Blue Steel 44, Maximum Performance 30
Cowboy WC 58, Team Blue Steel 15
Colosseum Wrestling Club 42, Team Blue Steel 40
Community 2
Gold Bracket
9. Somerset Academy
Dayton Bandits 34, Somerset Academy 33
Somerset Academy 45, Hawkeye Elite Gold 34
Somerset Academy 42, Genoa Wrestling Club 34
Somerset Academy 42, Team Montana Sidney 35
Silver Bracket
5. Bonita Buc-ee's
Bonita Buc-ee's 55, MXW Black 23
Team Montana Conrad 45, Bonita Buc-ee's 33
Austintown Finch Falcons B 49, Bonita Buc-ee's 30
Rosewood 47, Bonita Buc-ee's 34
Anchor Wrestling 60, Bonita Buc-ee's 24
Pool Play
Community 1 - Pool A
1. Camden Greasers; 2. Braves Wrestling Club; 3. MXW Gold; 4. Springboro Wrestling; 5. Wellington Com; 6. Eagle Empire Black; 7. Team Montana Senior; 8. Lapeer; 9. Cowboy WC; 10. Team Blue Steel
Braves Wrestling Club (8-1)
Round 1: Braves Wrestling Club 59, Springboro 17
Round 2: Braves Wrestling Club 61, MXW Gold 14
Round 3: Braves Wrestling Club 57, Lapeer 18
Round 4: Braves Wrestling Club 71, Team Blue Steel 5
Round 5: Braves Wrestling Club 58, Wellington Com 9
Round 6: Braves Wrestling Club 62, Cowboy WC 15
Round 7: Braves Wrestling Club 55, Team Montana Senior 18
Round 8: Braves Wrestling Club 67, Eagle Empire Black 9
Round 9: Camden Greasers 49, Braves Wrestling Club 16
Wellington Com (6-3)
Round 1: Wellington Com 48, Lapeer 33
Round 2: Wellington Com 41, Eagle Empire Black 33
Round 3: Wellington Com 56, Team Blue Steel 20
Round 4: Camden Greasers 72, Wellington Com 6
Round 5: Braves Wrestling Club 58, Wellington Com 9
Round 6: Springboro Wrestling 41, Wellington Com 30
Round 7: Wellington Com 36, Cowboy WC 31
Round 8: Wellington Com 40, MXW Gold 36
Round 9: Wellington Com 39, Team Montana Senior 35
Eagle Empire Black (3-6)
Round 1: Eagle Empire Black 42, Team Montana Senior 34
Round 2: Wellington Com 41, Eagle Empire Black 33
Round 3: Camden Greasers 72, Eagle Empire Black 0
Round 4: Springboro Wrestling 31, Eagle Empire Black 30
Round 5: MXW Gold 41, Eagle Empire Black 32
Round 6: Eagle Empire Black 49, Lapeer 21
Round 7: Eagle Empire Black 40, Team Blue Steel 28
Round 8: Braves Wrestling Club 67, Eagle Empire Black 9
Round 9: Cowboy WC 43, Eagle Empire Black 36
Cowboy WC (2-7)
Round 1: Camden Greasers 68, Cowboy WC 0
Round 2: Springboro Wrestling 53, Cowboy WC 15
Round 3: MXW Gold 51, Cowboy WC 28
Round 4: Lapeer 51, Cowboy WC 29
Round 5: Cowboy WC 48, Team Blue Steel 25
Round 6: Braves Wrestling Club 62, Cowboy WC 15
Round 7: Wellington Com 36, Cowboy WC 31
Round 8: Team Montana Senior 53, Cowboy WC 26
Round 9: Cowboy WC 43, Eagle Empire Black 36
Team Blue Steel (0-9)
Round 1: MXW Gold 55, Team Blue Steel 21
Round 2: Lapeer 50, Team Blue Steel 23
Round 3: Wellington Com 56, Team Blue Steel 20
Round 4: Braves Wrestling Club 71, Team Blue Steel 5
Round 5: Cowboy WC 48, Team Blue Steel 25
Round 6: Team Montana Senior 54, Team Blue Steel 24
Round 7: Eagle Empire Black 40, Team Blue Steel 28
Round 8: Camden Greasers 72, Team Blue Steel 3
Round 9: Springboro Wrestling 43, Team Blue Steel 32
Community 1 - Pool B
1. Eagle Empire Purple; 2. Westside WC; 3. Austintown Finch Falcons; 4. Explorer Wrestling Club; 5. West Forsyth Wrestling Club; 6. Venice Takedown Club; 7. Team Montana Butte; 8. Bay Bad Wrestling Club; 9. Maximum Performance; 10. Colosseum Wrestling Club
Eagle Empire Purple (9-0)
Round 1: Eagle Empire Purple 58, West Forsyth Wrestling Club 10
Round 2: Eagle Empire Purple 44, Westside WC 16
Round 3: Eagle Empire Purple 44, Explorer Wrestling Club 16
Round 4: Eagle Empire Purple 76, Colosseum Wrestling Club 0
Round 5: Eagle Empire Purple 56, Team Montana Butte 9
Round 6: Eagle Empire Purple 67, Maximum Performance 5
Round 7: Eagle Empire Purple 63, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 11
Round 8: Eagle Empire Purple 52, Venice Takedown Club 21
Round 9: Eagle Empire Purple 54, Austintown Finch Falcons 18
Westside WC (8-1)
Round 1: Westside WC 42, Explorer Wrestling Club 23
Round 2: Eagle Empire Purple 44, Westside WC 16
Round 3: Westside WC 48, Team Montana Butte 25
Round 4: Westside WC 59, Maximum Performance 12
Round 5: Westside WC 64, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 12
Round 6: Westside WC 46, Venice Takedown Club 24
Round 7: Westside WC 47, Austintown Finch Falcons 20
Round 8: Westside WC 47, West Forsyth Wrestling Club 27
Round 9: Westside WC 66, Colosseum Wrestling Club 15
Explorer Wrestling Club (6-3)
Round 1: Westside WC 42, Explorer Wrestling Club 23
Round 2: Explorer Wrestling Club 59, Colosseum Wrestling Club 24
Round 3: Eagle Empire Purple 44, Explorer Wrestling Club 16
Round 4: Explorer Wrestling Club 44, Team Montana Butte 32
Round 5: Explorer Wrestling Club 59, Maximum Performance 18
Round 6: Explorer Wrestling Club 51, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 23
Round 7: Explorer Wrestling Club 52, Venice Takedown Club 23
Round 8: Austintown Finch Falcons 40, Explorer Wrestling Club 37
Round 9: Explorer Wrestling Club 50, West Forsyth Wrestling Club 21
Venice Takedown Club (4-5)
Round 1: Venice Takedown Club 48, Maximum Performance 26
Round 2: Venice Takedown Club 39, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 34
Round 3: Venice Takedown Club 55, Colosseum Wrestling Club 23
Round 4: Austintown Finch Falcons 59, Venice Takedown Club 17
Round 5: Venice Takedown Club 39, West Forsyth Wrestling Club 30
Round 6: Westside WC 46, Venice Takedown Club 24
Round 7: Explorer Wrestling Club 52, Venice Takedown Club 23
Round 8: Eagle Empire Purple 52, Venice Takedown Club 21
Round 9: Team Montana Butte 41, Venice Takedown Club 38
Bad Bay Wrestling Club (2-7)
Round 1: Bad Bay Wrestling Club 55, Colosseum Wrestling Club 21
Round 2: Venice Takedown Club 39, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 34
Round 3: Austintown Finch Falcons 58, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 16
Round 4: West Forsyth Wrestling Club 40, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 33
Round 5: Westside WC 64, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 12
Round 6: Explorer Wrestling Club 51, Bay Bad Wrestling Club 23
Round 7: Eagle Empire Purple 63, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 11
Round 8: Team Montana Butte 42, Bad Bay Wrestling Club 28
Round 9: Bad Bay Wrestling Club 50, Maximum Performance 30
Maximum Performance (1-8)
Round 1: Venice Takedown Club 48, Maximum Performance 26
Round 2: Austintown Finch Falcons 64, Maximum Performance 14
Round 3: West Forsyth Wrestling Club 49, Maximum Performance 20
Round 4: Westside WC 59, Maximum Performance 12
Round 5: Explorer Wrestling Club 59, Maximum Performance 18
Round 6: Eagle Empire Purple 67, Maximum Performance 5
Round 7: Team Montana Butte 44, Maximum Performance 26
Round 8: Maximum Performance 50, Colosseum Wrestling Club 24
Round 9: Bad Bay Wrestling Club 50, Maximum Performance 30
Colosseum Wrestling Club (0-9)
Round 1: Bad Bay Wrestling Club 55, Colosseum Wrestling Club 21
Round 2: Explorer Wrestling Club 59, Colosseum Wrestling Club 24
Round 3: Venice Takedown Club 55, Colosseum Wrestling Club 23
Round 4: Eagle Empire Purple 76, Colosseum Wrestling Club 0
Round 5: Austintown Finch Falcons 77, Colosseum Wrestling Club 3
Round 6: Team Montana Butte 58, Colosseum Wrestling Club 15
Round 7: West Forsyth Wrestling Club 57, Colosseum Wrestling Club 23
Round 8: Maximum Performance 50, Colosseum Wrestling Club 24
Round 9: Westside WC 66, Colosseum Wrestling Club 15
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Community 2 - Pool D
Bonita Buc-ee's 0-6
Round 1: Austin Finch Falcons 63, Bonita Buc-ee's 12
Round 3: 212 Madison 60, Bonita Buc-ee's 18
Round 4: Franklin Black 68, Bonita Buc-ee's 9
Round 5: Alburnett 77, Bonita Buc-ee's 6
Round 6: Dayton Bandits 59, Bonita Buc-ee's 18
Round 7: Social Circle Black 61, Bonita Buc-ee's 18
Community 2 - Pool E
Somerset Academy (5-1)
Round 1: Somerset Academy 64, Team Montana Conrad 18
Round 2: Somerset Academy 72, MXW Black 6
Round 3: Somerset Academy 36, Fuzzy Bees 35
Round 4: Tough Brother 40, Somerset Academy 32
Round 5: Somerset Academy 35, Camden Socs 34
Round 6: Somerset Academy 37, Canfield 36
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
