Yancey leads Cardinal Gibbons to another Broward County wrestling title
Cardinal Gibbons senior Nicholas Yancey has had a high school wrestling career many would dream about.
He added another notch to his résumé on Saturday at the BCAA County Wrestling Championships at Fort Lauderdale High.
With his victory at 138pounds, a 17-2 technical pin over Cesar Calderin of South Plantation, Yancey (33-1) not only helped the Chiefs to another county title, but he also won his third straight county championship.
Gibbons successfully defended its county championship with 330.5 points, while Cypress Bay was second with 280 points.
Through Saturday, Yancey’s career record stands at 103-6 and prior to his loss to Devon Magro of Bishop Moore in the final of the East Coast Catholic Classic on Jan. 7, he had a 92-match consecutive winning streak.
“This year I’ve really been working on my top game,” said Yancey.
That’s what I’ve been working on to get to the next level. That’s me to win more matches. I’ve been trying to push my limits and push the wall back. Trying to have the fundamentals in place is important.”
Next up will be districts and regionals and vying for a third straight Class 1A championship.
“Yancey is a great leader and works hard in the room,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Jamel Morris. “The kids look up to him in the way he wrestles. He leads by example and leads vocally too.”
In Yancey’s three matches prior to the final, he needed only 1:12 to pin his opponents.
Several other wrestlers kept their strong seasons intact with impressive performances that led to a county championship.
Michael Mocco, a freshman from Cardinal Gibbons, improved to 31-0 after he pinned Gyani Mosi of Cypress Bay in 1:03 in the 195-pound weight class. Mocco was also the only undefeated competitor entering the competition.
Five wrestlers from Cypress Bay won county
titles. Andrew Punzalan (53-2) beat Miramar’s Dully Brutus 9-0 for the 113-pound title. Jordan Escarra won at 120 pounds, Gabe Herrero became a three-time county champion at 126 pounds and Gozie Mozi won the heavyweight title..
At 182-pounds, senior Zach Weidler (41-1) won his first county title following a pin in 42 seconds over Dominic Pantuso of Cardinal Gibbons. Weidler finished second at last year’s championships.
Miramar stood in second
place after Friday’s preliminary round and finished third with 252.5. The Patriots had three wrestlers compete in a championship and four others in consolation matches.
RESULTS
Team: 1. Cardinal Gibbons 330.5; 2. Cypress
Bay 280; 3. Miramar 252.5; 4. Douglas 183; 5. South Plantation 133; 6.
St. Thomas Aquinas 128.5; 7. Cooper City 120; 8. Nova 105; 9. Coral
Springs 97; 9. Western 97.
Championship finals - 106: Duygulu (MSD) d.
Shapiro (CB) 3-2; 113: Punzalan (CB) d. Brulus (MIR) 9-0; 120: Escarra (CB) d. Levia (MSD) 13-2; 126: Herrero (CB) t.p. Hawkins (FTL) 20-5; 132: Hudson (CG) p. Nealy (MIR) 1:01; 138: Yancey (CG) t.p. Calderin (SP) 17-2; 145: Florio (CG) m.d. Kavanaugh (STA) 14-0; 152: Faris (WEST) d. Picallo (CG) 3-2; 160: Conte (CG) d. P. Mocco (CSC) 3-2; 170: Tauriello (CG) d. Taylor (CSC) 7-2; 182: Weidler (CB) p. Pantuso (CG) 0:48; 195: M. Mocco (CG) p. Gy. Mosi (CB) 1:03; 220: Mondesir
(MIR) d. Cooper (CG) 3-1; HWT: Go. Mosi (CB) p. Taboada (WB) 0:58.
Consolation finals 106: Michaels (CG) d. Charles (MIR) 13-2; 113: Messmer (MSD) p. Petit (HH) 1:34; 120: Parker (CG) d. Butler (MIR) 4-2; 126: Alvarado (COOP) d. Lindsay (CSC) 5-1; 132: Nealy (MIR) d. McCallum (NOV) 8-4; 138: Hightower (DILL) d. Szymanik (STA) 15-3; 145: Nikolepoul (CB) d. Recinos (SP) by forfeit; 152: Dion (MSD) d. Graul (COOP) 5-2; 160: Rodriguez (FLAN) d. Daniels (NOV) 4-2; 170: Senalle (SP) d. Herl (COOP) 8-2; 182: Pierre (SP) d. Milton (MIR) 2:54; 195: Kooby (MSD) p. Groves (STA) 0:39; 220: Zajkowski (MSD) d. Gregory (DILL) 13-4; HWT: Francis (MIR) d. Garcia Rui (COOP) 1-0.