South Dade Lady Bucs: Photo Credit: South Dade HS
South Dade Lady Bucs
TFWR Team of the Week: South Dade High School Girls Wrestling Team
This week, we celebrate the South Dade High School Girls Wrestling Team as the TFWR Team of the Week! The Lady Bucs turned heads and defied expectations with a remarkable performance at the Lady Braves Invitational, held at the Advent Health Arena this past weekend. Facing off against 47 teams, including some of Florida’s top-ranked programs, South Dade dominated the competition in a stunning display of skill, determination, and grit.
This was no ordinary tournament lineup. The defending state champions, Hernando High School, were in attendance alongside elite teams like Orlando-Freedom, Sunlake, Doral Academy, Riverdale, and Bell Creek Academy. Yet South Dade rose to the occasion, placing six wrestlers in the championship finals—a feat that is nothing short of extraordinary, given there are only 14 total weight classes in high school wrestling. South Dade's lady grapplers outscored Orlando-Freedom by almost 50 points! South Dade scored 277.02 to Orlando Freedom's 227.53.
Crowning Champions
Out of the six finalists, three Lady Bucs emerged victorious to claim individual titles:
- Beyonce Espinosa (115 lbs)
- Willow White (125 lbs)
- Kaitelynn Oliver (130 lbs)
Their championship performances set the tone for the team’s incredible achievement, solidifying South Dade’s place among Florida’s elite programs.
Key Contributions Across the Board
The team’s success was a collective effort, with numerous wrestlers securing critical points to clinch the overall team title. Here’s how the Lady Bucs performed:
- Rebekkah Kinkade: 5th place (110 lbs)
- Arianna Garcia: 2nd place (135 lbs)
- Shamari Smith: 2nd place (140 lbs)
- Geraldine Honore: 2nd place (145 lbs)
- Anayalee Masso: 5th place (155 lbs)
- Amaris Echezarreta: 4th place (170 lbs)
- Amirah Williams: 5th place (190 lbs)
- Kenzie Barrett: 3rd place (235 lbs)
A Champion’s Mindset
Under the leadership of Coach Chino Duran, the South Dade Girls Wrestling Team thrives on competition. Coach Duran’s philosophy is simple but effective: "To be the best, you have to beat the best." This mindset has fueled the team’s relentless drive, exemplified not only by this weekend’s victory but also by their impressive runner-up finish last month at the prestigious Knockout Tournament at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Congratulations to the South Dade Lady Bucs for their phenomenal performance and for earning the title of TFWR Team of the Week! Their determination, resilience, and teamwork continue to set the standard for excellence in Florida girls’ wrestling. We can’t wait to see what this powerhouse program achieves next!