It was only fitting that Robert Whittaker’s final high school wrestling match may define his career for generations to come.

The four-year varsity performer for Cardinal Gibbons has been one of the most popular student/athletes at the school through the years. When he was the only finalist in this year’ state wrestling match not to bring home first place for the 1A state champion Chiefs, many felt bad for the heavyweight who has answered the critics all season.

In this year’s annual Miami-Dade/Broward Wrestling All-Star event at South Broward. Whittaker and the Broward team had been looking to narrow the gap against a Miami-Dade program that has dominated the competition in this seniors only tournament over the 10 years of the series.

With the Broward team holding a stunning 69-68 advantage, going into the final match of the night - between Whittaker and Dr. Krop’s Devonte Forbes, this was the match to settle this year’s championship.

With coaches and wrestlers from both counties surrounding the mat for the Whittaker/Forbes showdown, South Broward coach Allen Held, who served as the PA announcer on this night, told the crowd on hand that this match was for “all the marbles”, and pride began to take over.

Things were looking good for Miami-Dade to win the challenge again as Whittaker trailed against Forbes, Whittaker went to his back. In any heavyweight match, when someone goes to his back, the match is usually over. Not with Whittaker, who has made a habit of coming off his back to win matches late. He did it again!

As the first period was ending, Whittaker used his signature move, the “Fat Man Roll“, to reverse things and pinned Forbes.

“He uses that move quite often,” said head coach Frank Pettineo. “What a way to cap off a season for us and the entire county.

For Miami-Dade, Jacob Grant (130) of South Dade went 2-0. Miami-Dade’s first ever four-time state champ Earl Hall (119) of South Dade won as did teammate and state champ Carlos Diego (103) who edged Rafael Arvelo of Monarch 7-3.

Brandon Pellecer (140) of St. Thomas Aquinas beat state runner-up Orlando Cardelle of South Miami. State champs Mardel Gabriel (152) and Josh DaSilveira (189) of Gibbons.

Other state tested wrestlers in action included  Jordan Clein (119) of Cypress Bay, Elias Khwaja (135) of Douglas, Max Becks (140) of Nova, Alfonso Landy (171) of South Broward and Arthur O’Neill (215) of Douglas also won key matches.

The event, annually sponsored by the BCAA, announced its coaches and wrestlers of the year. Broward County Coach of the Year was Pettineo of state champ Cardinal Gibbons. Miami-Dade County’s Vic Balmeceda of state runner-up South Dade took home the well-deserved award. State champs DaSilveira and Hall were Wrestlers of the Year.

Here is a look at the results from the match:

BROWARD 74, MIAMI-DADE 69

103 — Maynor Pinell (Hollywood Hills) d. Arthur Nelson (Monsignor Pace) 7-5; Carlos Diego (South Dade) d. Rafael Arvello (Monarch) 7-3; Maynor Pinell (Hollywood Hills) p. George Nipp (Coral Gables).
112 — Jordan Clien (Cypress Bay) d. Ares Barrios (Coral Park) 11-2.
119 — Earl Hall (South Dade) d. Martavious Crocker (Stranahan) 18-2.
125 — Dusty Kief (Taravella) p. Givens (N. Miami Beach); Dusty Kief (T) p. Shaughn Selmon (American); Zachary Maldonado (Miami Beach) p. David Walters (Cardinal Gibbons).
130 — Jacob Grant (South Dade) d. Juan Escobar (Nova) 14-5; Jacob Grant (South Dade) d. Ari Malca (Western) 13-5; Segal (Palm) p. Miguel Colemenares  (Cypress Bay).
135 — Elias Khwaja (Douglas) d. Nathan Segal (Palmetto) 7-5.
140 — Max Becks (Nova) d. Jessie Ramirez (South Dade) 7-3; Brandon Pellecer (St. Thomas) d. Orlando Cardelle (South Miami) 4-2.
145 — Matthew Lamm (Sunset) p. David Lopez (Ft. Lauderdale); Ramiro Rojas (Braddock) d. Sam Friedfeld (Everglades) 9-5; Andres Montero (South Dade) d. Scott D’Atillio (Taravella) 15-0.
152 — Lazaro Calderin (Killian) p. Marc Saint Pruex (Archbishop McCarthy); Mardel Gabriel (Cardinal Gibbons) d. Robert Miranda (South Miami) 15-0.
160 — Vinny Jiovenetta (Douglas) d. Powell (N. Miami Beach) 11-2; Vinny Jiovenetta (Douglas) d. Edwin Wilson (Southridge) 15-2; Joey Darshan (Coral Springs) p. Pau (N. Miami Beach).
171 — Alfonso Landy (South Broward) p. Ziugan (South Dade; Jamal Pierre (N. Miami Beach) d. Henry Carillo (Deerfield Beach) 4-0.
189 — Norris Mayfield (Homestead) d. Daniel Bankemper (Archbishop McCarthy) 9-6; Brandon  Bridgeworth (Carol City) p. White (Flanagan); Josh Dasilveira (Cardinal Gibbons) d. Jeremy Tronosco (American) 17-4.
215 — Arthur O'Neill (Douglas) d. Ryan Harnett (Ferguson) 10-3; Kyle Kratman (Chaminade-Madonna) d. Ryan Harnett (Ferguson) 14-2.
HWT — Devonte Forbes (Dr. Krop) d. Kevin Williams (Flanagan) 5-1; Robert Whitaker (Cardinal Gibbons) p. Devonte Forbes (Dr. Krop).

You can reach Larry Blustein via e-mail at Floridakids1@hotmail.com. Blustein is the co-host of the High School Gridiron Show each Wednesday night from 9-10 on WQAM (560 AM) or www.wqam.com.

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