State of the Program ... Doral Academy (FL)
Doral Academy (FL)
Head Coach: Alexis DeArmas (5th year)
Staff: Will DeArmas
Extremely solid team from top to bottom. Finished 17th in an extremely deep 3A and given their returners - will look to make a move into the top 10 this season. The Firebird’s lose State Placer Enrique Sanchez, but return the bulk of their team and with a few new faces could make some noise in 22-23. Christian Vazquez and Julian Montero both finished on the podium a season ago with Vazquez taking 2nd and Montero 7th. Both will be in the hunt for the top spot in 2023. David DeArmas qualified for the state tournament a season ago as an undersized 113 and should flip spots with Vazquez this season … giving Doral a solid 1-2 punch down low. All three will look to climb onto the podium in Kissimmee - giving the Firebirds a legit shot to have 3 placers (with maybe a champ or two).
The key for Doral breaking into the top 10 is the continued development of the rest of the squad. Enzo Santoro, Albert Manzini, Hector Cruz, Rolando Diaz, and Alexis Mendizabal all won matches in last year’s region 4 tournament (the toughest in the state of the Florida in my opinion). All have the experience to breakthrough this season and if Doral can get 8 through to Kissimmee then they will be a force to watch. Keep an eye on Athan Toro, Gabriel Beracasa, Joel Carillo and Malakai Roberts to make some noise as well. This is a senior heavy squad that has a ton of potential … if they can wrestle to that level then the 3A top 10 better watch out.
NOTE: I missed including Jose Gutierrez … oversight on my part. I was looking at last year’s region and state wrestlers and he wasn’t there, but we saw him weeks later become an NHSCA All American. Certainly Jose will play a huge role in how Doral does this season.
“We have a good mix of Veterans and younger wrestlers with experience. We are going to continue to implement our system and push our wrestlers to reach their goals.”
NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.