Growing up in Miami Lakes, Monsignor Pace High wrestlers Alex Perez, Stephen Moreno, David Monrabal and Leo Ferradaz pushed each year-round to be the best in their sport.
And what a push they got this year.
Perez and Moreno each finished fourth at the state tournament in their respective weight class and Monrabal and Ferradaz made it to the regional, their best finish since they started wrestling in high school.
“They all have been friends for a long time,” said Joe Nagy, Leo’s stepfather who often attends their wrestling matches. “They are a unique group of kids with a unique story.”
Wrestling in the 138 weight division, Perez, a junior, showed just why he is among the best wrestlers in the state of Florida.
He is a second generation wrestler; his dad was a prolific grappler in Cuba and often gives his son some pointers that helped him reach the state tournament.
“He knows what it feels like,” said Perez. “He attends my matches and gives me some advice.”
Moreno, a sophomore who wrestled in the 113 weight division, said his older brother, Christopher, convinced him to follow in his footsteps.
An acute shoulder injury kept Christopher Moreno, who was a member of Team USA and a two-time state runner-up, out of this year's wrestling tournament.
Stephen Moreno is determined to return to the state tournament next year and win it all. “I want to be the best in the world,” he said.
Monrabal, a sophomore, said he needs to work harder during the offseason if he wants to make it past the regional tournament in 2016.
“It means sacrificing your teenage life,” Monrabal said.
Nagy said he coaxed Ferradaz, who competed in the 106 weight division, to try wrestling because he was a wrestling workhorse in high school and thought his stepson would get something out of the sport.
While other students will be enjoying their summer vacation, the foursome will be making the sacrifice, practicing hard each day and enduring a strict diet to get meticulously prepared for next season.
“Lot of practice this year,” Perez said. “It takes a lot of hard work to compete in the district, regional and state tournaments.”
Said Moreno: “We have fun during practice but we focus on our goals but pushing each other hard. Three to four hours a day of practice can make us better athletes.”
Nagy said the four boys are like brothers.
“These are just a bunch of kids who pray together, excel in the classroom and push each other to be the best,” Nagy said. “They are really focused.”