The South Broward High School wrestling team has a number of talented athletes including senior twins Andrew and Anthony Valverde, who are leading the Bulldogs. Andrew wrestles in the 113-pound weight class and has a 25-0 record, winning the Broward County championship for his weight class. Anthony wrestles in the 106-pound weight class and has a 24-1 record, also winning the Broward County championship for his weight class. Last year the twins both qualified to participate in the state finals, with Andrew placing fourth.
Anthony and Andrew ValverdeAndrew has a passion for wrestling and hopes for more success this season. “It takes hard work to be a wrestler. You can never give up in a match, even when you are losing,” he said.
Anthony is also hungry for success. “It takes work to be a good wrestler and I want to do better this season,” he said.
Nadird Odar and Justin MaynardSouth Broward wrestling coach Randy Qualitza is impressed by the work ethic of the Valverde brothers. “They have been wrestling since the 5th grade. They are mentally very tough and they are physically very fast,” he said.
Qualitza said that about 80 percent of wrestling is mental and 20 percent is physical, and he believes the twins are strong in both areas. “They know how to prepare for wrestling matches and they work very hard to be good,” he said.
Qualitza also has high hopes for another talented duo. He believes Nadird Odar, a senior who wrestles in the 145-pound weight class, and Justin Maynard, a sophomore who wrestles in the 132-pound class, could also qualify for the state championship meet this year. They have both won most of their matches this season and have worked hard to be successful.
