Coach and father Eric Perez, and his son Elijah Perez. {David Volz}
Wrestling athlete Elijah Perez of Coral Springs Charter has officially announced his commitment to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Southern Maine.
Perez said the opportunity represents an important step forward both on and off the mat.
“It feels great and means the school trusts me to take the next step in my career,” Perez said. “The coaches are great people, and there’s a great atmosphere in the wrestling room. The University of Southern Maine also has a great business degree program, and they offer ROTC that I will definitely take advantage of.”
The son of coach Eric Perez, Elijah has been wrestling since ninth grade and reached a major milestone last season by recording his 100th career victory. He now sits just shy of 150 career wins.
After finishing third at districts as a freshman, Perez has placed second each of the last three seasons and has qualified for regionals during that span. His team also showed significant improvement this year, finishing fourth at the District Championship, moving up five spots from last season.
Several teammates earned top finishes, including Cristofer Carbajal, Blake Eden, Zayne Yawar, and Logan Bosworth, who all placed second. Jonathan McKenzie finished third, while Cash Conner and Lukas D’Agostinis each placed fourth.
Perez was recently honored on senior night alongside Bosworth, Rocco Nocito, and Michael Streder. He credits much of his development to training under his father, describing an environment that constantly pushed him to improve.
“It always felt like a practice that would never end,” Perez added. “Whether it was weight lifting after practice or watching matches with him.”
With his senior season still underway, Perez now looks to finish his high school career strong before beginning the next chapter of his wrestling journey in Maine.
Send Your News to Coral Springs’s #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t Miss Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.
Author Profile
Related
NewsFebruary 21, 2026Elijah Perez of Coral Springs Charter Commits to University of Southern Maine
NewsFebruary 19, 2026Coral Glades Basketball Rolls Into Regional Semifinals as Coral Springs Teams Wrap Up Strong Seasons
NewsFebruary 15, 2026Lacrosse and Softball: Coral Glades Kicks Off Spring Sports Season
NewsFebruary 13, 2026Coral Springs Charter Softball Opens Strong at South Florida Challenge Preseason Classic
