J.P. Taravella’s Top Girl and Boy Wrestlers Win Three Pre-Season Tournaments

by David Volz October 6, 2026

by David Volz October 6, 2026 2 minutes read

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Arheanna Bryan and Jelani Cruickshank {David Volz}

Arheanna Bryan is proving she deserves to be Florida’s No. 1-ranked 190-pound female wrestler.

On October 4, Bryan, a senior and the captain of the Taravella girls’ wrestling team, earned first place in the 190-pound weight class at the Somerset Juggernaut Wrestling Tournament at Somerset Academy High School in Pembroke Pines. She competed against some of the region’s most talented wrestlers, according to her coach, Michael Bazos.

On September 5, she won the Killian Juggernaut. On September 12-13, she won the Super 32 Qualifier in Kissimmee, Florida, where she faced wrestlers from other states and defeated a top wrestler from Georgia.

“These are pre-season tournaments, but they are more competitive than many high school tournaments,” said Bazos. “Bryan is one of the best wrestlers in Florida, and I think she can win a state championship this year.”

Bryan will share her wrestling talent by participating in a Youth Impact Center mission trip to Barbados on October 19-21. A group of wrestlers will visit young people there, bring wrestling shoes, and share their wrestling knowledge.

Last year, Bryan was runner-up in the state championship, and this year she believes she can be the state champion. “It felt good to win the three tournaments, and I hope to continue learning and to win the state championship,” she said.

Jelani Cruickshank, a junior and captain of the Taravella boys’ team, won first place in the 190-pound weight class at the Somerset Juggernaut. He also won first place at the Killian Juggernaut and, on August 29, won first at the South Plantation Slam.

“It was good to win those tournaments, and I am looking forward to the upcoming season. I will have to practice a lot, and I have a lot to learn,” he said.

Bazos is optimistic about the upcoming season. “I think we are going to have a good team this year,” he said.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.