Retiring South Dade wrestling coach honored with Miami Herald Lifetime Achievement Award
After 29 seasons, South Dade's Victor Balmeceda decided to call it a career this past March.
And what a distinguished career it was.
The Bucs won 20 state titles in 32 years, including 18 championships in Balmeceda's 29 seasons as a head coach.
Add to that numerous more individual state champions and hundreds more wrestlers he mentored over the years.
For his vast accomplishments, Balmeceda is one of the Miami Herald's 2024-25 Miami-Dade Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.
Balmeceda, 54, remains at South Dade High teaching special-needs kids, but departed his role as coach after the Bucs extended their Dade-record active streak of 12 consecutive state titles.
'It's great when one of your wrestlers jumps into your arms after winning state, and you know you helped him reach his goal,' Balmeceda said earlier this year.
Balmeceda made the decision in order to spend more time with his wife of 29 years, Susan, and their family.
They have two sons, Brevin, 24, and Gavin, 18, both of whom were state champions at South Dade. Brevin was a four-time state champ and won two NAIA national championships at Life University in Marietta, Georgia. Gavin, who won one state title at South Dade, is currently a wrestler at Life.
In addition to his teams' accomplishments on the mat, Balmeceda helped numerous wrestlers overcome difficult home lives as a father figure to so many.
Many of them included former state champions, Eric Diaz and Kendrick Sanders.
Diaz posted on Facebook after Balmeceda announced his retirement: 'Your words of wisdom helped me in dark times. You unselfishly gave so much to so many, and all that you asked was for us to give you our best.
'Just know that you have earned the gratitude, respect, love and loyalty from us all!'
Added Sanders: 'I wanted you to be my coach so much that as a kid I would sneak and put on my older cousin's singlet just to see what it felt like to rock that 'S' on my chest.
'You inspired me, and you have impacted so many lives. You instilled confidence in a boy who was lost at times. There were countless times when we couldn't afford to go to a camp, and you spent out of your pocket to make it happen.
'You provided structure. You held us accountable, and you loved us like we were your own sons.'
Balmeceda also made the decision knowing the program is in good hands.
His long-time assistant coach, Humberto 'Duck' Reyna, replaced him as head coach.
'Duck is half the reason we have the dynasty we have,' Balmeceda said in March.
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