Month: November 2018

So we just sent over the 2018-19 wrestling preview to the Florida Times-Union.

Last year’s submission of this preview and its subsequent publication, shall we say, caused a little steam out there in the community. Well, one school, actually. Steam that I, quite frankly, did not appreciate, and — as I am occasionally known to do — might have amplified somewhat.

Given that, and given that I was just reminded of it all in my Facebook memories this week, I thought a couple of disclaimers would be in order.

1. I have NO CONTROL over the format of the preview. Like every other non-football preview that appears in the FTU, the format for the wrestling preview is this. Write a paragraph about the top five teams heading into the season. Then, write a paragraph about five individuals, ideally the best(ish) five, that do NOT wrestle for one of those five teams. While I didn’t list every returning state qualifier on each of the five teams to watch this year, I did (or at least believe I did) list each returning state medalist. I could not list every returning state medalist as an individual to watch. In part, I intentionally spread the coverage out.
2. Because I have NO CONTROL over the format of the preview, much as I would like it to look and read and feel more like my #TurkeyNWrestling one, I am bound by the constraints of the entity paying me to write it. A lot of people took issue with the fact that it wasn’t like TnW. It was even called “fake news.” Whatever else a local high school sport preview is or is not, it is most definitely not fake. If you have issues with the FTU about its Seminoles/Gators/Jaguars/insert team here coverage, or its editorials, or you just don’t like how much it’s shrunk (and I agree with you), please do not disparage my work as “fake news.” You can just stop reading now, otherwise. No matter who you are.
3. All other things being equal, given that I’m already writing up results for FTU throughout the season, and covering what they allow me to cover (which isn’t much outside of one of the three region tournaments and states), and that I’m going to be doing team rankings for them this year (yes, when it appears, you can take the team paragraphs and how they’re ordered as evidence of how I would rank them), I should write the preview as well. Better me than somebody who doesn’t know the area, or the sport.
4. The FTU preview only covers teams that were with me the first year of Matmen. That’s all Duval/Clay/St Johns/Nassau teams, plus Columbia and Suwannee.
5. I don’t like submitting a preview with my name on it that doesn’t say something about every team. Every team is working at this point in the year. But, see #1.

The preview could run this weekend or Monday. You’ll probably find out before I do.

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We expect to update this. Updates received after 4:30 p.m. today will appear on Sunday.

Results as submitted by Wakulla. Inquiry made on Columbia 170.

At Buchholz
Preseason Classic

Wakulla 52, Buchholz A 18
(first match at 138)
106: Hernandez (Wak) p. Bianchi, 1:00. 113: Moore (B) d. Merrick, 8-4. 120: Hatchman (Wak) p. Davis, :20. 126: Owen (Wak) d. Perkins, 8-6. 132: Dutton (Wak) p. Dixon, 3:00. 138: Roberts (Wak) p. Griffin, 3:50. 145: Fletcher (B) p. Owens, 4:00. 152: Wilson (Wak) md. Green-Church, 10-0. 160: Baggett (Wak) d. Hernandez, 10-6. 170: Hart (Wak) p. Vann, 4:30. 182: Annand (Wak) fft. 195: Acosta (B) d. Hinsey, 6-3. 220: Smith-Jackson (B) p. Brown, 1:30. 285: Wilkins (Wak) p. Robinson, 1:40.

Wakulla 54, Columbia 22
106: Hernandez (Wak) p. Millard, 1:13. 113: Merrick (Wak) p. Abbott, :18. 120: Hatchman (Wak) p. Green, :49. 126: I. McGuigan (Col) d. Owen, 5-4. 132: A. McGuigan (Col) md. Dutton, 18-7. 138: Brown (Col) p. Roberts, :44. 145: Ross (Col) ID over Owens. 152: Wilson (Wak) p. Smith, 3:39. 160: Baggett (Wak) p. O’Quinn, :41. 170: Hart (Wak) p. Raggins. 182: Annand (Wak) p. Thompson, 2:37. 195: Hinsey (Wak) p. Stubblefield, 1:17. 220: Griffin (Col) d. Brown, 10-8. 285: Wilkins (Wak) p. Jones, 1:22.

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Results as submitted by the host school.

At Englewood
Rams Preseason Classic
First Coast 42, Englewood 36
(first match at 138)
106: Double fft. 113: Jonah Ingram (FC) p. Raequan Staples, :18. 120: Ricardo Rivera-Resto (E) p. Aidan Hastings, 1:20. 126: Shawnjohn Adams (FC) p. Hunter Padgett, 4:22. 132: Jason Schwartz (FC) p. Dairo Guerra, 4:53. 138: Lynden North (E) p. Jace Austin, 1:59. 145: Ben Paramo (E) p. Keyshawn Brown, 5:35. 152: Nick Monroe (FC) p. Ernest Rodriguez, 1:06. 160: Sam Howard (E) p. Kyle Perry, 1:50. 170: Jordan Mitchell (E) p. Austin Mims, :35. 182: Devante Wyatt (FC) p. Shammy Augustin, :32. 195: Sean Wilson (FC) p. Eric Moore, 2:46. 220: Hakeem Culberson (FC) p. Anthony Guerra, 3:02. 285: Chris Lands (E) p. Gustavo Martinez, 1:32.

First Coast 48, Stanton 30
(first match at 145)
106: Double fft. 113: Ingram (FC) p. Jack Walsh. 120: Artin Rezoel (S) p. Hastings, :52. 126: Schwartz (FC) p. Mathew Mock, 2:24. 132: Baher Boktor (S) fft. 138: Gabe Navarro (S) p. Josiah Mossor, 2:37. 145: Grant Kelsey (S) p. Mims, :58. 152: Nick Jefferson (FC) p. Liam Salem, 3:05. 160: Anthony Walker (FC) p. Khoi Nguyen, 1:55. 170: Mims (FC) p. Kaymin Baldwin, :28. 182: Wyatt (FC) p. Timothy Sinclair, :23. 195: Avery Bellen (S) p. Timothy King, 3:23. 220: Grayson Peterson (FC) p. Charles Woo, 3:43. 285: Martinez (FC) fft.

Englewood 70, Stanton 6
(first match at 152)
106: Double fft. 113: Staples (E) p. Walsh. 120: Adrian Vasquez (E) p. Brian Flannigan, 1:11. 126: Padgett (E) p. Raji Parrera. 132: D. Guerra (E) p. Boktor, :15. 138: North (E) md. Navarro, 8-0. 145: Paramo (E) p. Kelsey, 4:40. 152: Rodriguez (E) p. Salem, 1:35. 160: Henry Duong (E) p. Nguyen, :50. 170: Darren Dukes (E) p. Nilay Shaw, :35. 182: Augustin (E) p. Bellen, 1:11. 195: Woo (S) p. Moore, 1:08. 220: A. Guerra (E) fft. 285: Lands (E) fft.

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North Florida Matmen staff report

Below follows a summary of college wrestling that had a Matmen-area presence Wednesday night. We are still looking for one result (Iowa Western at Ellsworth) and will update as available (all listed rankings below as per Intermat).

Reinhardt 26, Life 18: At Waleska GA, in a matchup of Eagles vs. Eagles for intrastate bragging rights, it was host and 16th-ranked (NAIA) Reinhardt that bounced the 12th-ranked Life visitors. Freshman Ethan Gustilo (Oakleaf ’18) continued his winning ways for Reinhardt, knocking off Life junior Lucas Patterson, 9-5, at 133, as the hosts won each weight from 125 through 149.

Iowa Lakes 44, Minnesota West 0: At Estherville IA, the hosts, ranked T-2nd in the NJCAA, romped to the easy dual win, with five contested victories netting bonus points. One of those wrestlers picking up bonus for the Lakers was Tracy Davis (Fleming Island ’16), who teched Minnesota West’s Rashawn Crumpler, 18-2. Iowa Lakes is next on the mats Saturday at the Buena Vista Open in nearby Storm Lake, IA.

Emmanuel women 20, Life 17: At Franklin Springs, GA, the fourth-ranked (WCWA) hosts won three matches each in the lower and upper weights to take the dual victory. Life’s Zoe Wight (Gulf Breeze ’14) took a 9-1 loss while competing at 143 pounds, falling to Emmanuel’s fourth-ranked Kayla Marano. The 14th-ranked Eagles will next compete at the Patriot Duals in Williamsburg, KY, this weekend.

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Mandarin results as reported by the Mustangs, Terry Parker results as reported by the Braves.

At Terry Parker
Preseason Classic
Mandarin 46, Atlantic Coast 24
(first match at 145)
106: Bremer (M) p. Courtenay. 113: B. Hoxha (M) p. Shay. 120: Harper (AC) p. Howard. 126: Dudley (AC) p. Garcia. 132: Burger (M) p. Barrett. 138: Harris (M) p. Thompson. 145: Bingham (M) md. Fredel, 21-12. 152: Nelson (M) d. Exum, 8-3. 160: Stratton (AC) p. A. Hoxha. 170: Kamins (M) p. Gholanizhad. 182: Thompson (M) p. Vandiver. 195: Worthington (M) d. Parks, 9-7, SV. 220: Miller (AC) p. Castro. 285: Double fft.

Mandarin 48, Wolfson 18
(first match at 152)
106: Bremer (M) p. Harbin. 113: B. Hoxha (M) p. Santiago. 120: Thornton (Wo) p. Howard. 126: Llewellyn (Wo) p. Garcia. 132: Burger (M) ID over Maduro. 138: Rosario (M) p. Simmons. 145: Evans (M) p. Pierson. 152: A. Hoxha (M) p. Wharton. 160: Kamins (M) p. Frison. 170: Thompson (M) p. Bryant. 182: Double fft. 195: Double fft. 220: Macauley (Wo) p. Castro. 285: Double fft.

Wolfson 30, Terry Parker 24
(first match at 145)
106: Harbin (Wo) p. Goodbread, 2:21. 113: Double fft. 120: Thornton (Wo) p. Mason, :24. 126: Double fft. 132: Double fft. 138: Simmons (Wo) p. Bates, 2:38. 145: Bomence (TP) p. Pierson, 1:06. 152: Monroe (TP) p. Wharton, 2:13. 160: Frison (Wo) p. Sanders, 2:57. 170: Lenhardt (TP) p. Bryant, 3:00. 182: Double fft. 195: Double fft. 220: Macauley (Wo) p. Sabella, :32. 285: Ramirez (TP) p. Soles, :21.

Terry Parker 35, Atlantic Coast 30
(first match at 152)
106: Goodbread (TP) p. Hunter, 3:07. 113: Double fft. 120: Harper (AC) p. Mason, 1:06. 126: Double fft. 132: Double fft. 138: Bates (TP) p. Fridel, :57. 145: Exum (AC) p. Dan. Farmer, 1:36. 152: Dar. Farmer (TP) p. Pena, 1:49. 160: Stratton (AC) p. Hodges, 1:55. 170: Saddler (TP) tf. Parks. 182: Lenhardt (TP) p. Vandiver, 1:41. 195: Dains (TP) ID over Espano. 220: Miller (TP) p. Sabella, 5:43. 285: Bensford (AC) p. Ramirez, 5:43.

We sent out a few random messages on the Tweeter, as Marty & McGee might call it, and we got one response back. That’s better than my percentage as a fisherman on the rod and reel (to be fair, though, and sadly, I haven’t gone fishing since I was seven).

Gulf Breeze’s athletic department kindly directed us to its website, where its wrestling schedule — among others — was posted. That’s the seventh from 2A-District 1 and 65th overall.

The 2A Panhandle Dolphins will start the season in Alabama, competing in Fultondale’s two-day duals tournament on December 7-8. Gulf Breeze will next host a one-day duals tournament on the 15th, which looks like it’s got eight teams in it at present. It will stay in duals mode going into Christmas, competing in district rival Ft Walton Beach’s Beast of the Beach two-day tournament on the 21st and 22nd. The Dolphins’ final event of the year will be back in Alabama, this time at Spanish Fort, but could be an open question on whether it’s duals or IBT (a previous schedule we got said IBT; Gulf Breeze’s doesn’t really indicate).

Gulf Breeze will kick off January with nearby North Bay Haven’s two-day Bash duals tournament, hosted by Bay this year, on the 4th and 5th. After FHSAA district dual team competition on the 9th, with Pace hosting that, the Dolphins will go to their 1A Dolphin counterparts, Mosley, for the Panhandle Championships on January 11-12. With the possibility of region dual team tournament action a possibility on the 17th, Gulf Breeze will next attend Wewahitchka’s Gator Brawl on the 18th and 19th. The Dolphins will wrap up the month with two midweek home duals, against Spanish Fort on the 23rd and against district rival Crestview for a Senior Night dual on the 29th.

Gulf Breeze has one regular-season event on the calendar, competing in the Dolphin Duals (appropriately named) hosted by Gulf Shores HS in Alabama on February 1-2.

So that’s 65 schedules in hand. We’ve got seven still out. The first competition date is in six days. We need seven in six days. Who’s going to be NEXT??

Want to know more about south Georgia wrestling? Check out our affiliated site at http://sgamatmen.wordpress.com 

Please support our independent journalism by going here and donating to our websites: https://www.gofundme.com/north-florida-matmen

North Florida Matmen staff report

HARTSVILLE, SC — In the only #NextLevel action Tuesday night involving Matmen-area alumni, it was Columbia getting early bragging rights over Suwannee.

That’s because visiting UNC-Pembroke built a 15-4 lead over Coker, and made it stand up with a pin at 184 and decision at 197 to turn back the Cobras, 24-17, improving to 2-2 in duals on the season. Tuesday night’s dual was Coker’s first of the season.

Helping to lead the early charge in the lower weights was the Braves’ Kaleb Warner (Columbia ’15), who took an 11-3 major over Zane Corey at 149. The major gave UNCP a 12-4 lead through four matches wrestled.

UNCP got the better of things at 133 as well, where Coker freshman Chase Clark (Suwannee ’18) lost by technical fall to the Braves’ Ronnie Pietro in 3:48.

Coker (with University Christian and Cobra alum Robert Parland as assistant coach) picked up four weight-class wins on the night, three of them contested. Alex Miller (141) and Ramon Correa (285) each had majors and Taylor Catoe (174) won by decision for the Cobras.

UNC-Pembroke goes on a two-week hiatus, returning to competition at the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis on December 15-16, while Coker is back on the mats on Sunday for the Newberry Duals.

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At Brantley County HS, Nahunta GA
Yulee, Berrien County GA 24
106: Double fft. 113: Tristan Martinez (Y) p. Colton Mitchell, 1:57. 120: Double fft. 126: Double fft. 132: Orion Duffy (Y) p. Cameron Jacobs, 1:26. 138: Double fft. 145: Dawson Heath (Ber) p. Astin Ricks. 152: Caden Taylor (Ber) p. Johnson, :45. 160: Daniel Avellaneda (Ber) p. Wyatt, 1:22. 170: Double fft. 182: Kevin Beverly (Y) p. Christian McClain, :29. 195: Double fft. 220: Bradley Durrance (Y) p. Ethan Jones, 1:28. 285: Double fft.

Brantley County GA 42, Yulee 41
106: Stone (Bra) p. Ramos, 1:59. 113: Martinez (Y) p. Stevenot, :56. 120: Larissa Perez (Bra) fft. 126: Cooper (Bra) p. Hollowell, 1:54. 132: Bryce Bees (Y) p. Ratliff, 1:42. 138: Ricks (Y) p. Joshua Tillman, 1:51. 145: Johnson (Y) p. Lloyd, 1:42. 152: Seth Roberson (Bra) DQ over O’Brien. 160: Holbrook (Bra) p. Wyatt. 170: Breighner (Bra) p. Reddish, 3:29. 182: Michel (Y) tf. Chancey. 195: Strickland (Bra) p. Crawford, 1:27. 220: Durrance (Y) p. Michael Slusser, :52. 285: Grayson Pope (Y) p. Jacobs, 3:38.

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We picked up our 64th schedule in hand and fifth from 1A-District 5 (we may have some digging to do on the last one; Eastside has a new coach). The Putnam County Rams checked in with our last schedule, so depending on how you count, we either have eight teams left or 10 (10 if both Jefferson County and Maclay field teams, which is not looking likely).

Interlachen has more than a few dates to fill in its calendar. The Rams’ first appearance this season will not be until December 13, with the FHSAA  district dual team tournament series (although earlier reports had Leesburg hosting this, Interlachen had Palatka doing it). The Rams will next be at Buchholz’s two-day Bobcat Duals on the 21st and 22nd.

As of right now, Interlachen’s only January date will be the two-day Diamondback Duals on January 25 and 26, hosted by Belleview.

The Rams will have two regular-season dates on the calendar, starting with Gainesville’s Category V Duals, a one-day duals tournament, on February 2nd, and they’ll be at Villages’ TD Talbott Legion Duals on the 16th.

Interlachen is still looking for a pair of away duals and is attempting to schedule a home dual event.

So we’re at 64 teams. Just eight left. Or 10 left. Either way, which team is going to be NEXT??

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We also got confirmation to publish on Ridgeview’s schedule, meaning that we have another district closed out, as the Clay County Panthers are the seventh team from 2A-District 3 and 63rd overall to report in.

The Panthers are keeping their larger events schedule flexible this year, so many of their dates are going to be determined per team needs at that moment in the season. What they are committed to first is a road-trip to Alabama for the Swede Umbach Duals on December 7-8. Next up, Ridgeview will be hosting the Panther Prowl duals tournament on the 14th and 15th, which will be an eight-team duals event.

In January, the Panthers will host 2A-District 3 FHSAA dual team tournament competition at the district level. They will host midweek duals against Raines on the 23rd and Palatka on the 30th.

February for now has two dates on the calendar. The Panthers will have a midweek dual away at Westside on February 6th and will compete in Chiles’ quad along with Wakulla and Rickards on the 13th.

So that’s 63 teams in hand! Who’s going to take us down to 10 left? Will it be Paxon, which schedule is set but has a couple of December discrepancies? Will it be Gulf Breeze, which has been promised to me? How about Baker County, now that football season is over? Or will it be a team whose coach I have not heard from yet this autumn…Suwannee…Eastside…Interlachen…Crestview…Bozeman…Mosley?

The regular-season is set to begin in 10 days.

Want to know more about south Georgia wrestling? Check out our affiliated site at: http://sgamatmen.wordpress.com.

Please support our independent journalism by going here and donating to our websites: https://www.gofundme.com/north-florida-matmen