JACKSONVILLE — Even in a season as difficult to complete as this one, full lineups still have an inherent advantage over smaller ones.
Fernandina Beach was the only team that could fill every weight in the Terry Parker Six-Way Rumble on Friday night, and it showed in the Pirates’ performance, which turned into five wins.
The Pirates (27-4 in duals on the season) had wins over First Coast (60-21), host Terry Parker (54-21), Mandarin (39-36), Keystone Heights (60-24) and Baldwin (78-0).
Four Fernandina Beach wrestlers were 5-0 on the night, and another six were 4-1.
Mandarin (6-3 in duals) was 3-1, with wins over Terry Parker (54-12), Baldwin (54-6) and First Coast (42-24). The Mustangs did not contest a dual in Round 5 against Keystone Heights.
The Mustangs lost just five contested matches on the night, as five Mandarin wrestlers were 4-0. But, at the same time, Mandarin only had nine weights filled, putting them at a distinct disadvantage in its dual with Fernandina Beach.
First Coast took third with a 3-2 record. The Buccaneers (8-8) had wins over Keystone Heights (27-6) in round 2, Baldwin (36-0) in round 3 and host Terry Parker (42-12) in round 5.
The Braves (5-7) were fourth with a 2-3 record, taking wins over Keystone Heights (36-18) in round 3 and Baldwin (36-12) in round 4. Keystone Heights (6-8 for the season) was 1-3 on the night for fifth place, with a tournament-opening 36-12 win over Baldwin (0-5 for the season).
Box scores for the 14 duals contested can be found HERE.
THE NOTES
Standings: 1. Fernandina Beach 5-0. 2. Mandarin 3-1. 3. First Coast 3-2. 4. Terry Parker 2-3. 5. Keystone Heights 1-3. 6. Baldwin 0-5.
THE RUMBLE ACES
Fernandina Beach: Kolby Kidd (220) was 5-0 and a max-pointer, taking pins in the dual wins over First Coast, Keystone Heights and Baldwin, with forfeits over Terry Parker and Mandarin.
Mandarin: Jameel Smith (132) was a 4-0 max-pointer, with falls over Terry Parker, Fernandina Beach and First Coast, plus a forfeit win over Baldwin.
First Coast: Payton London (138/145) was a 5-0 max-pointer, with four pins on the night (Fernandina Beach, Keystone Heights, Mandarin and Terry Parker), plus a forfeit win over Baldwin.
Terry Parker: Benny Lewis (170) led the host Braves with a 5-0 night, taking four forfeit wins over Mandarin, Keystone Heights, Baldwin and First Coast, with a major decision in the loss to Fernandina Beach.
Keystone Heights: Steven Raab (195) had a 3-1 night for the Indians, with a pair of pins over Terry Parker and Fernandina Beach, and a forfeit win over Baldwin.
Baldwin: James Harrelson (220) was the only Indian wrestler with a winning record on the night, going 3-2 with a pin over Keystone Heights and forfeit wins over Mandarin and Terry Parker.
North Florida Matmen 