Month: March 2022

KISSIMMEE — The Lifetime television network wouldn’t buy this script. Or would it?

Redemption story gone right after a horrible end to the previous season. A healthy and cordial, if not full-on friendly rivalry, is built during the regular season and comes to a crescendo with a meeting in their competition’s biggest stage. Both sides take knocks that threaten their ability to continue.

A third knock, the second one against the redemption story, nearly does end the match. Coaches and medical officials state their cases in a small circle just off the arena of competition. An arena full of onlookers, at full yell, “LET THEM WRESTLE!” Those in charge allow it, although probably privately reluctant to do so after a stretcher and a wheelchair are first wheeled on, then wheeled off of, the arena floor.

One of the rivals hits the other with the strongest blast double he’s ever thrown, only to be fended off. Finally, the wrestler who was nearly not allowed to compete, trailing by one point in the very last moments of this level of his sports career, completes a desperate, last-second takedown on the edge of the mat to go ahead by one point as time expires.

Or did it? The time of the takedown is the subject of remonstrance by the possible losing coach, a coach of a program that’s already been snakebit by a judgment call earlier in the same tournament, been snakebit by earlier 50-50 judgment calls in tournaments in prior seasons. The wrestlers share a private moment with one another, saying words we’ll probably never know and, for many, can never understand.

The takedown stands. The arena goes nuts.

Too impossible to believe, even for Lifetime?

Believe it, because it happened Saturday night between seniors Garrett Tyre of Clay and Jamari Watson of Raines in the FHSAA 1A 220-pound state championship match Saturday night at Silver Spurs Arena.

The Jacksonville and surrounding-area titans met for the third time in 2021-22 in the state final, with Tyre taking wins in both the Clay Rotary (11-9) and at Wakulla for the Region 1 final (fall in 5:05) for Watson’s two losses on the year.

After a scoreless first period, Tyre scored first via escape, but Watson scored via his traditional blast double to take the lead midway through the second, and escaped four seconds into the third period to go up, 3-2. There were three different stoppages for injury time after the pair went off the mat, first Watson and then Tyre twice, and the second threatened to take Tyre out entirely.

While Clay coaches and medical professionals conferred on the feasibility of a third return to the match, Tyre demonstrated his ability to walk heel-toe for several steps, earning the crowd’s roar of approval. After the match resumed for the third time, Watson threw in another blast double that was audible several feet away, but no points. Tyre then in the last seconds got Watson for a takedown on the edge as time expired.

“I remember hitting my head. They told me to walk and I started tilting, and they first said I can’t do this, no matter how good I am, so I did a field sobriety test out there,” Tyre said. “We were both pretty shaken up out there (at different points). I’ve never felt that kind of force before.

“(Winning state) means the world. I’ve been wrestling since I was ifve years old. I don’t even know how to explain it. This year, everyone’s been telling me how much better a person I’ve been (since the 2021 Uncivil War, where he was hit with a flagrant misconduct and kept out of the post-season). Had that not happened (then), this would not have happened (now).”

That’s the kind of storyline and match that overshadowed the brilliant wrap put on the 2021-22 season by South Walton senior Max Brewster (120), who was the first 1A, and as it turned out, only other champion on the night.

Brewster, whose only loss in 2021-22 was a weight class up at War on the Shore in mid-January, carried an otherwise spotless record into the final against Palm Bay senior Shaver Jackson.

After a scoreless first period, Jackson got on the board first 30 seconds into the second with an escape, but Brewster would score the match’s only takedown, springboarding it into a 3-point nearfall turn and insurmountable lead. Brewster would escape from bottom in the third period, giving away a stall point to Jackson later to take a 6-2 decision.

The win, combined with later wins from Ft Walton Beach’s Cedric Fairrow and girls-side wins from Mosley’s Valarie Solorio (100) and Henlee Haynes (170), marked the fourth title that the Panhandle won in 2021-22.

“Train your butt off in the post-season, that’s when it matters,” Brewster said, noting that with a walking-around weight of 136 or so, that he’s ready for a good post-season feed.

“Training hard, putting in extra hours of work. It’s all worth it even when you’re cutting. I’ve had constant support from my family and my coaches.”

Clay finished as the top area team in 1A, finishing eighth with 77 points as a team. In addition to Tyre’s gold at 220, the Blue Devils got medal efforts from Dominic Martin (5th at 182), plus 7ths from Maverick Rainwater (120), Luke Boree (145) and Ethan Larsen (170), plus an 8th from Braden Glavin (113).

Suwannee, also, cracked the top 10 with 51.5 points, thanks to medal efforts from Tyson Musgrove (3rd at 152) and Brody Boehm (4th at 126), plus a 7th from Austin McKinney (132) and 8ths from Topher Pearson (106) and Austin Howard (160).

Raines, behind Watson’s runnerup effort and a 5th from De’Quon King (120), was 14th with 36.5 points, with South Walton a half-point back in 15th on Brewster’s gold, plus an 8th from Nick Lee (285). Palatka, on 3rds from Mikade Harvey (132) and Brandon Lewis (138), was T-17th with 31 points, while Wakulla was 20th with 23 points, thanks to medals from Isaiah Wilson (6th at 132) and Julian Harvey (7th at 106).

Bishop Kenny finished T-21st with 21 points, with Roberto Cuartero placing 4th at 152, while Deltona and North Bay Haven finished T-27th with 17 points behind medal efforts from the Wolves’ Kevin Kerns (5th at 132) and Buccaneers’ David Mercado (4th at 195). Yulee was T-30th with 15 points, with Dylan Johns (145) placing eighth, while Bolles was 34th with 13 points on a 6th from Jack Pyburn (285). Fernandina Beach (11 points) was T-36th as Enzo Gamba (160) took seventh, while Baker County finished T-38th (10 points) on Toby Kinghorn’s sixth at 195.

Our North Florida Matmen Facebook page has galleries from each day of the tournament, including action photos from Saturday’s medal round and finals session as well. Or, those same photos can all be found on our Instagram page, nflamatmen.

A complete listing of medalists for the state, with all coverage-area wrestlers first-listed in bold print, follows.

106
Championship: Sebastian Degennaro (Jensen Beach) tf. Jonathan Moder (First Baptist-Naples), 15-0, 3:58.
3rd: Lincoln Sledzianowski (Somerset) d. Vincent Biondoletti (Coral Shores), 11-4.
5th: Jonathan Espinosa (Mulberry) d. Logan Delos Santos (Palm Bay), 6-5.
7th: Julian Harvey (Wakulla) d. Topher Pearson (Suwannee), 3-1.

113
Championship: Gavin Nolan (Clearwater CC) d. Andres DiGregoli (First Baptist-Naples), 8-1.
3rd: Peyton Vargas (Cardinal Gibbons) d. Matthew Velasco (Somerset), 3-0.
5th: Alex McMiller (Satellite) p. Gian Ortiz (Jensen Beach), 1:00.
7th: Raider Morelli (Space Coast) d. Braden Glavin (Clay), 4-0.

120
Championship: Max Brewster (South Walton) d. Shaver Jackson (Palm Bay), 6-2.
3rd: Ryan Mooney (Jensen Beach) md. Michael Kersey (First Baptist-Naples), 11-0.
5th: De’Quon King (Raines) p. Jonathan Hudson (Cardinal Gibbons), 4:03.
7th: Maverick Rainwater (Clay) ID over Ethan Tran (Mater Lakes).
Consi semi: Kersey p. King, 4:19.

126
Championship: Nicholas Yancey (Cardinal Gibbons) d. Tristan Sainz (Somerset), 5-1.
3rd: Jonny Dobbs (Jensen Beach) d. Brody Boehm (Suwannee), 8-2.
5th: Talon Maple (Zephyrhills Christian) d. Mason Medina (Bishop Moore), 9-2.
7th: Kris Hunter (Tenoroc) d. Brycen Warren (Lemon Bay), 6-2.
Consi semis: Boehm d. Maple, 4-0.

132
Championship: Frankie Florio (Am Heritage-Delray) d. Ryan Duguay (Jensen Beach), 9-2.
3rd: Mikade Harvey (Palatka) d. Ronald Theilacker (Palm Bay), 8-6.
5th: Kevin Kerns (Deltona) p. Isaiah Wilson (Wakulla), 4:50.
7th: Austin McKinney (Suwannee) d. Justin Brady (Lemon Bay), 5-4.
Consi semis: Harvey d. Wilson, 4-3; Theilacker md. Kerns, 11-1.

138
Championship: Jewell Williams (Jensen Beach) d. Andrew DeSola (Am Heritage-Delray), 6-2.
3rd: Brandon Lewis (Palatka) md. Jaden Harrah (Island Coast), 9-1.
5th: Rashad Hannon (Somerset) d. Billy Day (Cocoa Beach), 9-2.
7th: Daniel Ward (First Academy) p. Joe Castellone (First Baptist-Naples), 2:40.
Consi semi: Lewis d. Hannon, 11-8.

145
Championship: Azakin Sejour (Mater Lakes) d. Brandon Cody (Master’s Academy), 7-2.
3rd: Nathan Furman (Palm Bay) p. Gavin Patton (First Baptist-Naples), 2:40.
5th: Michael Sainz (Somerset) d. Ryan Beirne (Satellite), 5-2.
7th: Luke Boree (Clay) ID over Dylan Johns (Yulee).

152
Championship: Michael Shannon (Master’s Academy) d. Robert Limperis (Cardinal Gibbons), 7-3.
3rd: Tyson Musgrove (Suwannee) d. Roberto Cuartero (Bishop Kenny), 3-2.
5th: Dylan Fox (Jensen Beach) p. Luis Bellon (Somerset), 2:25.
7th: Tyler Rodriguez (Port Charlotte) p. Javier Lopez (Zephyrhills Christian), 1:37.
Consi semis: Cuartero p. Fox, 3:00; Musgrove p. Bellon, 3:46.

160
Championship: Kendrick Hodge (Somerset) d. Koen Hoffman (Lemon Bay), 2-1, TB-1.
3rd: Konner Stuttgen (Bonita Springs) d. Omer Barak (Am Heritage-Delray), 8-4.
5th: Danil Korochenskiy (Cardinal Gibbons) d. Vish Williams (McKeel), 8-4.
7th: Enzo Gamba (Fernandina Beach) d. Austin Howard (Suwannee), 6-5.

170
Championship: Christian Moder (First Baptist-Naples) d. Chase Alden (Lemon Bay), 7-0.
3rd: Michael McCarthy (Satellite) p. Owen McNabb (McKeel), 2:48.
5th: Nate Sopotnick (Jensen Beach) p. Carson Schiavello (Clearwater CC), 1:56.
7th: Ethan Larsen (Clay) d. Nate Greene (Hernando), 10-3.

182
Championship: Lance Schyck (Lemon Bay) d. Joseph Nicolosi (Am Heritage-Delray), 7-2.
3rd: Michael Mocco (Coral Springs Charter) d. Kyle Grey (Lincoln Park), 5-4.
5th: Dominic Martin (Clay) md. Octavion Osby (Palm Bay), 13-1.
7th: Jaden Markus (Villages) tf. Cole Kanehl (Hudson), 15-0, 3:05.
Consi semi: Mocco md. Martin, 11-3.

195
Championship: Mikey Tal Shahar (Am Heritage-Delray) p. Zach Lewicki (Key West), 1:39.
3rd: Matt O’Hara (Jensen Beach) md. David Mercado (North Bay Haven), 9-1.
5th: Caleo Carrera (Palm Bay) ID over Toby Kinghorn (Baker County).
7th: Izaiah Jauma (Villages) d. Marcus Lopez (Lemon Bay), 11-5.
Consi semis: O’Hara p. Kinghorn, 4:22; Mercado md. Carrera, 14-2.

220
Championship: Garrett Tyre (Clay) d. Jamari Watson (Raines), 4-3.
3rd: Darian Gillins (Tenoroc) d. Pharee Reed (Lakewood), 6-5, UTB.
5th: Damian Soto (Mater Lakes) p. Omarion Jones (Lake Region), 2:14.
7th: Grant Cooper (Cardinal Gibbons) d. JaBrian Davis (Clewiston), 3-2.

285
Championship: Ethan Vergara (Mater Lakes) d. Carlos Gerardino (Palm Bay), 3-2.
3rd: Matthew Jimenez (Somerset) d. Caleb Rodriguez (First Baptist-Naples), 6-3.
5th: Devin Williams (Hernando) ID over Jack Pyburn (Bolles).
7th: Andre Otto (Key West) p. Nick Lee (South Walton), :27.
Consi semi: Jimenez d. Pyburn, 2-1.

Final brackets for the state tournament can be found HERE.

KISSIMMEE — It’s a long way from Ottawa, Illinois, to Silver Spurs Arena.

Nearly 1200 miles long (1189.4 miles, to be exact). Another life long.

That’s the road that Ft Walton Beach senior Cedric Fairrow traveled along the path to FHSAA Class 2A glory Saturday night in the state tournament at Silver Spurs Arena.

In a rematch of the Region 1 final staged last weekend at Chiles, Fairrow brought an unbeaten record into the 220-pound weight class final, going up against Ridgeview senior Derrick Mosley, whom Fairrow had turned back, 7-4, to win his second region title.

And the battle of 2021 state placers (Fairrow 3rd at 220 for FWB, Mosley 6th for the Panthers at 1A-285) did not disappoint. After a tactical first period resulting in no score, Mosley would get on the board first, escaping 26 seconds into the second period.

But Fairrow would record the match’s only takedown a short while later, adding a penalty point thanks to a second stall warning on Mosley to go up, 3-1, after two. Fairrow would then escape out immediately into the third and continued to press the advantage, forcing two more stall warnings and three penalty points en route to a 8-1 win in completing a 49-0 senior season.

“I need some food!” Fairrow said, on the first thing he’d enjoy upon leaving Silver Spurs. Pressed on specifics? “Nope. Just food.

“I learned (last year, when he took 3rd) you’ve got to wrestle your hardest all three periods. I don’t think I had the adrenalin to do it (in overtime in the semis against eventual champion Tristan Middlebrook of Lake Gibson). This year, I got beaten up all year long by all my coaches. It doesn’t matter where you’re from; if you have the determination, you can do it. But it’s a hard ride.”

Even when that ride is 1189 miles long.

Along with Mosley at 220, five other Region 1 wrestlers had their initial appearance in the state finals, and a bid with Saturday night glory, come up just short.

First among them was Fleming Island freshman Jayce Paridon, already a two-time podium finisher at state from his two years at University Christian, who was hoping to complete an undefeated season at 113.

But Mariner freshman Maximus Brady had other plans. Brady proved more than capable of slowing down Paridon’s relentlessness that had worn down 58 prior opponents this year, with a pair of first-period takedowns and a third one halfway through the second. Paridon chose top, hoping to capitalize on his dominant turning ability, but Brady reversed out from bottom with 44 seconds left for an 8-1 win.

Next would be Matanzas senior Tyson Mills at 152, who’d hoped to complete his dream march through the bracket with a win over defending 2A champion Jack Crook of Tampa Jesuit, who’d lost just one match in high school competition since the 2020 2A quarterfinals.

But Crook, who’s wrestling at Harvard next year, showed just why he’d lost just once since 2019-20, taking down Mills at will, with seven takedowns in the match, plus a 3-point turn late in the second period, en route to a technical fall (19-4 in 5:48).

Two matches later, it would be Mills’ brother Jordan that would take the circle in the 170 final against Barron Collier senior Cory Cannan.

For perhaps the first time throughout the IBT series, Mills was on the defensive from the get-go against Cannan, who picked up a pair of turns along with two takedowns in taking an 8-1 decision. Mills was ridden out for all of the second period and never could complete a shot.

Fleming Island junior Jhoel Robinson took aim at the brass ring next, with a finals matchup at 182 against Countryside junior Brian Burburija.

Burburija, though, had already had one finals experience go against him in 2021 and was determined not to let it happen again Saturday, jumping out early against Robinson, who like Mills before him the match earlier, couldn’t get untracked. Burburija had takedowns in both the first and second periods, with a quick turn in the first as well, going on for an 8-1 win.

Last to go before the Fairrow-Mosley final was Lincoln’s Cayden Bevis, who’d already improved on last year’s showing (3rd) simply by winning in the semis on Friday.

But in facing down 2021 state runnerup Sergio Desiante of Tampa Jesuit, Bevis met his match and then some, taking just his second loss of the year. Desiante, who’d bumped up three weight classes to compete at 195 for Jesuit, picked up takedowns in each period to take a 7-0 decision.

Even with no titles, a very young Fleming Island squad did more than enough in the prior rounds to hold fourth place in a very solid 2A race, finishing with 113 points as a group, a half-point better than fifth-place Brandon and within shouting distance of third-place Lake Gibson.

In addition to the two runners-up efforts from Paridon and Robinson, the Golden Eagles picked up eight more medals, with a fourth from Joshua Sandoval (170), a fifth from Christopher Chop (152), 6ths from Laird Duhaylungsod (120), Matthew Kotler (145) and Ronan Bozeman (160), 7ths from Kaden Schaefer (138) and Ethan Hoffstetter (285) and an 8th from Shane Duhaylungsod (106). Heads up, Florida 2A: All 10 medalists return next year.

Matanzas, as well, finished in the top 10, with a ninth-place finish (41 points) fueled on the runnerup efforts of the “Sunshine Mafia” Mills brothers, while Lincoln, behind Bevis’ runnerup medal at 195 and Omarion LaRoach’s 6th at 220, was 13th with 31.5 points.

Fairrow’s title run pushed Ft Walton Beach to a T-16th finish (28 points), while Mosley, with medals from Nick Hejke (3rd at 152) and Derrick Williams (5th at 106), was 19th with 26.5 points.

New Smyrna Beach, thanks to 6ths from Jamey Bruner (126) and Dylon York (195), was T-21st with 23 points, while Derrick Mosley’s runnerup finish propelled Ridgeview to 23rd (21 points), and Toby Matson’s 3rd (285) led Fletcher to 24th with 20 points. Niceville, behind a 5th-place finish from Harrisen Wall (182), was T-25th with 19 points.

Joseph Rice’s 7th at 170 fueled Columbia, with eight points and T-40th; Chiles, thanks to Hunter Brown’s 8th (132) and Pace, behind Atticus Waters’ 8th at 160, both had six points and tied for 45th.

Our North Florida Matmen Facebook page has galleries from each day of the tournament, including action photos from Saturday’s medal round and finals session as well. Or, those same photos can all be found on our Instagram page, nflamatmen.

A complete listing of medalists for the state, with all coverage-area wrestlers first-listed in bold print, follows.

106
Championship: Roman Lermer (Tampa Jesuit) d. Camren French (Charlotte), 6-4.
3rd: Fredrick Mitchum (Southridge) d. Roberto Rodriguez (Brandon), 6-2.
5th: Derrick Williams (Mosley) d. Colt Brown (Lake Gibson), 7-4.
7th: Grady Murphy (Braden River) d. Shane Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island), 4-3.
Consi semi: Mitchum md. Williams, 13-3.

113
Championship: Maximus Brady (Lemon Bay) d. Jayce Paridon (Fleming Island), 8-1.
3rd: Draven McCall (Tampa Jesuit) d. Kaiden Ballinger (Charlotte), 3-2.
5th: Enis Ljikovic (Barron Collier) d. Pedro Sifuentes (East River), 4-2, SV.
7th: Elijah Lowe (Lake Gibson) p. Logan O’Leary (Mitchell), :56.

120
Championship: Tyson Lane (Brandon) md. Ryan Phillips (Winter Springs), 14-5.
3rd: Patrick Nolan (Charlotte) d. Danny Vargas (Tampa Jesuit), 2-1.
5th: Voshawn Baker (Dixie Hollins) d. Laird Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island), 3-2.
7th: Dominick Smith (River Ridge) p. Gregory Mendez (Mater Academy), 2:00.
Consi semi: Vargas d. Duhaylungsod, 4-2.

126
Championship: Andrew Austin (Charlotte) md. Darrell Tabor (Brandon), 14-0.
3rd: Nathan McGill (Tampa Jesuit) d. Damian Rodriguez (Gaither), 5-1.
5th: Alexander Exalant (North Miami) ID over Jamey Bruner (New Smyrna Beach).
7th: Lowden Ward (Dixie Hollins) md. Silas Mantero (Winter Springs), 14-5.
Consi semi: Rodriguez ID over Bruner.

132
Championship: Braden Basile (Tampa Jesuit) d. Hayden Whidden (Lake Gibson), 5-3.
3rd: Kaleb Freel (East Bay) d. Roman Maldonado (Heritage), 6-3.
5th: Charlie Armstrong (Okeechobee) d. Austin Revell (River Ridge), 4-2.
7th: Blaine Jones (Brandon) d. Hunter Brown (Chiles), 6-3.

138
Championship: Christopher Minto (Mariner) md. Gianni Maldonado (Brandon), 9-1.
3rd: Alex Walker (Lake Gibson) p. Joshua Gallo (Springstead), 1:48.
5th: Gabriel Ferreira (Heritage) d. Nicholas Dukes (Southridge), 7-6.
7th: Kaden Schaefer (Fleming Island) d. Kylen McQueen (Sebastian River), 9-3.

145
Championship: Tom Crook (Tampa Jesuit) d. Blake Walker (Lake Gibson), 11-4.
3rd: Riley Chapdelaine (Winter Springs) d. John Vadyak (Ft Myers), 6-4.
5th: Joseph Gallo (Springstead) d. Matthew Kotler (Fleming island), 7-3.
7th: Michael Farrelly (Dixie Hollins) d. Dylan Howard (Braden River), 11-8.
Consi semi: Chapdelaine d. Kotler, 6-0.

152
Championship: Jack Crook (Tampa Jesuit) tf. Tyson Mills (Matanzas), 19-4, 5:48.
3rd: Nick Hejke (Mosley) d. Isaac Church (Charlotte), 8-7.
5th: Christopher Chop (Fleming Island) d. Tyler Smith (Brandon), 6-3.
7th: Logan Simpson (Citrus) p. Keygon Jepson-Lee (St Petersburg), 4:05.
Consi semis: Hejke d. Smith, 4-1; Church p. Chop, 1:28.

160
Championship: Brendon Abdon (Lake Gibson) d. Frank Diaz (Brandon), 7-1.
3rd: Elijah Penton (Winter Springs) d. James Baltutis (Charlotte), 5-4.
5th: Lawrence Rosario (Southridge) d. Ronan Bozeman (Fleming Island), 8-3.
7th: Jessey Colas (Braden River) md. Atticus Waters (Pace), 8-0.
Consi semi: Penton d. Bozeman, 1-0.

170
Championship: Cory Cannan (Barron Collier) d. Jordan Mills (Matanzas), 8-1.
3rd: Frank Solorzano (Lake Gibson) md. Joshua Sandoval (Fleming Island), 9-1.
5th: Davis Deal (Winter Springs) d. Jonh Milian (Hillsborough), 6-3.
7th: Joseph Rice (Columbia) p. Ethan Bell (Palmetto), 2:39.
Consi semi: Sandoval p. Deal, 2:30.

182
Championship: Brian Burburija (Countryside) d. Jhoel Robinson (Fleming Island), 8-1.
3rd: Dylan Deal (Winter Springs) d. Tyrone Livingstone (Cypress Lake), 7-1.
5th: Harrisen Wall (Niceville) p. Jeremy Urena (Barron Collier), 2:59.
7th: Chris Matos (East River) d. Jayvien Haynes (Lake Gibson), 3-0.
Consi semi: Deal md. Wall, 9-0.

195
Championship: Sergio Desiante (Tampa Jesuit) d. Cayden Bevis (Lincoln), 7-0.
3rd: Cael Newton (Charlotte) p. Nigel Williams (Jones), 2:40.
5th: Luis Valdes (Winter Springs) d. Dylon York (New Smyrna Beach), 5-3.
7th: Gabriel Thomas (Palmetto) ID over Rafael Camarena (Sebastian River).
Consi semi: Williams p. York, 1:13.

220
Championship: Cedric Fairrow (Ft Walton Beach) d. Derrick Mosley (Ridgeview), 8-2.
3rd: Morvens Saint Jean (Ft Myers) d. Cassidy Grubbs (Pasco), 4-2.
5th: Jose Monroy (Okeechobee) p. Omarion LaRoach (Lincoln), 4:49.
7th: Nathaniel Box (Charlotte) d. Theotis Smith (Zephyrhills), 7-2.
Consi semi: Grubbs p. LaRoach, 4:32.

285
Championship: Jeremiah Jackson (Kathleen) p. Brainys Robles (Liberty), 3:07.
3rd: Toby Matson (Fletcher) p. Paul Valdivia (Golden Gate), 2:40.
5th: Biaggio Frattarelli (Charlotte) p. Nate Gabriel (Auburndale), 3:00.
7th: Ethan Hoffstetter (Fleming Island) d. Williams Clement (Heritage), 2-1.
Consi semi: Matson d. Frattarelli, 4-3.

Final brackets for the state tournament can be found HERE.

KISSIMMEE — Sometimes the best part of a state-finals loss, aside from the great philosopher’s statement in that you win or you learn in this sport, is that you have one more chance to set things right the following year.

That is the case for juniors Ethan Vugman (120) of Bartram Trail and Kamdon Harrison (160) of Hagerty, after both took losses on the biggest stage Saturday night in the FHSAA 3A state tournament at Silver Spurs Arena.

Vugman found himself on the back foot early in the match against Bradshaw, a training partner from his youth wrestling days, giving up first takedown late in the first period. Bradshaw used his length advantage to secure a reversal in the second and go up, 4-0.

Vugman chose neutral to open the third, normally his strength, but not this time, as Bradshaw picked up a second takedown. Vugman would escape and get a late takedown with just a couple of seconds remaining, falling, 6-3, for just the second time this season.

In the 160 final, Harrison went up against defending state champion Gunner Holland of Osceola. Normally a whirlwind on the feet, Harrison was stymied by Holland’s tactical approach throughout the match, after a scoreless first two periods, in which Harrison was ridden out for the whole of the second.

In the third, Holland broke through for an escape and 1-0 lead, making that stand for the rest of the match, as a last-ditch Harrison effort turned into a takedown for Holland in a 3-0 win.

Harrison’s runnerup effort keyed what would be the top finish in Region 1 for the Huskies, who were 10th overall with 50 points. Hagerty also picked up medals from Harrison’s training partners, as Ethan Gomez (170) took fifth and Blake Watts (152) finished eighth.

Flagler Palm Coast was one of four teams tied for 11th, with 48 points, thanks to four medal victories from Blane DeFord (4th at 170), Kole Hannant (6th at 120), Marcelo Gonzalez (6th at 182) and Garrick Schwartz (7th at 195).

Buchholz, behind medals from Cavarius Liddie (3rd at 126), Venumadhava Mirel (7th at 132) and Aiden Moore (7th at 145), was 16th, with 37 points. Vugman’s runnerup effort fueled the Bears to a T-22nd team finish, with 26 points, while Apopka, behind a 3rd from Ralph Sanchez (220) and 7th from Tamarion Kendrick (120), tied with Bartram at T-22nd.

Oakleaf was 24th, as Jordan Mitchell (285) wrestled all the way back to the third-place match after losing Thursday in round 1, finishing fourth. Timber Creek finished 34th, with 16 points, led by a 6th from Trenton Dominguez (113), while Winter Park was T-36th with 14 points, headed by a 6th from Jorge Gonzalez (132). DeLand’s Marion Smokes (220) was 8th to lead the Volusia Bulldogs to T-42nd and nine points. Mandarin, with Tony Carter’s 5th at 182, was T-43rd, with eight.

Our North Florida Matmen Facebook page has galleries from each day of the tournament, including action photos from Saturday’s medal round and finals session as well. Or, those same photos can all be found on our Instagram page, nflamatmen.

A complete listing of medalists for the state, with all coverage-area wrestlers first-listed in bold print, follows.

106
Championship: Gabriel Tellez (Southwest Miami) d. Christian Vazquez (Doral Academy), 5-3.
3rd: Joshua Hartley (Palm Harbor) d. Andrew Punzalan (Cypress Bay), 7-0.
5th: Nathaniel Overman (Bloomingdale) d. Eliezer Torres (Riverview), 6-0.
7th: Dylan Lopez (Braddock) d. Cameron Gibson (Wellington), 7-5, SV.

113
Championship: Tyler Washburn (Palmetto Ridge) d. Patrick Jones (Wellington), 7-4.
3rd: Kevin Placer (Southwest Miami) d. Luis Acevedo (South Dade), 5-3.
5th: Isaac Gibbs (Olympic Heights) ID over Trenton Dominguez (Timber Creek).
7th: Jordan Escarra (Cypress Bay) md. Evan Martinez (Freedom), 13-4.
Consi semi: Placer d. Dominguez, 6-4.

120
Championship: Colin Bradshaw (Steinbrenner) d. Ethan Vugman (Bartram Trail), 6-3.
3rd: Blaine Taranto (Venice) d. David Corret-jer (Palm Beach Gardens), 8-6, SV.
5th: Christian Guzman (Columbus) md. Kole Hannant (Flagler Palm Coast), 10-1.
7th: Tamarion Kendrick (Apopka) d. Bernardo Barnhart (Palmetto Ridge), 1-0.
Consi semi: Taranto tf. Hannant, 15-0, 4:52.

126
Championship: Anderson Heap (Osceola) p. Sean-Michael Gonzalez (North Port), 3:25.
3rd: Cavarius Liddie (Buchholz) d. Ryan Ullayk (Palm Beach Gardens), 2-0.
5th: Rey Ortiz (Harmony) d. Sam Marvel (Wellington), 5-2.
7th: Julian Montero (Doral Academy) d. Joshua Aviles (South Dade), 3-1.
Consi semi: Liddie p. Ortiz, 1:52.

132
Championship: Nicholas Romero (Riverview) d. Demetri Zertopoulis (Palmetto Ridge), 11-7.
3rd: Elvis Solis (South Dade) p. Reid Noble (Steinbrenner), :21.
5th: Aaron Lanster (Miami Beach) d. Jorge Gonzalez (Winter Park), 5-1.
7th: Venumadhava Mirel (Buchholz) d. Favian Oliva (Southwest Miami), 7-6.
Consi semi: Solis p. Gonzalez, 2:26.

138
Championship: Cooper Haase (Osceola) p. Nikolas Hernandez (Riverview), 3:41.
3rd: Danny Martinez (Southwest Miami) p. John McNichols (Harmony), 2:27.
5th: Misha Arbos (South Dade) d. Eric Aja (Freedom), 5-4.
7th: Enrique Sanchez (Doral Academy) md. Jeremy Gradford (Newsome), 10-1.

145
Championship: Brennan Van Hoecke (Palmetto Ridge) tf. Alexander Soto (Riverdale), 17-2, 3:02.
3rd: Gavin Balmeceda (South Dade) d. Reese Hibbard (Sarasota), 3-2, UTB.
5th: Lester Martinez (Southwest Miami) d. Melvin Ewen (Osceola), 3-2.
7th: Aiden Moore (Buchholz) p. Julian Brocha (Braddock), 1:19.

152
Championship: Carson Miller (Palmetto Ridge) d. Adrian Ochoa (Southwest Miami), 7-2.
3rd: Alexander Couto (South Dade) p. Zach Weidler (Cypress Bay), 2:58.
5th: JT Apicella (Ft Pierce Central) md. Chase McBroom (Celebration), 14-2.
7th: Joseph Cuttitta (Palm Harbor) d. Blake Watts (Hagerty), 7-3.

160
Championship: Gunner Holland (Osceola) d. Kamdon Harrison (Hagerty), 3-0.
3rd: Cordell White (South Dade) d. Roman Garcia (Palmetto Ridge), 5-4.
5th: Danny Diaz (Southwest Miami) ID over Vincent Donatelle (North Port).
7th: Ronald Butler (Miami Palmetto) tf. Edol Adonis (Wellington), 15-0, 2:58.

170
Championship: Dominic Rodriguez (Riverdale) p. Jabori Brown (Treasure Coast), :51.
3rd: Riley Orr (Ft Pierce Central) d. Blane DeFord (Flagler Palm Coast), 5-4.
5th: Ethan Gomez (Hagerty) md. George Duncan (Osceola), 14-4.
7th: Jaiden Forbes (Miami Beach) d. Diogo Ramos (Western), 6-1.
Consi semi: DeFord p. Duncan, 2:58.

182
Championship: Dominic Joyce (North Port) d. Franklyn Fernandez (Southwest Miami), 7-3.
3rd: Ranson Coons (Lakewood Ranch) tf. Peyton Turner (Newsome), 18-2, 3:31.
5th: Tony Carter (Mandarin) d. Marcelo Gonzalez (Flagler Palm Coast), 7-1.
7th: Christopher Sanchez (South Dade) d. Juan Quintero (Wellington), 3-1.
Consi semis: Coons p. Carter, 4:11; Turner p. Gonzalez, 1:52.

195
Championship: Ansel Cervantes (South Dade) d. Chris Greil (Palm Harbor), 4-3.
3rd: Cole Tolley (Sickles) d. Keyshawn Campbell (Vero Beach), 5-2.
5th: Richard Alexander (Miami Palmetto) p. Jordan Adrien (Treasure Coast), 2:16.
7th: Garrick Schwartz (Flagler Palm Coast) d. Nathan Peoples (George Jenkins), 2-1.

220
Championship: Sawyer Bartelt (South Dade) md. Nelson Toro (Harmony), 14-3.
3rd: Ralph Sanchez (Apopka) d. Imari Milton (Miramar), 3-1.
5th: Cody Anderson (Strawberry Crest) ID over Skyler Kersee (Alonso).
7th: Landon Walters (George Jenkins) md. Marion Smokes (DeLand), 12-2.
Consi semi: Sanchez d. Anderson, 6-2.

285
Championship: Gabriel Jacas (Ft Pierce Central) p. Adrian Sans (Southwest Miami), 2:10.
3rd: Gozie Mosi (Cypress Bay) d. Jordan Mitchell (Oakleaf), 4-0.
5th: Austin Foye (Palmetto Ridge) p. Derrick Hart (Columbus), 4:46.
7th: Caden Gayle (Harmony) fft over Roshaun Dudley (Freedom).
Consi semi: Mitchell p. Foye, 1:54.

Final brackets from the tournament can be found HERE.

KISSIMMEE — Nadine Fiege’s personal wrestling career was one built off success as the result of hard work.

That uncompromising approach was brought this year to the second-year Ponte Vedra girls’ team, with Fiege as head coach.

And the result? Success.

With a small group focused on quality, the Lady Sharks built a runnerup team finish Saturday at the inaugural FHSAA girls tournament at Silver Spurs Arena, with an unbeaten first day Thursday and an unbeaten day Saturday as well.

Ponte Vedra overcame four other coverage-area teams that finished in the top seven statewide, with 67 points for second, accepting the team runnerup trophy with all smiles and laughter after the arena announcer pronounced “Ponte Verda” as the runnerup.

“Yes. Oh yes,” Fiege said emphatically, regarding whether this kind of finish was the immediate expectation. “We set this goal a long time ago. Their work ethic is outstanding. Every day, they come in and work hard.”

And the Sharks’ team leader, junior Olivia Richie (140), was one of six wrestlers from the coverage area that became part of the first cadre of FHSAA girls state champions.

After being put to her back for an uncomfortably-long period of time in the second period against Miami Coral Park’s Sofia Delgado, Richie found herself trailing, 7-0, late in the third. Needing a big move, Richie found one to put Delgado to her back and secure a pin in 5:25.

Afterward, Richie broke out a Conor McGregor-styled strut around the girls’ title mat, having earned the Sharks’ first wrestling title.

“Honestly, I just focused on myself, on putting in all I could. Last year, I didn’t really understand what I could do and so this year I put in all I had,” Richie said, noting she couldn’t wait to kiss her medal, as Olympians so often do.

“I knew I was fine (after surviving the second period). Kept doing what we do in practice, and it worked. Our coaches have been great. Having female coaches, it’s nice to have that relatability.”

That Richie title at 140 pushed the Lady Sharks just ahead of Matanzas, which finished third with 66 points. The Lady Pirates also put a wrestler on the top of the podium Saturday night, as freshman Tiana Fries (110) became the first ninth-grade wrestler in Flagler County to win a state championship.

After a tactical first period with Mater Lakes’ Sofia Ferran, Fries was able to reverse out to open the scoring, completing a weekend of four pins with a fall in 3:26.

“I don’t know, honestly, but it feels pretty good,” Fries said of winning the title and making history on the FHSAA as an inaugural champion and Flagler’s first freshman champion, surpassing her father, Michael (an assistant coach for Matanzas), who’d been the only freshman finalist in county history.

“Just was thinking about what I was going to do, not getting nervous.”

On a night of firsts for the FHSAA and girls wrestling, the forever-first FHSAA individual state title was won by Mosley sophomore Valarie Solorio, who needed just one takedown in the finals at 100, riding Lake Gibson’s Gabriele Tedesco before putting her to back for a fall just before the first period ended, in 1:57.

“It means the world, to have won the very first title in the FHSAA,” Solorio said, fighting to hold back the emotion after being unable to fully compete in the boys’ post-season in 2020-21 due to injury. “It’s been one of the most nerve-wracking experiences. I took every match like it would be my last.

“Having three brothers has helped; their names are Alex Solorio, but he’s too young to wrestle here yet, and Derrick Williams and CJ (Calvin) Williams. We go to the same school together, train together at school, train at club together. I’m glad I have a partner like Derrick.”

The titles won by Solorio and, later, by Henlee Haynes at 170, helped the Dolphins finish sixth as a team with 60 points.

Like Solorio, Haynes pinned her way through the bracket to win her second state title (FHSAA first) and reached a girls’ state final for the third time, overcoming her finals loss in 2021.

“That loss just put me where I needed to be, to train harder. I appreciate it, looked at it as a learning experience,” said Haynes, who decked Celebration’s Hayeni Costa in 1:09 to win the championship. “I knew she liked throws; my game is doubles and singles and that’s a game-changer in my weight class.

“I can’t wait to call my family. Some of them are over in Alabama and I can’t wait to talk to them.”

Two weight classes featured a pair of wrestlers from the coverage area Saturday night. First up among those was the 120 final between Dr Phillips senior Juliana Diaz and Tocoi Creek junior Brielle Bibla.

After a largely 50-50 first-period, in which both wrestlers scored, Diaz secured the upper hand, with big turns in both the second and third periods, putting Bibla to her back twice. Bibla fought off the pin attempts, but Diaz’s ability to turn turned into a 12-5 decision and her third state title, with former coach Kirwyn Adderley in her corner for Saturday night.

“An amazing experience, everything I learned, every single one of the four years,” Diaz said of representing the long-time power of girls wrestling. “This year, too, I really wanted to be known as Juliana.

“It’s been a hard two days and it affected me. Now I can set up to get better for nationals. I’ve been practicing every day, killing my body, working so I can win nationals.”

At 130, future Brewton-Parker College teammates and seniors Madisyn Blackburn (Clay) and Kaylee Easter (Wewahitchka) met for the final time as opponents. While they were set to wrestle two weeks ago at North Bay Haven, that match didn’t take place.

The reason for that was that Blackburn had just had appendicitis, which required surgery on Valentine’s Day, February 14. She had promised her family and coaches that she would only wrestle enough to qualify. When that was secured, she forfeited to Easter in the final.

Saturday night, still only three weeks removed from an invasive surgery, Blackburn won her second title, but not before Easter secured the first takedown. In the second, though, Blackburn’s mat game was on point, as she reversed out and turned Easter for the pin in 2:59.

“My coaches just wanted me to be safe. I’d been told my season was over and I couldn’t wrestle. It was emotional, but I pushed through. I had a gameplan,” Blackburn said.

“Honestly, I had just been training my ass off (to win state again). There’s a very big community at Clay that supported me in every way it could, a very big family. It’s going to be great (being teammates with Easter). I think we committed (to BPC) at the same time.”

The night closed out with Orange Park senior Andrea Smith (235) winning her second state title as well. It wasn’t easy, by any stretch, to knock off a fellow nationally-ranked wrestler and unbeaten senior in her own right in Freedom’s Kiara Brin.

As heavyweight matches often go, the win was found in the details rather than the big moves, as Smith was able to ride Brin out for the whole of the second period, and forced two stall warnings on Brin while on bottom in the third to go up, 1-0. Brin was forced to let her up very late in the match, unable to turn her, and there wasn’t time to hit a takedown from there, as Smith took a 2-0 decision.

“Winning the first was sweeter, because I had lost the previous year (as a sophomore) and I shouldn’t have, and that was my biggest defeat,” Smith said. “This win did top off my career.

“There’s a lot of pressure, being nationally-ranked, and I think I do better at national tournaments than state ones because of that. Can’t wait to see my mom. She’s the only reason I’ve stayed out here. Works two jobs so I can do this. Time to go get some sweet tea and hug my mom.”

And, as much as Saturday night was about success for the area’s five champions, it was also about going back to the drawing board for Bibla and Timber Creek’s Chloe Shull (155), and about preparing what’s next in college wrestling for Easter.

As for Shull, she led the Lady Wolfpack to a fourth-place team finish, with 63.5 points, but couldn’t get her offense untracked against North Miami unbeaten freshman Mya Bethel. Both wrestlers were hit with stall warnings in the first period; Bethel rode Shull out in the second, incurring a second stall warning and point in Shull’s favor. In the third, Shull rode Bethel for around 50 seconds, taking a second stall warning herself that tied the match, and Bethel escaped shortly afterward for a 2-1 lead, keeping Shull at arm’s length for the win.

Our North Florida Matmen Facebook page has galleries from each day of the tournament, including action photos from Saturday’s medal round and finals session as well. Or, those same photos can all be found on our Instagram page, nflamatmen.

A complete listing of medalists for the state, with all coverage-area wrestlers first-listed in bold print, follows.

100
Championship: Valarie Solorio (Mosley) p. Gabriele Tedesco (Lake Gibson), 1:57.
3rd: Hope Eastes (North Port) d. Kohana Martinez (Zephyrhills), 8-3.
5th: Emma Bauknight (Springstead) p. Madelyne Helms (McKeel), 1:52.
7th: Maite Coutinho (Freedom) p. Katelyn LoCastro (Tarpon Springs), 3:55.

105
Championship: Clare Booe (Palm Harbor) p. Hailee Moder (First Baptist-Naples), 1:09.
3rd: Mariah Mills (Matanzas) d. Dianna Pineda (Deltona), 8-2.
5th: Iilliana Ferns (Park Vista) p. Sigrun Metzger (Crestview), 2:23.
7th: Natalie Duran (South Dade) md. Tristany Smallwood (Venice), 15-2.
Consi semis: Mills d. Ferns, 3-2; Pineda d. Metzger, 4-0.

110
Championship: Tiana Fries (Matanzas) p. Sofia Ferran (Mater Lakes), 3:26.
3rd: Rachel Silva (Somerset) d. Aleksandra Vukajlovic (East River), 2-1.
5th: Mayangelie Colon (Mulberry) md. Shelby Sherman (Apopka), 16-6.
7th: Brianna Visocky (South Fork) p. Gracie Bradshaw (Middleburg), :46.
Consi semi: Vukajlovic p. Sherman, 3:37.

115
Championship: Cameron Galvin (Freedom) d. Lourdes Macias (Western), 8-1.
3rd: Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra) ID over Alanis Soler (Colonial).
5th: Javanica Mickens (Jones) d. Aryana Leverock (Pinellas Park), 12-11.
7th: Lahela Grady (Tate) d. Janet Gomez (LaBelle), 4-3.
Consi semi: Rizzuto p. Mickens, 2:31.

120
Championship: Juliana Diaz (Dr Phillips) d. Brielle Bibla (Tocoi Creek), 12-5.
3rd: Analy Banuelos (Braddocks) d. Christina Turner (Sarasota Military), 7-2.
5th: Abby DiCenzo (Bell Creek) p. Emma Smith (Westside), 2:10.
7th: Sophia Lahik (Windermere) p. Christina Borgmann (Matanzas), 4:05.
Consi semi: Turner p. Smith, 4:26.

125
Championship: Kailey Rees (Freedom) p. Gabriela Caro (Douglas), 3:12.
3rd: Lucy Maris (Satellite) d. Emma Gagnon (Riverview), 2-1, TB-1.
5th: Kelliana Mack (Osceola) d. Jameson Hannigan (Wellington), 5-2.
7th: Natalia Choquegonza (Ponte Vedra) p. Aubrianna Apple (Clay), 4:28.

130
Championship: Madisyn Blackburn (Clay) p. Kaylee Easter (Wewahitchka), 2:59.
3rd: Bailey Waltz (Timber Creek) d. Rachel Ferreter (Freedom), 7-0.
5th: Kendall Bibla (Tocoi Creek) p. Callie Alfieri (Gulf), 3:31.
7th: Bryanne Kaminsky (University-OC) d. Alejandra Notni (Doral Academy), 2-1.
Consi semi: Waltz d. Bibla, 6-2.

135
Championship: Gabriella Perez (Treasure Coast) d. Tydaisa Mack (North Miami), 3-2.
3rd: Keyla DeLeon (Freedom) d. Madison Waltz (Timber Creek), 7-3.
5th: Angelyn Glazier (McKeel) d. Isabella Tietje (Matanzas), 3-2, UTB.
7th: Aurora Guadiana (Wellington) d. Isabel Santos (Western), 5-0.
Consi semi: Waltz p. Tietje, 2:53.

140
Championship: Olivia Richie (Ponte Vedra) p. Sofia Delgado (Coral Park), 5:25.
3rd: Jada Llamido (Hagerty) p. Janice Quiroa (Mater Lakes), 1:56.
5th: Zoe Williamson (South Lake) d. Carla Roman (East Lee County), 4-3.
7th: Nehemie Gregoire (Apopka) p. Olivia Carr (Nease), :43.
Consi semi: Llamido p. Roman, :25.

145
Championship: Tasha Matkovich (Anclote) p. Lilly Lutrell (Tampa Freedom), 4:56.
3rd: Jennah Mustafa (Lake Wales) d. Jade Noble (Horizon), 2-1.
5th: Anisah Paz (South Dade) ID over Teigan Slauson (Palm Harbor).
7th: Katherine Stewart (Bartram Trail) p. Taesha Inelus (North Miami), 2:36.

155
Championship: Mya Bethel (North Miami) d. Chloe Shull (Timber Creek), 2-1.
3rd: Gabby Tutera (Palmetto) p. Jah’Mya Hill (Mainland), 2:03.
5th: Karla Ortiz (Westside) p. Gabriela Segre (South Dade), 1:34.
7th: Jayden Dodge (West Port) p. Isabella Castellanos (Ft Myers), 2:30.
Consi semi: Hill p. Ortiz, 1:39.

170
Championship: Henlee Haynes (Mosley) p. Hayeni Costa (Celebration), 1:09.
3rd: Ferny Hernandez (South Dade) p. Lilly Yambor (Gateway), 1:00.
5th: Jazzmine Moore (Oakleaf) p. Hannah Matalobos (Bartram Trail), 2:46.
7th: Chella Antoine (Ft Myers) d. Banishca Derilus (Freedom), 3-1.
Consi semi: Hernandez p. Moore, 3:57; Yambor p. Matalobos, 1:16.

190
Championship: Alyssa Favara (Palmetto Ridge) d. Megan Preston (Wiregrass Ranch), 12-8.
3rd: Jada Jones (Apopka) p. Cheyenne Cruce (Middleburg), 3:37.
5th: Day’Jah Clark (Norland) ID over Emiliana Martinez (Gateway).
7th: Maggie Moss (Lincoln) d. Aurika Kashayeva (Barron Collier), 9-5.
Consi semis: Jones p. Martinez, 2:00; Cruce p. Clark, :59.

235
Championship: Andrea Smith (Orange Park) d. Kiara Brin (Freedom), 2-0.
3rd: Shanakay Chambers (Norland) p. Aniya Harbin (Jefferson), 2:07.
5th: Jada Arnold (Raines) p. Dania Taylor (Boca Ciega), :10.
7th: Cheyenne Wigley (Mainland) p. Daphney Pierre (Ft Myers), 2:03.
Consi semi: Chambers p. Arnold, 3:31.

Final brackets for the state tournament can be found HERE.