By MATMEN, Thursday, 1:30 a.m.
YULEE — You don’t always see the intensity of a district duals advancement-kind of intensity in the second week of December.
But in Wednesday’s in-school dual at Yulee between the Hornets and visiting Middleburg, the energy of the opponents’ quality level shone through as the Broncos stayed unbeaten in duals with a 42-39 victory over Yulee.
While falls were — as they so often are — the main way to score points, two Middleburg decisions particularly key on Wednesday, as junior Joseph Forte (138), who did not compete in the sport last year, picked up a 4-1 win; at 195, the Broncos’ Porter Loveland knocked off a 2022 state qualifier en route to a 9-4 decision.
Middleburg (2-0) also had pins from Skyla Fisher (106), Bryan Davis (113), Grady Woodard (120), Wyatt Leduc (132) and Logan Moore (145).
Yulee (0-1) began its dual season with more success up top, thanks to falls from Samuel Sahrphillips (152), Dylan Johns (160), Michael McNair (170), Pheonix Barbour-Yerka (182), Alex Smith (220) and Braylen Ricks (285).
Both teams hit the road for Friday two-day IBTs, with Middleburg going to Lincoln’s Capital City Classic, while Yulee will go to Hernando and the Hernando Kiwanis Invitational.
Rutherford 42, Wewahitchka 39: At Rutherford, the Rams needed Gabriel Breen’s fall at 113 to clinch the dual victory.
Rutherford (1-0) got out to an 18-6 lead behind an Augustine Lurvey pin at 132 and a pair of forfeits, but then had to go back and forth with the Gators, using four forfeits in all to good use. Bryson Schirmer (182) had Rutherford’s other pin on the night.
Pins from Conner Roberts (160) and Calvin Carpenter (170), plus a 13-8 win from Jarrett Spencer at 152, helped Wewa (1-1) build a lead that it had to work hard to keep. James Hardy (220) also had a pin for the Gators, with Jake Parker’s fall at 126 kicking the dual off on the right foot for Wewahitchka.
Rutherford stays in hosting mode on Thursday with a home dual against Bozeman, while Wewahitchka is off until next Thursday’s 1A-District 1 dual tournament at Bay.
Westside 72, Ed White 12: At Westside, the host Wolverines celebrated a rare early Senior Night with all six of their seniors picking up falls.
Elijah Williams (195), Wayne Rogers (220), Terrance Goodman (285), Kenneth Pope (120), Olleon Hickmon (138) and Nathan Williams (152) each repped the Class of ’23 with pins for Westside (5-0).
Ismael Santos (132, Gha-is Cooper (145), Jamell Robinson (160) and Preston Davis (170) added pins for Westside. Ed White (0-1) got one fall on the night, from Daylen Mays (182), in kicking off its season.
Westside will be at Oakleaf’s Friday Knight Lights, while Ed White will also be on the road for a Friday dual; just one, though, against Englewood.
Creekside 57, Nease 21: At Nease, the visiting St Johns Knights (4-1) built leads of 18-0 and 51-3 before a late flurry of St Johns Panther pins in the matchup of district rivals.
Alexavier Panganiban (106), Justin Umali (120), Larry Mims (132), Conner Wright (138), Aaron Zwetschkenbaum (145), Chihaya Cook (152) and Jonathan Morrison (182) all won by falls for Creekside, with Stephan Carrion adding a 3-2 win at 126.
Wyatt Balger’s 8-6 win at 113 got Nease (1-4) on the board; later on, Jacob Lutz (160), Alan Rivera (170) and Albio Jakupi (195) all won by pin.
In girls’ action, Nease’s Olivia Drayton (140) won by injury default and Olivia Carr (145) took a pin, while Creekside’s Anjel Balkenbush won by fall at 135.
Creekside will road-trip to Deltona for the one-day Deltona Duals on Saturday, while Nease is off until December 14, when the Panthers will host Providence.
East River 45, Winter Park 33: At East River, the Wildcats kicked off the season with four contested victories.
Leading the way with pins for Winter Park were James Gonzalez (138), Derrick Dunn (152) and Teddy Barry (160); Mason Moses added a 9-2 win for the Wildcats at 126.
Winter Park will next compete in Osceola’s Danny Byron Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Freeport v Destin: Results from this dual were not available as of this writing; upon receipt, we will add these to this roundup.
Orange Park: Results from Raider Duals #1 have not arrived at this writing and would have been/will be written up separately from this roundup as a separate story.
Results: Dual results as reported can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 