WESLEY CHAPEL — Thanks to seven weight-class titles, Matanzas rolled to a first-place finish in Wiregrass Ranch’s 4th Annual Rumble at the Ranch.
The top-ranked Lady Pirates outpointed Boca Ciega, 178-112, to win the team title Wednesday evening. Palm Harbor University (95), Bell Creek (88) and Wesley Chapel (47) rounded out the top five teams.
The hidden MVP?: Brooklyn Watt (18th at 190). Watt only had two matches in taking the 190 title, but Watt joined her more-highlighted teammates as Rumble champ, with a 14-7 win over Wesley Chapel and a fall over Boone.
Outstanding Wrestler: While Watt’s performance elevated her to spotlight, her effort wasn’t alone Wednesday, as sophomore Tiana Fries jumped back on the winning horse after a loss at Lady Clash the previous weekend to earn OW honors for the tournament.
Fries (1st at 125) was 5-0 with two pins in 42 seconds in the first two rounds of 125 competition, followed by decision wins in her bracket over 11th-ranked Juliana Caisse (6-1) and 3rd-ranked Teigan Slauson (8-2), both of Palm Harbor University, before winning by forfeit in round 5.
The 1-2 punches: In both the 135 and 140/145 (combined) weight classes, the Lady Pirates dominated the field with 1-2 efforts.
At 135, they didn’t have much choice, as Breanna Corley (17th at 135) and Saiomy Cabrera (16th at 135) were the only competing participants, with Corley taking a pin victory in the third period (5:07).
In the combined weight, Matanzas’ Kendall Bibla (4th at 140) and Gabby Proctor (17th at 145) both were in Pool B, with Bibla going 3-0 on three pins in 1:51 (including a 23-second pin over Proctor, who otherwise pinned her other pool opponents). Both then won in the semis with pins in the first period. The tournament then applied the earlier pool result to determine a champion.
Early pins to gold: The three remaining Matanzas champions had just one match go past the first period.
Of the trio, only Mariah Mills (3rd at 110) had experience with the second and third periods Wednesday, but she still dominated the scene at her weight, with a sizable lead built up before falling Palm Harbor in the third period of round 3; otherwise, Mills had three pins in 2:30.
At 120, Christina Borgmann (5th at 120) needed just 1:56 for two pins, plus a forfeit win, to take her title, including a pin in 1:13 over 12th-ranked Abby DiCenzo of Bell Creek.
Finally, at 130, Brielle Bibla (1st at 130) picked up a first-period injury-default win and a 57-second fall over fourth-ranked Callie Alfieri of Gulf, then won by forfeit and walkover in the crossover rounds.
The Lady Pirates are now off until December 17 and Freedom’s Let Freedom Ring one-day girls’ IBT.
Results from Wednesday’s event can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 