GLEN ST MARY — Although the FHSAA duals series has begun elsewhere in Florida, 1A-District 4 isn’t set to go until early next month.
Thursday afternoon, in an in-school dual, the top two teams in the district squared off in a first look at one another, with host Baker County securing enough max-point wins to collect a 42-40 win over Union County.
The Wildcats (4-0) got out to an early start behind pins from Brayden Martin (106), Jareb Lauramore (113) and Jonathon Walker (126), to build an 18-6 lead. However, Union (0-1) would answer with back-to-back-to-back falls from Ian Halfacre (132), Ethan Shea (138) and Rodney Barnett (145) to seize the lead at 24-18.
But Baker answered with 3 pins in a row of its own, with pins from Keith Ratliff (152), Rasean Rayam (160) and Cannon Wimpey (170) to go back up by 12. Union cut that lead to two on Alexander Cortese’s pin at 182 and Danny Thornton’s 14-6 major at 195, but the teams would trade pins at 220 and 285, with Joseph Stronko’s fall at 220 clinching it for the Wildcats. Ephriam Frometa (285) would finish the Tigers’ scoring with Ethan Hancock (120) beginning it.
The teams could wind up reconvening Saturday at region rival Fernandina Beach’s Dual in the Dunes, as both will be there.
Pedro Menendez 39, Tocoi Creek 30: At Tocoi, the visitors overcame three double-digit leads, closing out the dual with a 21-0 run to claim the victory.
The Falcons (5-1) got falls from Tyshaun Thames (220), Archer Bosick (152), Liam Molloy (160) and Bryce Alli (170), with Hunter Martin nabbing an 11-6 decision at 145 after big points early on in that weight class.
The Toros, who began their dual season Thursday night, built leads of 12-0, 18-6 and 30-18 along the way, thanks to pins from Dylan Danson (182), Michael Soffian (195), Willie Sims (132) and Mark Coniker (138).
Check out our photo gallery of this dual elsewhere on the North Florida Matmen Facebook page. Pedro Menendez is now off until December 17 and Creekside’s St Johns Super 8 Duals, while Tocoi Creek will compete in today’s Westside Kiwanis (concludes Saturday) at Bishop Snyder.
Bishop Kenny 51, Terry Parker 21: At Kenny, the hosts jumped out to a 30-0 lead, holding serve from there in the Jacksonville-based dual.
The Crusaders (5-1) picked up falls from Luke Ghannam (182), George Elbahri (285), Jacob Harless (126), Christopher Hampton (138) and Roberto Cuartero (160), with Jack Raynor pushing through to an 8-6 win at 152.
As for the Braves (1-2), Ishamael Cummings (132) and Jeff Brown (145) both won by pins, with Shamar Jones (120) earning a 6-3 decision.
Both Bishop Kenny and Terry Parker will be at today’s Capital City Classic (concludes Saturday), hosted by Lincoln.
Rutherford 53, Bozeman 30: At Rutherford, the hosts completed the back-to-back home dual sweep behind eight max-point wins and nine bonus.
Romero Black (16-1 tech in 2:24) was the lone victorious Ram not winning by fall, working for turns instead. Rutherford (2-0) picked up pins from Bryson Schirmer (195), Dylan Malott (106), Michael Lurvey (120) and Ja’dion Hughes over the course of the night.
Bozeman (0-1) began its dual season with falls from Asher Burris (220), Justin Johnson (132) and Daniel Pierce (152).
The Rams are off until Wednesday and Bay’s 1A-District 1 dual tournament, while Bozeman will return to the mats Saturday for the Ryan Blackwell Invitationals at Gulf Breeze.
New Smyrna Beach 54, Ponte Vedra 21: At New Smyrna Beach, the hosts held down the bookends, with wins at 106/113 and 182/285 plus a couple in the middle as well, in the dual season-opener for both teams.
Merrick Miller (126), Jonathon Bruner (132), Chandler Jateff (152), Dylon York (195) and Kyle Nilsson (220) all took pins for the ‘Cudas, with Richard Crunkilton pushing through to a 7-6 win at 113 and Simjay Engberg winning by 9-3 count at 145.
Ponte Vedra had pins from Bryson Hubbard (138) and Talan Babin (170), with Poulo Milea pitching a 7-0 shutout at 120.
Both teams return to action this weekend, with Ponte Vedra at today’s Friday Knight Lights, hosted by Oakleaf, while New Smyrna Beach will be at Dual at the Dunes on Saturday.
Lyman 46, University (Orange City) 24: At Orange City, the visitors kicked off the 2022-23 dual season with a 46-0 run.
The Greyhounds (1-0) clinched the dual on pins from Luke Nilles (126), Elijah Coduto (132), Cameron Popeck (138), Allyn Rosario (145), Thomas Weissert (152), Cameron Warner (160) and Julio Menoyo (170), plus a 21-9 major from Vincent Savelli (182).
Drake Alban’s pin started the night for the Titans (0-1); Thomas Belton (195) and Javier Figueroa (285) also added falls for University (Orange City).
Both teams will reconvene on Saturday at Deltona in the one-day Deltona Duals tournament.
Olympia sweeps tri-meet: At First Academy, the visiting Titans edged past Mt Dora, 40-39, then went on to hammer the hosts, 60-24.
Double winners for Olympia (2-0) included Shiv Patel (120, pin), Roland Flynn (126, pin), Madden Bourst (145, pin) and Miles O’Toole (220/285, pin & major).
In the Mt Dora victory, Jorge Carpio (160) won by fall, while Matthew Cobb (106), Tony Ho (132) and Ethan Rivera-Mendez (160) took pins in the win over First Academy.
Olympia goes back on the mats on Tuesday, hosting a dual with Colonial.
Thanks to: Coaching staffs at Baker County, Tocoi Creek, Bishop Kenny, University (Orange City) & Olympia for providing us with scoresheets. Further thanks to coaching staffs at Baker, Rutherford and New Smyrna Beach (or maybe it was Ponte Vedra) for reporting your duals to Trackwrestling!
Results: Results from the posted duals mentioned in this recap can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 