By MATMEN, Thursday, 10:20 p.m.
ST JOHNS — Every time that Creekside is counted out, the St Johns Knights find ways to rally back.
And preseason expectations noting that star power on other teams might count for more in the FHSAA post-season series perhaps discount the Knights’ consistency as a duals group.
That was on display Wednesday night at 3A-District 1 preseason pick-to-click Bartram Trail, as Creekside (9-2) powered out to a 24-0 lead and was never headed by the host Bears, holding on for a 42-34 victory.
Pins from Alexavier Panganiban (106), Santiago Carrion (113), Jacob Stover (120) and Justin Umali (126) powered the Knights down low; later on, falls from Conner Wright (145), Colton Leavell (170) and Tristen Darling (195) secured things.
Bartram Trail (9-2) rallied most of the way back, but couldn’t get the deficit under double digits until Jacob George’s fall at 285 closed out the night. Earlier, Ethan Vugman (132), Preston Pena (170) and John McNames (182) would pick up falls, with Grady Hutchinson adding a 16-4 major and decisions coming from Gabriel Betancourt (13-9 at 138) and Shane Armstrong (9-8 at 220).
In girls’ action, Creekside’s Anjel Balkenbush won by first-period fall over Bartram, while an exhibition battle between Lady Bears teammates Katherine Stewart and Ava Burre went Stewart’s way, 6-3.
Check out the Matmen photo gallery on our Facebook page; photos will hopefully be posted to the nflamatmen Instagram page overnight.
Fernandina Beach 51, Fletcher 24: At Fletcher, the visitors won their fifth straight dual after an opening-round loss to Bartram Trail at Dual in the Dunes last weekend, winning six straight weights to close out the night.
After pins by Gauge Housley (195) and Peyton White (220) got Fernandina (5-1) started, Fletcher (2-5) did take a 24-21 lead behind falls from Toby Matson (285), Andrew Mincks (126) and Cole O’Brien (132), plus a forfeit win, that sandwiched a Luke Gray pin at 113 and Crew Richter 14-8 decision in favor of the Pirates.
But Fernandina put it on the Senators down the stretch, with pins from Cael Kubatzke (138), Cole Misciagna (145) and Lucas Crawford (182), plus decisions from Blaike Harrington (7-4 at 152) and Enzo Gamba (5-0 at 160) and a forfeit to run out to a 30-0 finish.
Fernandina Beach is now off until the 1A-District 3 duals tournament, which the Pirates will host on January 4, while Fletcher will host its inaugural Senator Slam, a one-day, six-way dual tournament, on Friday.
Ocoee 54, Edgewater 30: At Edgewater, the visitors did take advantage of a fuller lineup, but also rolled up six pins to the hosts’ five.
In the Knights’ dual season-opener, Wayne Brady (132), Donell Grimes (152), Andy Delva (170), Andrew Williams (195), Keniel Carrasquillo (220) and Deandre Scott (285) all won by fall.
Ocoee is now off until Saturday’s Amanda St John Memorial one-day IBT at Villages.
Wolfpack sweeps ‘BrainBrawl’ tri-meet: Host Wolfson took down both Paxon (54-18) and Stanton (45-36) in the teams’ annual pre-holiday scheduled tri-meet.
The Wolfpack (2-6) picked up double-win nights from Taylor Martinez (106, pin), Tristian Martinez (113, 2 pins), Kai Molla (132, pin), Caleb Gaff (145, 2 pins), Bryce Frye (170, decision), Liam Strange (182), Keegan Maclean (195/220, pin) and Joseph Decunto (195/220, pin). Calvin Jenkins added a fall in the Paxon dual.
Stanton split the tri-meet with a 54-18 victory over the Golden Eagles in the middle dual. The Blue Devils (2-4) saw two wins each from Elias Spurlin (120/126, pin), Diego Torres (120/126, pin), Dean Holt (138, pin), Jacob Hewitt (152/160, pin) and Kishon Baggs (285, pin).
Paxon (1-6) got two wins on the night from Rebecca Gibson (138/145, 2 pins). Michael Gold (152) picked up a fall in the Golden Eagles’ loss to Stanton.
Stanton will be at Harmony’s Longhorn Christmas Classic on Saturday, while Wolfson and Paxon are off until the 1A-District 3 duals tournament at Fernandina.
Deltona 42, Mainland 24: At Deltona, the hosts controlled enough of the contested weights to allow a more-complete lineup to secure the victory.
Kevin Kerns (132), Justin Rivera (152), Gevin De la Cruz (160) and Nathan Hatch (285) all won by fall for the Wolves (4-2). In girls’ varsity competition at 125, Raegan Hatch also secured a pin for Deltona.
Mainland (4-6) picked up pins from Dasaniel Rodriguez-Andino (145), Joshua Stubbs (170) and Josh Newman (220), with an injury-default win for Mikey Short at 113.
Both teams are in action this weekend, with Deltona at Lyman’s 49th annual Bill Scott Memorial and Mainland at Friday’s Let Freedom Ring boys’ roundrobin event hosted by Freedom (Orlando).
Yulee 61, Florida Deaf & Blind 18: At Florida Deaf & Blind (FSDB), the visiting Hornets won 11 contested matches for their first dual win of 2022-23 as a tuneup for weekend action.
Alex Smith (195), Cayden Ricks (220), Latrell Mallory (106), Josh Harris (113), Logan Pugh (132), Ethan McFeely (138), Samuel Sahrphillips (152), Dylan Johns (170) and Christopher Aud (182) all won by fall for Yulee (1-1). Austin Adamson added a major decision at 138 and Braylen Ricks took an 11-9 win at 285.
For the Dragons (0-6), Anthony Rush (160) secured a quick pin for FSDB’s lone contested victory.
Yulee will next host its two-day duals tournament on Friday and Saturday, while FSDB is off until competition in the 1A-District 4 duals tournament at Union County on January 3.
Missing results: We are still waiting for scoresheets on Clay at Oakleaf and Ed White at Riverside. If received before the end of the weekend, we will update this roundup if time permits.
Thank you to: Coaches at Deltona, Creekside and Fletcher for submitting reports to Trackwrestling, as well as a thank you to the Timber Creek and Springstead staffs for reporting their girls’ rumble events on Track! Thanks also to the Bartram Trail staff for their scoresheet and for having me out on Wednesday; thanks to head coaches at Ocoee, Fletcher and Wolfson for sending me emails with photographed scoresheets, and thanks to the Yulee staff for sending me their scoresheet via Facebook messenger!
RESULTS: All reported results for Wednesday’s duals can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 