By MATMEN, Friday, 10:45 a.m.
GAINESVILLE — DeLand was definitely looking like a team that was on the move up as the season ended in March.
But the Bulldogs were only just getting started.
Thursday afternoon at Buchholz, DeLand tore through the 3A-District 2 duals field for its first district duals title in school history, with a 72-12 semifinal win over West Port and a 74-6 finals-round victory over the host Bobcats.
The Bulldogs will host a set of 3A-Region 1 quarterfinal and semifinal rounds by virtue of their status as District 2 champion on January 12, when they’ll face the District 1 runnerup in the quarters.
DeLand (2-0) lost just three matches on the day, getting double-win performances from Tyler Bracero (113, pin & decision), Phoenix Krauth (120, pin), Grady Bryant (126, pin), Kellen Chapman (132, pin), Joshua Folsom (145), Mathias Franz (152, 2 pins), Zane Canada (160, pin & win by injury default), Mason Perkins (170, 2 pins), Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro (182, 2 pins), Owen York (220, pin) and MJ Smokes (285, pin).
Edwin Alcina (106) added a fall and Peyton Senez (138) a tech-fall win in the Buchholz dual for DeLand, which will next compete in Hagerty’s Johnny Rouse Duals today and Saturday.
After the loss to the Bulldogs, Buchholz had to rally in the dual to determine a true 2nd-place team, securing advancement to the region round in the final match of the night on Jack Buchanan’s pin over West Port, giving the Bobcats a 48-36 win. Earlier in the day, Buchholz (3-2) had advanced to the final behind wins over University (Orange City), 66-9, and over Flagler Palm Coast, 40-39, via criteria.
Kason Nichols (195) was the Bobcats’ only wrestler to go 4-0 on the day, with two pins. Jack Buchanan (145/152) was 3-0 with a decision to go along with the region-securing pin, while Max Szabo (160, 3 pins) and Jun Jie Zheng (113, pin) were both 3-1.
Buchholz will wrestle the District 1 champion in the 3A-Region 1 quarterfinals at DeLand. The District 1 meet is January 4 at Creekside. The Bobcats will next compete at Osceola’s Knockout Christmas Classic midweek next week.
West Port (3-2) opened its dual season with Thursday’s event, winding its way through almost every other team in the district. The Wolfpack edged Lake Mary, 37-36, and then defeated crosstown rival Forest (37-36) by criteria and downed the Rams a second time, 54-18, in the bracket’s consolation final to get a shot at true second.
Mathew Pishotta (106) was a 5-0 max-pointer for the Wolfpack, with four pins, while Jhustino Miranda (138/145) also was 5-0 with two pins and a decision. Caden Perez-Pantoja (132, 4 pins) and Luis Sotomayor (182, 2 pins) were both 4-1, while Evan Lewis (170) had three pins on the day. West Port will next compete at Lake Mary’s Ron Peters Tournament of Champions on January 6-7.
Lake Mary (3-6) lost its opening-round dual to West Port, but came back after a bye to reach the consolation final and a rematch to the Wolfpack thanks to a 39-36 consi-semi win over Flagler Palm Coast, 39-36, to grab fourth. Nick Ghezzi (152) pinned his way through the tournament, with three pins, while Adrian Pabon was a 3-0 max-pointer at 120, with two pins. Michael Frederick (220), pin) and Dominic Kontogiannis (285, 2 pins) were both 2-0, while Tyler Moore (145, decision) was 2-1. The Rams will be back in action today at Lyman’s 49th Bill Scott Memorial two-day IBT.
Flagler Palm Coast (1-2) took fifth, with a 54-30 win over Forest to start the tournament; the teams wound up slated to wrestle each other in a bracketed fifth-place match, but it wasn’t contested. The Bulldogs had four wrestlers go 3-0, led by the 3-pin performance of Josh Davis at 170. Brandon Calidonio (182, 2 pins), John Hald (138, tech & pin) and Kole Hannant (132, pin & major) also were 3-0, while Joslyn Johnson (106, pin), Kelton Howard (160, 2 pins), Dalton Schell (195) and Ethaniel Laupepa (220, 2 pins) all were 2-1. Flagler will next be at Springstead’s Corey Hill Memorial two-day IBT today.
Forest (1-2) also kicked off its dual season Thursday, with its lone win over University (Orange City), 42-18, in the consis. Cameron Glowach (152) and Cane Fernandez (285) were both 3-0 with three pins, while Aydan Ruano (120, 2 pins) and Brent Ryals (126, 2 pins) also were 3-0 and max-pointers. Jamon Stromwall (113, pin) was 2-0, while Ellis Lawson (220) also won twice. The Wildcats will next compete at Villages’ Amanda St John Memorial Holiday tournament on Saturday.
University (Orange City) (1-7) got two pins from Zachary Baer (220) and a 2-0 performance as well from Slade High-Tompkins (170, pin & decision). The Titans will join Lake Mary at Lyman today.
Results from Thursday’s event can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 