By MATMEN, Sunday, 5:40 p.m.
PUNTA GORDA — Any tournament field that includes 1A state champion Jensen Beach and 2A state semifinalist Charlotte is going to be a test for just about every northern team there is.
That’s what Suwannee, Clay and New Smyrna Beach got over the course of the weekend at Charlotte’s Gene Gorman Showcase Duals, as the Bulldogs were third out of 11 teams, Clay fifth and New Smyrna Beach sixth in the 11-team dual event.
Suwannee was 7-2, with losses only to the host Tarpons’ A group (49-18) and Jensen Beach (36-28), a rematch of the Bulldogs’ 1A state semifinal from the previous weekend at state duals.
The Bulldogs defeated New Smyrna Beach (48-29), Suncoast (84-0), Venice (59-24), Charlotte Gold (59-12), Bonita Springs (57-22), Ft Myers (54-24) and Port Charlotte (57-16).
No Bulldog wrestler escaped the weekend without at least one loss, though six — Eli Jolicoeur (106, 2 pins, 2 techs & decision), Justin Contreras (113, 2 pins, injury default & decision), Brody Boehm (126/132, 6 pins & 2 majors), Marshall White (145, 6 pins & decision), Austin McKinney (152, 6 pins) and Austin Howard (160, 4 pins & major) — all were 8-1 for Suwannee (43-6).
Topher Pearson (120, 3 pins, major & decision) and Dustin Wood (170, 5 pins & decision) were both 6-3 on the weekend for the Bulldogs, while Benjamin Lewis (182/195, 4 pins) & Sam Ballard (220/285, 2 pins & decision) were both 5-4. In regular roles, Torynn Johns (182/195, 2 pins & decision) was 4-2, while both Ayden Kirby (138, 3 pins) and Holden Corbin (220/285, 2 pins & decision) were both 4-3.
Clay and Port Charlotte both had 6-3 tournaments, but the Blue Devils (21-9) fell to Charlotte’s neighbor to the north by a 39-37 count, along with losses to Charlotte High (57-15) and Jensen Beach (51-27).
The Blue Devils defeated Charlotte Gold (50-24), New Smyrna Beach (42-31), Ft Myers (63-15), Suncoast (71-9), Venice (61-12) and Bonita Springs (57-22).
Jacob Bucci (106, 4 pins & tech) and Vontae Burke (126/132, 5 pins, 2 techs & 2 decisions) were both 9-0 for Clay.
DJ Williams (145, 5 pins & decision) and Dominic Martin (170, 5 pins & major) were both 7-2; in a regular role, Kedtric Wilbourn (220/285, 2 pins, major & decision) was 6-1, with Drew Holmquist (113, 3 pins & major) and Brady Glavin (126/132, 3 pins, major & decision) both compiling 6-3 weekend marks. Aaron Stacey (195, 5 pins) and Will Kelly (285, 3 pins) both were 5-3 as well for the Blue Devils.
New Smyrna Beach and Charlotte Gold both had 4-5 records; the Barracudas (18-16) took the sixth spot with a 51-26 win over the Charlotte B group. They also had wins over Suncoast (60-15), Bonita Springs (59-24) and Ft Myers (60-7), with losses not noted above to Jensen Beach (51-24), Charlotte High (73-6) and Port Charlotte (56-31).
Jonathan Bruner was undefeated for the ‘Cudas, going 8-0 (4 pins, tech, major, decision, injury-default).
Aidan Sutton (132/138, 4 pins & 2 injury-default wins), Derek King (195, 5 pins & decision) and Dylon York (220, 3 pins, major, decision & injury-default win) were each 7-2 for NSB, while Donald Bond-West (285, 3 pins) was 6-3. Sawyer VanRider (182, 3 pins, major & decision) compiled a 5-2 record, while Simjay Engberg (145, 3 pins & decision) was 5-4.
Charlotte High went through the weekend unbeaten at 9-0 as a team, with a 48-29 win over Jensen Beach in what was the effective team-championship dual. The Falcons were 9-1 for second.
Complete results from the tournament can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 