By MATMEN, Thursday, 8:35 p.m.
KISSIMMEE — Hanging in against South Florida 1A powerhouses requires a lot of firepower.
And it’s south, or southwest, Florida teams topping the FHSAA state standings Thursday, as District 15 rivals Somerset Academy (38 points) and Mater Lakes Academy (34.5) top the first-day standings, with Jensen Beach third at 31.5, First Baptist-Naples fourth at 28 and Cardinal Gibbons fifth at 27.5.
With 19 points, 1A-Region 1 double champion Suwannee currently is in 10th place, with Yulee 12th with 12 points, Fernandina Beach 14th at 10 and Florida High 16th with 8.5. They’re the only teams in the first day with a top-20 team standing.
Quarterfinal wrestling begins at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, with consi round 2 at approximately 11:45, semis at approximately 1:30 p.m. and consi quarters at approximately 4 p.m.
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On to the quarters: Jasper Croom (Florida High); Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee). Croom (1st) teched Space Coast’s Ernie Covert in the second period (16-1 in 3:562) and will face Chamberlain’s Uy’Kown Wimberly (10th) in the quarters, while Jolicoeur (7th) scored a takedown in sudden victory to defeat Cocoa’s Cole Webb, 5-3. He’ll face Mater Lakes Academy’s Mason O’Dell (2nd) in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Connor Brown (Wakulla). Brown (6th) came back from a round-1 loss by fall to Weeki Wachee’s Nick Guy (9th; fall time 4:15) to turn back Miami Killian’s Joshua Sanchez, 9-8.
Heading home: South Walton’s Nathan Lyttle took losses by fall on the front to Cocoa Beach’s Adrian Day (8th; fall time 5:49) and then on the back to First Baptist-Naples’ Everett Stephens in 3:52.
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On to the quarters: Derrick Williams (Bay). Williams (1st) became the only area quarterfinalist with a second-period pin (2:17) over Bayshore’s Dominic Myers, and will face Mater Lakes Academy’s Kellen Mesina (6th) in the quarters. St Johns resident Mario Del Vecchio (3rd), wrestling for Cocoa Beach this year, also reached the quarters with a fall in 3:44 over Jensen Beach’s Gian Ortiz, and will face Sarasota Military’s Nathan Varley (7th) in the next round.
Alive in consis: Justin Contreras (Suwannee). After giving up an escape in the ultimate-tiebreaker for a 3-2 loss to Gibbs’ Al’Zaveon Harris (10th), Contreras bounced back with an 8-1 win in consi round 1 over Cocoa’s Aaron Horr.
Heading home: Wakulla’s Anthony Fondo and Florida High’s Dewan Richardson both were 0-2 on Thursday. Fondo took losses on the front to Varley (pin in 2:23) and to Ortiz (9-2 decision), while Richardson lost by fall on the front to Lemon Bay’s Jack Oliver (4th; pin time 3:52) and SLAM Academy’s Jason Ramirez (fall time 2:25) in the consis.
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On to the quarters: Jay Brown (Liberty County); Topher Pearson (Suwannee). Brown (5th) advanced to the quarters and Robinson’s Jeremiah Ellis (10th) after taking an 11-4 win over Somerset Academy’s Dylan Fernandez, while Pearson (6th) majored Cardinal Gibbons’ William Parker, 14-2. Pearson will face Palm Bay’s Raymen Jackson (8th) in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Jake Parker (Wewahitchka). After losing by fall (4:52) to third-ranked Anthony O’Dell of Mater Lakes Academy, Parker (7th) came back in the consis with a fall (1:49) over Nature Coast’s Ben Goyeneche.
Heading home: Bay’s David Drake (9th) took a pair of losses, with a front-side pin (:55) against top-ranked Sebastian Degennaro of Jensen Beach, and nearly fighting back after an early deficit, only to fall by an 11-10 decision to Hernando’s Jordyn Valle.
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On to the quarters: Suwannee’s Brody Boehm (4th) was the only area quarterfinalist after pinning Key West’s Abram Canet in 3:44 in round 1. Boehm will face 9th-ranked Diogo Santos of Berkeley Prep in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Hunter Stanley (Florida High). Stanley battled back after an opening-round loss by tech (16-1 in 3:38) against top-ranked Ryan Mooney of Jensen Beach, pushing past Tenoroc’s Kris Hunter (10th), 4-3, in the wrestleback.
Heading home: Wakulla’s David Culley and West Nassau’s Blayden Tharpe were both 0-2 Thursday, with Culley taking losses on the front against Somerset Academy’s Mathew Velasco (2nd; pin time 5:30) and on the back in a 7-2 decision loss to Gateway-Ft Myers’ Derrique Mytial. Tharpe lost by fall (2:54) on the front to Mater Lakes Academy’s Ethan Tran (6th) and then fell by a 10-4 count to Astronaut’s Presten Pineiro in the consis.
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On to the quarters: Cael Kubatzke (Fernandina Beach); Gibson Moore (South Walton). Kubatzke (10th) pinned Mulberry’s Noah Bailey in 1:08 to reach the quarters, where he’ll wrestle 4th-ranked Gavin Nolan of Clearwater Central Catholic, while Moore falled Avon Park’s Zackery Wells in 3 minutes for his quarters slot, where he will wrestle 9th-ranked Malikai Badillo of Mater Lakes Academy.
Alive in consis: Ishmael Foster (Palatka). After a 7-2 loss on the front to 8th-ranked Kenneth Pritz of Hernando, Foster stayed in it behind an 8-2 over Lemon Bay’s Bryan Ashcraft.
Heading home: Wakulla’s Caleb Orr took two losses by major decision, with a 9-0 loss on the front against 2nd-ranked Roman Maldonado of Palm Bay and a 16-5 loss in the consis to Jensen Beach’s Charlie Armstrong (5th).
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On to the quarters: Mikade Harvey (Palatka). Harvey (2nd) was the only area quarterfinalist, thanks to a 16-3 major in round 1 over Clearwater Central Catholic’s Dominic Fouche’. Harvey will wrestle Mater Lakes Academy’s Eric Hodge (5th) in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Austin Adamson (Yulee). After a loss by fall to Gateway-Ft Myers’ Keenan Wanbaugh (5:20) in the first round, Adamson advanced into Friday’s competition with a 10-1 major over Nature Coast’s Kaden Etheridge.
Heading home: Suwannee’s Ayden Kirby and Wakulla’s Brady Jackson were both 0-2 Thursday. Kirby lost by pin (3:07) on the front to 4th-ranked Landen Holley of Zephyrhills Christian, with an 11-3 consi-side loss to McKeel Academy’s Jean Benavidez. Jackson lost by fall to Lemon Bay’s Justin Brady (7th) in 1 minute, and in the consis to Somerset Academy’s Kevin Concepcion (8th) in 5:57.
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On to the quarters: Jae T Thaxton (Wakulla); Cole Misciagna (Fernandina Beach). Thaxton (6th) pushed into the quarters behind an 8-3 win over Bishop Moore’s Angel Prieto, and will wrestle fifth-ranked Jewell Williams of Jensen Beach in the next round. As for Misciagna (10th), he overcame 8th-ranked Ricky Bowermaster of Weeki Wachee, 8-6, in round 1, and is set to wrestle top-ranked Michael Kersey of First Baptist-Naples in the quarters.
Heading home: Bishop Kenny’s Jack Raynor had a pair of losses Thursday, with a loss by pin (1:09) on the front against second-ranked DJ Richards of Mt Dora, and again in the wrestleback (1:19) against Zephyrhills Christian’s Aiden Hutchins. Likewise, Suwannee’s Marshall White was 0-2, with a sudden-victory loss in the round of 16 against Hernando’s James Gadson (9th) and a consi-side loss by pin against Hudson’s Giovanni Stramiello.
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On to the quarters: Austin McKinney (Suwannee); Roberto Cuartero (Bishop Kenny). McKinney (2nd) falled Oasis Charter’s Brayden Pinney in 40 seconds and will next face Mater Lakes Academy’s Kalias Nazario (5th) in the quarters, while Cuartero (3rd) falled 10th-ranked Joe Castellone (2:40) in the round of 16, drawing top-ranked Nathan Furman of Palm Bay in the next round.
Heading home: Episcopal’s Chance Wolffe and Wakulla’s Nate Jacobs were both 0-2 on Thursday. Wolffe took losses by pin against Zephyrhills Christian’s Javier Lopez (9th; pin time :29) on the front side and to McKeel Academy’s Bradley Torres (6th; fall time 1:39).
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On to the quarters: Enzo Gamba (Fernandina Beach); Conner Roberts (Wewahitchka); Austin Howard (Suwannee). Gamba (2nd) took his quarterfinal slot with a first-round pin (6 minutes) over Cardinal Gibbons’ Jason Simmons, while Roberts (6th) edged 10th-ranked Trenton Hogan, 2-1, in round of 16. Howard (3rd) secured his final-eight space with a first-period pin (1:50) over #8 Emmanuel Nazco of Mater Lakes Academy. In the quarters, Gamba will face #7 Nick Sheets of Lemon Bay, while Roberts will wrestle #9 Alexander Noman of Avon Park and Howard will face 4th-ranked Gavin Patton of First Baptist-Naples.
Alive in consis: Keaton Schirmer (Rutherford). After taking the only area loss in round 1, by 14-2 major against top-ranked Kendrick Hodge of Somerset Academy, Schirmer came back in the consis with a 4-1 win over Hogan.
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On to the quarters: Dylan Johns (Yulee). Johns (4th) was the only area quarterfinalist Thursday, taking an 8-2 win in the round of 16 over Miami Edison’s Myles Sadeek (10th). Johns will take on fifth-ranked Brycen Turner of Palm Bay in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Dustin Wood (Suwannee). After a 6-4 loss in round 1 to 9th-ranked Calogero Mazzrillo of Mater Lakes Academy, Wood bounced back with a 7-4 win over Evangelical Christian’s Derek Washington in consi rd 1.
Heading home: Bishop Kenny’s Luke Ghannam and Florida High’s Jordan Haigler each took two losses, with Ghannam’s both coming by fall, against Lincoln Park Academy’s Kyle Grey (2nd; fall time :44, front side) and against Zephyrhills Christian’s Jeremiah Chavis (7th; pin time 1:59, consis). Haigler took a 17-5 loss by major on the front to Cardinal Gibbons’ sixth-ranked Richard Tauriello and lost by fall in the wrestleback (3:54) to Mason Alsobrook of Space Coast.
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On to the quarters: Nolan McKelvy (West Nassau). McKelvy (4th) was the only area quarterfinalist, turning back Jefferson’s Yurii Kalinin, 7-4, in the round of 16. McKelvy will wrestle Somerset’s Jonathan Moreno (8th) in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Xander Hawkes (Florida High); Bryson Schirmer (Rutherford); Collin Hearn (Bishop Kenny). After a front-side loss by fall (1:22) to top-ranked Christian Moder of First Baptist-Naples, Hawkes pinned Weeki Wachee’s Jisir Allen (10th) in 1:03 in the consis, while Schirmer stayed alive with a pin over Mater Lakes Academy’s Kevin Breton in the consis after losing by fall (3:17) to second-ranked Chase Alden of Lemon Bay. Hearn (5th) rallied from a round-1 loss by fall (1:28) to Clearwater CC’s 3rd-ranked Carson Schiavello, shutting out McKeel Academy’s Ben Lietz, 4-0, in the wrestleback.
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On to the quarters: Alex Smith (Yulee); Christian McGarity (Episcopal). Smith (2nd) won by first-period fall over Avon Park’s Carmine Santiago (1:47), and will wrestle #3 Nate Sopotnick of Jensen Beach in the quarters, while McGarity (8th) took a pin just before the buzzer sounded to end the match with him leading #10 Jaydon Sheely of Space Coast, fall time in six minutes.
Alive in consis: Danny Thornton (Union County). After a front-side loss by pin (3:58) against 9th-ranked Jayshawn Nantce of Hernando, Thornton falled Gibbs’ Malcolm Woods in 2:23 to fight his way into Friday’s competition.
Heading home: Fernandina Beach’s Gauge Housely was 0-2 on Thursday, after 14-2 loss by major against 4th-ranked Octavion Osby of Palm Bay in round 1 and a loss by fall (3:53) to Somerset Academy’s Rafael Lopez in the consis.
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On to the quarters: David Mercado (North Bay Haven). Mercado (3rd) was the only area quarterfinalist, falling Dunedin’s Saul Martinez in 3:23. Mercado will wrestle Palm Bay’s Christopher Brunson in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Collin Bishop (Florida High); Kohl Pippin (Wakulla). Bishop (10th) fell, 6-0, in round 1 to 6th-ranked Ben Arnett of Lemon Bay, but rallied for an 8-7 win in consi rd 1 over Jensen Beach’s Toby Rooney, while Pippin came back from a first-round fall (2:18) against Hudson’s #8 Gavyn Uribes with a third-period fall (5:28) over Mt Dora’s Russell Fickett.
Heading home: Yulee’s Cayden Ricks took a 5-2 loss in round 1 to fifth-ranked Elijah Austin of Zephyrhills Christian, falling in the consis by pin (:34) to #4 Tim Gray of Crystal River.
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On to the quarters: Brayden Ricks (Yulee); Gregory Townsend (Raines). Ricks (4th) advanced to the quarters with a second-period pin (2:25) over Villages’ Randall Wise and will face Bishop Verot’s Jack Benaitis in the next round, while Townsend (9th) falled sixth-ranked Bruce Smith of Mulberry in 2:19. Townsend will wrestle #2 Andre Otto of Key West in the quarters.
Alive in consis: Carlos Sanchez (South Walton). Sanchez (8th) came back from a front-side loss by pin (5:25) to fifth-ranked Leonard Christian of Palm Bay, rolling past Miami Sunset’s Jordan Diaz with a pin in 3:15.
Heading home: Liberty County’s Scout Harr was 0-2 Thursday, with losses on the front to Hernando’s third-ranked Devin Williams (:29) and in the consis against Kings’ Academy’s Dartavius Saintelus (7th; pin time 1:33).
First-day brackets can be found HERE.
North Florida Matmen 