By: J. Daniel Pearson
By the slightest of margins (237.5-233.0) Osceola edged Harmony for the FHSAA Class 3A, District 9 Wrestling Championship on Saturday; but both teams will send 11 competitors to the this week’s Region 3 Championships at Osceola High.
Both teams posted five champions and had six additional wrestlers earn spots in this week’s regional competition. Winning titles for Osceola were Ehab Shalaby (144), Ibrahim Rustam (150), Nathan Cabrera (157), David Yi-Sanchez (165), and Deacon Delong (190); while Harmony had five straight champions with Tristin Horn (106), Nathan Lytlle (113), Nevan Irving (120), Landon Davis (126) and Max Butler (132).
In order to qualify for regionals, wrestlers had to finish in the top four in their weight classes at districts; while the Longhorns qualifying Christian Rodriguez (3rd-138), Brody Williams (4th-144), Jalison Cabrera (2nd-157), Julio Bernaez (4th-165), Seth Scutero (2nd-190), and Aiden Maldonaldo (2nd-285); while the Kowboys sending Jovanni Ortiz (105-3rd), Angel Agramonte (113-3rd), Isfandier Sharipov (138-2nd), Jonathan Olmo 93rd-175), Elijah VanSickle (2nd-220) and Jacquille Knox (285-3rd).
While neither team has been at full strength this season due to injuries and the flu bug, it was the third time Osceola has edged Harmony this year – winning a close contest in district duals and then edging the Longhorns at this year’s Orange Belt Conference Championship (206.5-203).
“People keep counting us out, but I love how our kids set a target and are also able to wrestle from behind. We have a lot of points in our lineup and we left a few out in the mat today, but we have another week to get healthier and fix that,” Osceola coach Rick Tribit said of his team’s close win.
“We had to use a back-up at 150 but overall I thought we did as well as we could expect, especially at the top of the lineup,” Harmony coach Vic Lorenzano said. “We may have left a few points out there, but I guess Osceola can say the same thing. We’re extremely pleased to have five district champions and to be sending 11 to regionals next week.”
Joining the 22 wrestlers from Harmony and Osceola at next week’s regional will be a bevy of wrestlers from Tohopekaliga, St. Cloud, Poinciana and Celebration. The Storm and Eagles competed in the District 9 tournament at Harmony, with the Storm advancing three in Jared Alzarez (4th-126), Jorge Macias (2nd=132) and Austin Werner (2nd-150); while Poinciana qualifying two — sending Jose Herrera (3rd-120) and Raeven Velasco (4th-175).
Meanwhile Tohopekaliga and St. Cloud finished third and fourth respectively at the District 10 Tournament in Ft. Pierce. Those two teams posted two district champions each, as the Bulldogs had champions in Luc Beaulieu (106) and Carter Rivera (113); while the Tigers had winners at 165 in Bryan Battles and 215 in Valentino Benavides.
Overall, 18 wrestlers from those two schools advance to the Osceola regional including top four finishers from Tohopekaliga including Angel Mundo (113), Matt Hoenshell (126), Max Bayliss (136), Daniel Fortado (138), Carlos Rodriguez (140), Nathan Barrett (150), Nelson Heldago (157), and Josue Marte (170); while Jacob Delarosa (120), Nick Restrepo (135), Yompol Berrero (165), Eann Mesa (220) and Andrew Colantano (285) move on for St. Cloud.
Meanwhile in Class 2A, Gateway had a solid performance in the District 8 Championships at Lyman High, finishing in second place. The Panthers will advance 13 of their 14 wrestlers to next week’s 2A, Region 2 Tournament at Brandon High – including district champion Jacob Perez (113).
Although the girls state championship will be held concurrently with the boys tournament at Osceola’s Silver Spurs Arena, regional tournaments were completed this week. A total of nine county wrestlers have qualified for the state championship with Osceola High leading the way with six, including regional champs Paola Ramirez (125), Denalie Dauphin (140). Aniyah Wayne (2nd-100), Alea Ramirez (4th-105), Erika Hernandez (2nd-145) and Lily Tucker (3rd-170). Harmony is sending three to the state meet, including regional champ Kiley Vinson (130); as well as Zuhaily Caffrey (4th-155) and Kaetlyn Holt (3rd-235).
