With some eyes on tomorrow, Lake Gibson earns six region duals title
KISSIMMEE — It was hard to not notice the other mats in the gym on Friday afternoon. #3 Fleming Island on one, #2 Tampa Jesuit on the other. Both are potential roadblocks to a sixth state duals title for #1 Lake Gibson.
Braves head coach Daniel Walker knows the anticipation for those duals, but took time after Lake Gibson’s breezy 72-9 win over #11 Land O’Lakes win in the Class 2A-2 region final to talk to his team about what has made them successful in the first place.
“I reminded them of what made us so successful in the first place,” Walker said of his impromptu talk after the dual. “We are good in duals because we are a team that is invested in each other and the dual we are competing and we had a few guys lose sight of that.”
On the mat Lake Gibson did take care of business.
The Braves won 12 of the 14 bouts and never looked bothered in the dual.
Leyland Callahan (285), Aadyn Gruver (106), Tyler White (113), and Elijah Lowe (120) each scored six points apiece and after just 3:48 seconds of wrestling time, Lake Gibson was up 24-0.
Christian Fretwell (132), Noah Gregory (138), LeAndre Campbell (144), Austin Chung (150), Gianni Maldonado (157), Jace Brownlow (175), Connor Hackett (190), and Jeb Lemmond (215) all won their matches by pin.
“I am happy for the win and getting through and proud of the guys that competed for us,” Walker said.
Jet Griffis (126) and Jaden Gerena (165) each earned wins in the dual for the Gators.
The win sets up a meeting with Fleming Island in the state semifinals - a rematch of last year’s state duals final.
“It’s going to come down to the coin flip and bonus points,” Walker said. “That’s how those duals usually go - the coin flip and bonus points and we need to get more than they do.”
The semifinals take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Kissimmee Osceola High School. Tickets can be purchased here.
Lake Gibson 72, Land O'Lakes 9
285: Leyland Callahan (LG) by FF; 106: Aadyn Gruver (LG) p. Brayden Austin (LOL) 1:45; 113: Tyler White (LG) p. Anthony Zupo (LOL) 1:24; 120: Elijah Lowe (LG) p. Clay Henderson (LOL) 0:40; 126: Jet Griffis (LOL) dec. Roberto DeJesus (LG) 9-8; 132: Christian Fretwell (LG) p. Charles Griffis (LOL) 2:54; 138: Noah Gregory (LG) p. Logan Tedeschi (LOL) 0:57; 144: LeAndre Campbell (LG) p. Brandon Austin (LOL) 2:23; 150: Austin Chung (LG) p. Leomany Casado (LOL) 4:45; 157: Gianni Maldonado (LG) p. Wyatt Green (LOL) 2:31; 165: Jaden Gerena (LOL) p. Linkin Burgett (LG) 2:59; 175: Jace Brownlow (LG) p. Jolexis Rodriguez (LOL) 1:10; 190: Connor Hackett (LG) p. Daniel Recla (LOL) 1:44; 215: Jeb Lemmond (LG) p. Ernst Lacrete (LOL) 0:17.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. After learning and competing in the sport as a kid growing up in Ohio, he started covering Florida high school wrestling in 2004 and formed Kabra Wrestling in the summer of 2021.
