Enzo Gamba rides the waves to a state wrestling title
BY BRANT PARSONS — Fernandina Beach state champion Enzo Gamba found his mental strength for wrestling in a unique place - a surfboard.
To hear the undefeated Class 1A champion at 157 pounds say it, it makes complete sense.
“I think surfing has been huge for me,” Gamba said. “Just being out there, even though it’s very beautiful, it’s a very violent situation and being able to stay calm in those challenging and even life-threatening situations really built up my mental state for matches.”
“I know no matter how hard it gets, I have to do what I have to do to survive and even ride the wave, which in the match it’s winning.”
The surfing must have helped the Pirates senior, who didn’t suffer a loss all season while going 54-0 and winning the FHSAA state title.
It punctuated a career that saw Gamba win four region titles and place at the state tournament the last three years after reaching the blood round as a freshman.
“I’d been there (state) three times before,” Gamba said. “The goal had always been to win, but I hadn’t always been the best wrestler there. So being there this year, and being ranked number one, I just knew that this was my year and I can do it.”
And do it he did.
Gamba won his first three matches at the state tournament with bonus point wins. After a 16-0 technical fall to open the weekend, he earned a pin in his quarterfinal match.
He easily controlled his semifinal match for a major decision win and then rallied in the finals match to win 8-4. He trailed 3-1 in the second period before scoring a reversal and then exposing his opponent to the mat for two more points.
A takedown in the third secured the win and ended the long journey to a title for Gamba.
“It was pretty crazy for the first few days,” Gamba said. “It didn’t feel real and I didn’t believe that it happened because I’ve just been working for it for so long — and then one day I woke up and saw my medal just hanging next to me bed and I realized that I really did it.”
Gamba’s future plans include studying at the University of Florida and keeping involved in the sport through their club team.
But first he has something else to take care of.
Next week he’s heading to Costa Rica — to surf.
