Jensen Beach battles through adversity, repeats as state champions
BY BRANT PARSONS — After addressing his team following Jensen Beach’s 57-12 win over Zephyrhills Christian in the Class 1 state dual final, Falcons coach Tom McMath was visibly moved.
He knew what the team had been through to get to that moment.
“The injuries and sicknesses that we’ve gone through the last three weeks has been unbelievable,” McMath said. “And it didn’t stop them.”
Despite the issues, Jensen Beach seemingly improved each match.
After a depleted line-up earned the trip to Kissimmee with a 41-30 win over Cardinal Gibbons almost two weeks ago, the Falcons topped No. 3 Mater Lakes 42-25 and never slowed down.
On Saturday night, Jensen Beach won 10 of the 12 contested bouts against a red-hot Zephyrhills Christian side to secure the repeat.
“It’s better when you earn it and go through adversity”, Jensen Beach senior Jewell Williams said. "We have guys who have been sick and guys who were hurt and we all stuck together.”
Following Nate Sopotnick’s forfeit win at 195 pounds for Jensen Beach, Zephyrhills Christian picked up a couple wins with Elijah Austin battling to a 7-6 win at 220 and Joel Thompson earning the forfeit at 285.
Then the Falcons’ rally came.
Jensen Beach won the next five matches with Ben Norris (106) and Charlie Armstrong (132) bookending decision wins around pins from Gian Ortiz (113), Sebastian Degenarro (120), and Ryan Mooney (126).
Landen Holley picked up a win for the Warriors at 138 pounds before the Falcons brought the title home in style.
Williams (145), Dylan Fox (152), Colten Byrd (160), Luke Krakoff (170), and Malachi Harriel (182) finished off the day with wins for Jensen Beach.
“It’s a great feeling to have your team on your back while you compete,” Williams said. “When you’re fighting for something it is way better and to have a team that is supportive is everything.”
Despite the disappointment of the championship match loss, Zephyrhills Christian made a mark this weekend.
On Friday, the Warriors beat No. 2 First Baptist-Naples and then advanced to the state title match with a semifinals win over No. 7 Hernando.
“I knew at the beginning of the year what we have, I guess now everybody knows too,” Zephyrhills Christian coach Tim Maple said. “This has been a great experience for the kids we got some good matchups tonight and we got to see some of the best guys in Class 1A and now we know what to work on.”
Now Jensen Beach will look to complete a second double with the IBT season now picking up with just three weeks to go until the postseason.
“We’re going to enjoy this for a couple days,” McMath said. “We know it’s a long season and we have some guys banged up so we can take some time to get ready.”
Final
Jensen Beach 57, Zephyrhills Christian 12
195: Nate Sopotnick (JB) by FF; 220: Elijah Austin (ZCH) dec. Tobby Rooney (JB) 7-6; 285: Joel Thompson (ZCH) by FF; 106: Ben Norris (JB) dec. Reid Yakes (ZCH) 11-5; 113: Gian Ortiz (JB) p. Izak Rodriguez (ZCH) 0:46; 120: Sebastian Degennaro (JB) p. Nevin Hayes (ZCH) 0:59; 126: Ryan Mooney (JB) p. Kyle Gallo (ZCH) 3:50; 132: Charlie Armstrong (JB) dec. Talon Maple (ZCH) 5-1; 138: Landen Holley (ZCH) dec. Mikel Pierce-Walker (JB) 7-1; 145: Jewell Williams (JB) tech. Aiden Hutchins (ZCH) 22-5; 152: Dylan Fox (JB) maj. Javier Lopez (ZCH) 10-0; 160: Colten Byrd (JB) p. Gavin Alexander (ZCH) 2:41; 170: Luke Krakoff (JB) p. Jeremiah Chavis (ZCH) 1:56; 182: Malachi Harriel (JB) p. Ashton Liddington (ZCH) 3:37.
Semifinals
Jensen Beach 49, Suwannee 19
106: Ben Norris (JB) dec. Eli Jolicoeur (S) 8-3; 113: Justin Contreras (S) p. Gian Ortiz (JB) 3:09; 120: Sebastian Degennaro (JB) tech. Topher Pearson (S) 15-0; 126: Ryan Mooney (JB) maj. Brody Boehm (S) 14-5; 132: Charlie Armstrong (JB) p. jonathan gonzalez (S) 0:59; 138: Mikel Pierce-Walker (JB) p. Ayden Kirby (S) 5:15; 145: Jewell Williams (JB) dec. Marshall White (S) 12-8; 152: Dylan Fox (JB) p. Austin McKinney (S) 4:49; 160: Austin Howard (S) maj. Colten Byrd (JB) 8-0; 170: Dustin Wood (S) dec. Luke Krakoff (JB) 6-5; 182: Malachi Harriel (JB) maj. Benjamin Lewis (S) 19-10; 195: Nate Sopotnick (JB) p. Torynn Johns (S) 0:55; 220: Tobby Rooney (JB) p. Sam Ballard (S) 0:25; 285: Holden Corbin (S) p. Blake Elder (JB) 3:41.
Zephyrhills Christian 45, Hernando 32
106: Reid Yakes (ZCH) p. Savannah Valle (H) 1:01; 113: Kyle Pearson (H) p. Jordan Lopez (ZCH) 1:45; 120: Jordyn Valle (H) p. Nevin Hayes (ZCH) 4:58; 126: Kyle Gallo (ZCH) p. Vitaliy Boyer (H) 1:59; 132: Talon Maple (ZCH) p. Kenneth Pritz (H) 5:17; 138: Landen Holley (ZCH) dec. Tyler Rodier (H) 10-4; 145: James Gadson (H) p. Aiden Hutchins (ZCH) 5:17; 152: Javier Lopez (ZCH) p. Jackson Dodge (H) 1:21; 160: James Garrett (H) p. Ruben Mareno (ZCH) 3:03; 170: Ashton Liddington (ZCH) p. Julius Eltzroth (H) 3:09; 182: Jeremiah Chavis (ZCH) p. Morgan Johnston (H) 1:52; 195: Jayshawn Nantce (H) by FF; 220: Elijah Austin (ZCH) by FF; 285: Devin Williams (H) dec. Joel Thompson (ZCH) 2-0.
