Douglas seniors complete four-year goal | Tuesday recap
Douglas advanced all 14 wrestlers to next weekend’s region. (Photo courtesy of Douglas wrestling)
BY BRANT PARSONS — When the current Douglas senior class started out as freshman, they set a goal to win a team district title in all four years.
On Wednesday, the Eagles realized that goal, winning the 3A-13 district title for the fourth consecutive season.
“It was something they always envisioned when they were freshmen and were mentored by the juniors and seniors,” Douglas coach Kenny Gendason said. “They had to make sure they worked with and mentored the younger wrestlers to make it happen.”
They needed everyone on the team to make it happen as the Eagles qualified all 14 wrestlers to region tournament and finished with 235.5 points, 31 more than runner-up Coral Springs.
“When it's only five teams in the district, there are no guarantees, especially with teams like Coral Springs that can put out an equally competitive team and it showed,” Gendason said. Even teams like Fort Lauderdale, Monarch, and Taravella have talented up-and-coming wrestlers. Having all 14 qualify and all 14 placing in the top three was the difference in the end.”
Rocco Duygulu (113), David Leiva (126), James Messmer (132), and Keegan Lake (165) won district titles for Douglas.
The win was the fourth for Leiva, who improved to 40-0 on the season.
“David has meant a lot to the program,” Gendason said. “He is a true testament of not only being a champion, but he had to evolve over the years into a wrestler to get to the level he is at now.”
Leiva will be looking to reach his first region final next weekend in the “Region of Doom.” Each year, he has had to wrestle the eventual state champion in the region semifinals.
“Winning a fourth district title is a big accomplishment, but I know for David he is looking at the bigger picture,” Gendason said. “He never has been to the region or state finals and they is what he is focused on.”
Also advancing to the region finals for Douglas was Bryce Siddens (106), Arav Shintre (120), Santiago Caro (138), Jeremy Lopez (144), Jacob Belk (150), Joshua Lopez (157), Lucas Sigueira (175), Aaron Porudominsky (190), Dante Reynolds (215), and Jackson Zajkowski (285).
Coral Springs had four wrestlers earn titles with Shai Keery (157), Jaylan Brown (175), J`vier Romeus (190), and Jerrod Samuels (215) getting first place.
Other champions were Monarch’s Tyler Metellus (106) and Diddier Castillo Carrillo (285), Fort Lauderdale’s Julio Cruz (120), and Taravella’s Enzo Amado (138), Victor Dixon (144), and Jacob Rosen (150).
Sebastian River won the school’s first district title in 20 years on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Sebastian River wrestling)
Sebastian River wins first district title since 2005
For the first time in two decades, Sebastian River is a district champion.
The Sharks won the team title in 2A-13, scoring 243.5 to win the school’s first district crown since 2005.
“It was long overdue,” Sebastian River coach Thomas Maul said.
Cameron Gill (113), Ezekiel Guerrero (120), Nikhil Guerrero (138), Kaden Wheeler (144), Lucas Boecker (150), and Phineas Weatherly (165) brought home individual crowns for Sebastian River.
“Nikhil, Phineas, and Kaden getting pins in their finals matches was a huge difference,” Maul said. “Also, Lucas Boecker keeping a cool head to win over Jake Kriegsman by one point in overtime.”
Sebastian River also advanced 12 of its 14 wrestlers to the region tournament.
“Our freshmen and sophomores earned 2nd, 3rd and 4th places to not only boost the team standing, but also made us look forward to next year,” Maul said.
Heritage finished in second place in the team race, scoring 221 points, 22.5 behind the Sharks.
The Panthers finished with four district champions, Grayson Schmeichel (132), Brendon Whiting (157), Harper Noel (215), and Tyquez Smith (285).
The other individual champions were Rockledge’s Vladmimir Drown (106), Satellite’s Gabriel MacVittie (126), Bayside’s Justice Hield (175) and Gary Bradley (190).
Click here for complete results from 2A-13 (PDF)
Three-peat for Suwannee
Suwannee advanced all 14 wrestlers to the region round while winning its third straight 1A-2 district title.
The Bulldogs outscored Florida High 236.5-212 to win the title and finished with six individual district champions.
Eli Jolicoeur (106), Justin Contreras (120), Marshall White (157), Torynn Johns (165), Landon Slater (190), and Holden Corbin (285) all won district titles for Suwannee.
The runner-up Seminoles also had six district champions with John Cheney (113), Sterling Hollingsworth (126), Jasper Croom (132), Keaton Ellis (144), Terence Hinson (150), and Jordan Haigler (175) finishing atop the podium.
Wakulla’s Colt Sanders (138) and Blake Barodte (215) both won titles. Sanders scored one of the biggest upsets, topping Liberty County’s Jay Brown 8-5 in the final.
On Today’s Schedule
3A-3: at Timber Creek, 1:30 p.m.
3A-14: at West Broward, 10 a.m.
3A-15: at Coral Park, 11 a.m.
2A-1: at Choctawhatchee, 9 a.m.
2A-5: at River Ridge, 2 p.m.
2A-16: at Somerset, 3 p.m.
1A-3: at Yulee, 10 a.m.
1A-4: at Episcopal, 10 a.m.
1A-5: at Crystal River, 12 p.m.
1A-6: at Weeki Wachee, 1:30 p.m.
1A-9: at Anclote, 1 p.m.
1A-10: at Robinson, 4 p.m.
1A-11: at Bayshore, 10:30 a.m.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
