Merritt Island builds early lead, defeats Miramar for second region duals title

BY BRANT PARSONS —No. 6 Merritt Island won the first six duals of the night and rode that wave to a 47-27 win over No. 13 Miramar to win the 2A-4 region duals title.

"We have good technique and just knew that if we made it a wrestling match we'd be in a good position," Merritt Island head coach Grahama Smith said. "We wanted to avoid being put in bad positions."

Judge DeYoung (145), Dylan Quiroga (152), Tre' Driggett (160), Jacob Pitcher (170), Dominick Smith (182), and Seven Tornga (195) all earned wins to help the Mustangs build a 30-0 lead.

After Maxinot Mondesir scored a decision win at 220 pounds, Merritt Island stretched the lead to 41-3 with wins by Gabriel Arnold (285) and Landon Quiroga (106).

In its first region duals final, Miramar kept battling with Dully Brutus (113), Kylan Butler (120), Quinton Brownlee (126), and Famous Nealy (132) all scored wins by fall for Miramar.

The dual was finished off by Keanu Martin getting a pin at 138 pounds.

"You try to prepare and you wrestle important matches before this," Smith said. "You try to see lots of different kids so you're ready for any kind of matchup."

The region title is the second in two years for the Mustangs, who will face Fleming Island on Saturday morning in the state semifinals.

"It's the state tournament and you don't win the state tournament by wrestling easy teams, you win the state tournament by wrestling hard teams," Smith said. "We're mentally prepared, we've wrestled a great schedule and we're ready to out there and scrap."

Merritt Island 47, Miramar 27

106: Landon Quiroga (MI) p. Domonic Charles (M) 1:20; 113: Dully Brutus (M) p. Kaden Barrial (MI) 5:27; 120: Kylan Butler (M) p. Dylan Gill (MI) 3:27; 126: Quinton Brownlee (M) p. Titus Deyoung (MI) 2:51; 132: Famous Nealy (M) p. Kyle Mulley (MI) 2:37; 138: Keanu Martin (MI) p. Deyian Bernot (M) 4:29; 145: Judge M. Deyoung (MI) maj. Emile Morris (M) 8-0; 152: Dylan Quiroga (MI) p. Akintayo Akinlabi (M) 5:01; 160: Tre` Driggett (MI) p. Mallard Mondesir (M) 5:20; 170: Jacob Pitcher (MI) dec. Pierre Simon (M) 11-7; 182: Dominick Smith (MI) maj. Jivari Milton (M) 12-4; 195: Seven Tornga (MI) p. Terrel Joachim (M) 1:20; 220: Maxinot Mondesir (M) dec. Kaleb Ivie (MI) 5-2; 285: Gabriel Arnold (MI) p. David Francis (M) 1:50.