Surprise win propels Fort Pierce Central to state semifinals

BY BRANT PARSONS — With a starter out due to illness, Fort Pierce Central looked to its girls team for a replacement in its 3A-3 region duals final with Wellington.

Senior Brittney Vincens got the call at 113 pounds and her win was part of the difference in the Cobra’s 34-30 win.

Vincens’ match at 113 did not start off well with Wellington’s Mark Bonfante building an 8-3 lead in the third period before she began her comeback.

Vincens pulled the match close with a stunning reversal with nearfall points that brought the match to 8-7.

After Bonfante scored an escape, Vincens needed a takedown in the final seconds to force overtime. She did better than that.

Vincens would earn the takedown with back points as the clock expired to win 11-9. She scored nine points in the third period to get the win.

“That’s one of the biggest wins of my lifetime,” head coach Roger Allcroft said. “I tell her everyday that the legs feed the wolf and we train hard and put pressure on everybody.”

At the time it gave Fort Pierce Central a 31-15 lead with four matches to go.

That lead was built by wins from JT Apicella (152), Colin Madden (170), Aiden Madden (182), Malankov Daceus (195), Hernan Ortiz (220), and Alaq Dowd-Grant (285).

Wellington had gotten wins from Randy Lancaster (145), Mac Andrews (160), and Cameron Gibson (106).

The Vincens win certainly held off a Wolverine comeback as they would win three of the final four matches to get it close.

Sam Marvel (120), Evan Pena (132), and Mario Trigazis (138) scored wins for Wellington but it was not enough as Daniel Echeverria’s 2-1 win over James Kosza at 126 pounds sealed the win.

“They did their job and we train to win and we do the best we can with what we have every single day,” Allcroft said.

Fort Pierce Central will face Kissimmee Osceola in the state semifinals on Saturday.

“We’re going to line up and wrestle with heart and determination and hopefully some skill,” Allcroft said.

Fort Pierce Central 34, Wellington 30

106: Cameron Gibson (W) p. Myles Henkel (FTPC) 0:59; 113: Brittney Vincens (FTPC) dec. Mark Bonfante (W) 11-9; 120: Sam Marvel (W) by FF; 126: Daniel Echeverria (FTPC) dec. James Kosza (W) 2-1; 132: Evan Pena (W) p. Ashton Hager (FTPC) 2:00; 138: Mario Trigazis (W) dec. Jayden Romanello (FTPC) 9-5; 145: Randy Lancaster (W) dec. Damion Allison (FTPC) 2-1; 152: JT Apicella (FTPC) p. Franco Rivas (W) 2:30; 160: Mac Andrews (W) p. Bryan Malara (FTPC) 3:27; 170: Colin Madden (FTPC) dec. RJ Caullett (W) 3-2; 182: Aidan Madden (FTPC) dec. Sebastian Perez (W) 7-2; 195: Malankov Daceus (FTPC) maj. Dwayne Shaw (W) 12-4; 220: Hernan Ortiz (FTPC) p. Nicholas Lewis (W) 0:18; 285: Alaq Dowd-Grant (FTPC) p. Roman Davilla (W) 0:49.