Somerset completes big finals rally, wins 2A title

Somerset’s Michael Sainz points to the sky after winning his state title on Saturday at the Silver Spurs Arena. (Photo by London Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)

March 8, 2025

KISSIMMEE — BY BRANT PARSONS — Heading into the finals at the FHSAA State Wrestling Championships at Silver Spurs Arena, Somerset trailed Tampa Jesuit by 7.5 points in the Class 2A team title race.

With each team having five finalists competing on Saturday evening, Somerset coach Joe Blasucci knew they needed to win four of the finals and get some help from some old friends.

Somerset did just that to claim the Class 2A state team title. Tristan Sainz (150), Eric Hodge (157), Michael Sainz (175), and Mateo Martinez (190) won titles for the Panthers to go 4-1 on the night and former Somerset wrestlers Jake Austin (Charlotte) and Christian Fretwell (Lake Gibson) won finals matches against Jesuit wrestlers.

“I knew our guys were going to win tonight and I knew that we needed to be in striking distance,” Blasucci said.

Hodge’s 4-3 win over Jesuit’s Kawayran Vazquez in the 157-pound final was the critical piece of the puzzle and then Michael Sainz’ win at 175 pounds clinched the team title.

“I shine under the bright light, that’s all I got to say,” Hodge said. “I just was in my groove and locked in on focusing on the match and not getting overly excited or listening to people in the crowd. I was just worrying about my match.”

Sainz, who came back for his senior season after not wrestling last year, was powered to fulfill a wish his late-friend Jesse had wanted.

“My best friend passed away two years ago and he wrestled and always wanted to see me win a state title,” Sainz said. “So winning this was not only for myself and my team, but for him too. I hope he here’s watching this and just as proud of me now and he was back then.”

Somerset has done this before, last year in the team title race, the Panthers went 7-1 in the finals to rally from a 24-point deficit to win the Class 1A team title.

“It’s peaking them to win this tournament,” Blasucci said. “They came through and every little point counts in this thing is what I’ve learned.”

“We’re ready to do it again next year.”

Kabra Wrestling will be doing features on individual state champions in the coming weeks

Click here for complete results (PDF)

Top 10 teams

1. Somerset 173; 2. Jesuit 166; 3. Lake Gibson 149; 4. Charlotte 79.5; 5. North Ft Myers 77; 6. Jensen Beach 68.5; 7. New Smyrna Beach 65.5; 8. Clay 64.5; 9. Lincoln 62; 10. Middleburg 55.

106

1. Robert Phelan (Lake Gibson); 2. Gary Mendez (Mater Academy); 3. Matthew Schuler (Charlotte); 4. Zach Leto (Jesuit); 5. Cano Austin (Somerset); 6. Jospeh Obstaculo (Dixie Hollins); 7. Vladmimir Drown (Rockledge); 8. Jason Marsala (Chiles).

113

1. Joe Tucker (Lincoln); 2. Eric Bush (Riverdale); 3. Nathan Harvey (Middleburg); 4. Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze); 5. Brock Glover (Jesuit); 6. Michael Maisonet (Mater Academy); 7. Jamie Taylor (Lyman); 8. Nathan Halulko (Martin County).

120

1. Jake Austin (Charlotte); 2. Malachi Ortiz (Jesuit); 3. Jacob Bucci (Clay); 4. Matthew Ireland (Braden River); 5. Gavin Samons (Gulf Breeze); 6. Lucas Barrios (Mater Academy); 7. Tyler White (Lake Gibson); 8. Gavin Calcines (Archbishop McCarthy).

126

1. Sebastian Degennaro (Jensen Beach); 2. Carlos Sainz (Somerset); 3. Kael Seneca (Ft Myers); 4. Noah Scribner (Brandon); 5. Roberto Dejesus (Lake Gibson); 6. Dominic Benjamin (Parrish); 7. Vonte Burke (Clay); 8. Devyn Hicks (New Smyrna Beach).

132

1. Christian Fretwell (Lake Gibson); 2. Reid Yakes (Jesuit); 3. Jayden Frey (River Ridge); 4. Luke Arthur (Manatee); 5. Jaden Weisgal (Brandon); 6. Ayden Balma (Riverdale); 7. Duly Brutus (Miramar); 8. Sebastian Bonachea (Fleming Island).

138

1. Maximus Brady (Mariner); 2. Brady Jackson (Lincoln); 3. Jayden Bowles (Jesuit); 4. Alecsander Rego (Brandon); 5. Preston Thompkins (Riverdale); 6. Ericson Ej Coney (Everglades); 7. Clinton Thompson (South Ft. Myers); 8. Blake Walker (Jensen Beach).

144

1. Jonathan Bruner (New Smyrna Beach); 2. Xavier Albo (Jesuit); 3. Jaiden Oliver (Lake Gibson); 4. Solomon Lucas (North Ft Myers); 5. Jordan Pineda (Felix Varela); 6. Brady Glavin (Clay); 7. Darion Shannon (Somerset); 8. Garrett Jarvis (Niceville).

150

1. Tristan Sainz (Somerset); 2. Laird Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island); 3. Gavin Cohen (Gulf Breeze); 4. Geovani Santos (Martin County); 5. Leandre Campbell (Lake Gibson); 6. Wyatt Nevling (Charlotte); 7. Cameron Popeck (Lyman); 8. Jacob Johnston (Chiles).

157

1. Eric Hodge (Somerset); 2. Kawayran Vazquez (Jesuit); 3. Wyatt Leduc (Middleburg); 4. Izaiah Zaitouni (Osceola Fundamental); 5. Drew Holmquist (Clay); 6. Chase Utley (Port Charlotte); 7. Mason Obama (Matanzas); 8. Jerry Ware (Lake Gibson).

165

1. Draven Mccall (Jesuit); 2. Husam Mustafa (Lake Gibson); 3. Julian Gonzalez (North Ft Myers); 4. Bluny Davilma (Somerset); 5. Malachi Lewis (Niceville); 6. Noah Catala (Miramar); 7. Hector Torres (Pine Ridge); 8. Adonis Severe (North Miami).

175

1. Michael Sainz (Somerset); 2. Nicky Bernard (Palmetto Ridge); 3. Brayden Hogg (Jensen Beach); 4. Landon Martin (Clay); 5. Brayden Kahelin (Lake Gibson); 6. Amir Coston (Auburndale); 7. Kalel Hernandez (North Ft Myers); 8. Amari Caro (Pinellas Park).

190

1. Mateo Martinez (Somerset); 2. Matthew Sinclair (Ft Walton Beach); 3. Brody Switzer (Pasco); 4. Jacob Rodriguez (Winter Springs); 5. Gary Bradley (Bayside); 6. Clark Daley (Mariner); 7. Darrius Montgomery (George S. Middleton); 8. Rolando Ojeda (Edgewater).

215

1. Kyle Nilsson (New Smyrna Beach); 2. Talan Babin (Ponte Vedra); 3. Porter Loveland (Middleburg); 4. Kaleb Johns (Springstead); 5. Jelani Bentley (Tavares); 6. Rome Kendrick (Ft Walton Beach); 7. Freedom Mcdaniel (Braden River); 8. Harper Noel (Heritage).

285

1. Seth Tshiams (North Ft Myers); 2. Jaxon Newton (Charlotte); 3. Ryder Luck (Lincoln); 4. Blake Elder (Jensen Beach); 5. Ari Bentley (Tavares); 6. Kevin Reyes (Fleming Island); 7. Logan Mcalister (Mosley); 8. Abdur Bey (Somerset).

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.