Zephyrhills Christian stuns First Baptist to win region duals title

BY BRANT PARSONS —No. 10 Zephyrhills Christian knew it needed to get the most out of its team to knock-off No. 2 First Baptist-Naples to take the Class 1A-3 region duals title and it got with big wins coming from across the lineup.

Talon Maple's come-from-behind win by fall clinched the 42-35 win but it was a win by Kashaun Christopher that meant just as much.

"Our 195 pounder has only won a couple matches all year and came up big," Zephyrhills Christian coach Tim Maple said. "Then my son (Talon) came in and got the huge pin for us."

The match was a roller-coaster with multiple lead changes along the way.

First Baptist's Michael Kersey (145) started the match off with win by technical fall before Javier Lopez picked up a crucial 5-3 win at 152 pounds for the Warriors.

Gavin Patton (160) and Christian Moder (182) then sandwiched pins around Jeremiah Chavis' win by fall for Zephyrhills Christian.

With First Baptist leading 17-9, two pins the gave Zephyrhills Christian the lead.

Elijah Austin followed up Christoper's win with a pin at 220.

The lead then changed hands again with Caleb Rodriguez won at 285 pounds with a fall.

After Reid Yakes won by decision at 106 pounds, First Baptist got control of the match back with wins by fall from Asher Bacon (113) and Jonathan Moder (120).

After a forfeit at 126 by First Baptist, the match came down to what became the deciding match at 126 pounds.

Maple fell behind before rallying back to tie the bout in the third setting up the clinching moment with 24 seconds left in the match.

"I hoped that the moment was not too big for us but they just came out and fought," Maple said. "I knew at the beginning of the year that they were going to be tough and they've been doing this all year."

Zephyrhills Christian 42, First Baptist Naples 35

106: Reid Yakes (ZC) dec. Everett Stephens (FBN) 6-1; 113: Asher Bacon (FBN) p. Jordan Lopez (ZC) 1:28; 120: Jonathan Moder (FBN) p. Nevin Hayes (ZC) 0:56; 126: Kyle Gallo (ZC) by FF; 132: Talon Maple (ZC) p. Andres DiGrigoli (FBN) 5:36; 138: Landen Holley (ZC) by FF; 145: Michael Kersey (FBN) tech. Aiden Hutchins (ZC) 17-2; 152: Javier Lopez (ZC) dec. Joe Castellone (FBN) 5-3; 160: Gavin Patton (FBN) p. Gavin Alexander (ZC) 2:00; 170: Jeremiah Chavis (ZC) p. Roy Reyes (FBN) 4:51; 182: Christian Moder (FBN) p. Ashton Liddington (ZC) 1:16; 195: Kashaun Christopher (ZC) p. Tyler Fink (FBN) 0:38; 220: Elijah Austin (ZC) p. Connor Koert (FBN) 1:31; 285: Caleb Rodriguez (FBN) p. Joel Thompson (ZC) 1:37.