Few in OBC will challenge Osceola

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
Osceola County sent more than 20 wrestlers to the state tournaments last year as the area proved to be one of the most competitive in Florida.
Every team in the county has wrestlers capable of making the state meet, but the strongest and deepest team resides at Osceola High, where the Kowboys were the Class 3A state runners-up last season.

Celebration
Coach Vic Lorenzano continues to build a strong program with the Storm in his third season.
One of the top wrestlers in the county, senior J.J. Francis, returns and is a contender for the Class 2A 152-pound championship, Lorenzano said.
“He went to Puerto Rico for an international tournament where he won four matches and placed third,” the coach said. “His summer weight training has set the standard for the team.”
Also back is one of the county’s top heavyweights, senior Alvaro Norena. Norena won two matches at last year’s state tournament.
“He had a tremendous (summer) camp in Iowa,” Lorenzano said.
Seniors Tyler Phelan (160), Brandon Guerrero (195/220) and Everett Suarez (138) should have good seasons, Lorenzano said, and junior Skylar Lerner (145) may be a surprise this season.
Junior David Atkins (126) returns after missing his sophomore season, and junior Andy Sevilla, a transfer from North Carolina, competes at 171.
Newcomers include Nigel Jolliffie (106) and Wilfredo Colon (113), and sophomore Jeff Englehart (138) will vie for varsity mat time along with seniors Alex Johnson (132) and Mark Fam (145).
Junior Joe Pineda (220) and freshmen Dustin Hesse (106) and Austin Thiecke (120) will compete, along with Derek Dunning (152/160).
Two more freshmen, Christian Lindleblast (182) and Anthony Dicarlo (138) also will challenge, Lorenzano said.
Gateway
Coach Jon Smorin is enthusiastic about the continued growth of the Panthers program,
“We hope to have a full lineup for the first time in three years,” he said.
Led by junior Alex Velez, sixth at 112 the Class 3A state meet last year, and Christian Vasquez, a 152-pound junior who was eighth at state, the team should be improved, Smorin said.
Also back are seniors Bryan Rosa (126) and Giovanni Sanchez (138), and sophomore Austin Seward (132).
“We’re excited about all of our young kids. A good group of freshmen came out this year, so hopefully they’ll keep working hard and we’ll see the fruit of their hard work a little this year and in the coming years,” Smorin said.
Osceola remains the team to beat in the district and conference, he said.
“We’ve got a ton of work to do, but the wheel is moving forward instead of staying still.”
Liberty
Coach Chris Kelly saw his team win its first Orange Belt Conference championship last season and send six wrestlers to the Class 2A state tournament.
Returning from that team is senior Aric Fernandez, fourth at the state meet last season. He competes at 182 pounds.
Also returning is another state qualifier, senior Robert Torres (106/113).
Kelly said junior Tuto Eyiango (132) and sophomore Jeremy Fernandez (145) also are poised to have good seasons.
“Our team is very young and is in a rebuilding year where over half of the lineup has no previous varsity experience,” Kelly said. “We will struggle early in the season, but will make a lot of progress as the year goes on. Our goal is simply to get better every single day.”
Harmony
Coach Chris Todd begins his eighth season and has a young team after losing six regional qualifiers to graduation or transfer.
“But, we have some great kids who are looking to step up,” he said.
Seniors Rey Almote, Sean Speer and Tanner Williams all drilled over the summer at an intensive camp at the University of Maryland, along with juniors Chris Furber, Andrew Davis and Robert Esford.
Todd said Coach Eddie Specht has worked with the team’s younger wrestlers, such as freshmen Brandon Torre, Alex Muralles and Griffin Kisamore, to prepare them for high school competition.
“We want to improve upon our OBC standing and improve our district standing,” Todd said. “We would also like to get two or three of our wrestlers to the state tournament and place this year.”
Harmony will sponsor its 5th Annual Longhorn Christmas Tournament, sponsored by the U.S. Marines, Friday and Saturday.
Poinciana
Coach Adam Hopman said a good group of seniors will lead his team in District A-7 competition.
Michael Shephard (126), Juan Rodriguez (170), Jerry Bazilme (132) and Brandon Harris (195), all seniors, and junior O’neal Thomas (182) are among the team’s top wrestlers, Hopman said.
St. Cloud
Coach Matt Milton’s squad has several talented wrestlers including state-ranked Ryan Finneran (145), Joe McGinley (113) and Kyle Glunt (170).
The Bulldogs host the 32-team Bulldog Brawl next weekend. Celebration and Gateway are among the participants.