By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Two Osceola Kowboys wrestlers placed at the Super 32 Challenge for the Belt USA Wrestling tournament at Greensboro, N.C. recently.

Two-time state champion Fox Baldwin placed third and Chris Pagan finished seventh at the preseason tournament, which attracted many of the top prep wrestlers in the nation.

Baldwin’s loss was 4-3 to Tyson Dippery from Pennsylvania in the quarterfinal round. He won eight matches at 138 pounds, two by pin. He beat three state champions and two runners-up.

Pagan (190) won five straight matches to place after losing in the second round.

Also competing for the Kowboys were Ariel Dominguez, who won five matches; Franklyn Lantigua, who won four times; Jhalen Flanders, who posted three wins; Paul Zupofksa, who won twice; and Andrew Conners and Hakeem Butler, who each won one match.

Assistant Coach Rick Tribit said the wrestlers did well in the face of excellent competition.

“All in all, we are very pleased with the progress the boys continue to show. With the very challenging schedule will will face this year, it was important for our guys to see they can compete with the best in the country,” he said.

Osceola and all high school wrestling teams in Florida recently began practice for the regular season and will compete at preseason classics next week.

The regular season begins in two weeks.