By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

After finishing second at its Danny Byron Duals, the Osceola High wrestling team travels to Palm Harbor University today for a dual match.

The Kowboys won six matches at the Byron Duals last weekend before losing to Archer High from Georgia, 39-22, in the championship match.

Archer is ranked No. 1 in Georgia.

Fox Baldwin, one of several Kowboys unbeaten at the Duals, won his 250th career varsity match while winning at 145 pounds. Baldwin is 17-0 with 14 pins.

Tyler Schulz (106), Cody Newsom (126), Alex Tilford (132), Paul Zupofska (152), Jhalen Flanders (182),  Joseph Pereria (160) and Chris Pagan (195) all went undefeated.

Flanders (14-0) and Pagan (16-0) are unbeaten for the season. Deven Acevedo (106, 10-1) and Ariel Dominguez (106, 14-1) had their first losses at the Byron Duals.

Osceola defeated Dunedin (68-10), Oviedo (76-0), Olympia (58-9), Jensen Beach (64-9) and Camden County, Ga. (37-25). Camden County is No. 2 in Georgia.

The Kowboys next compete at the South Dade Duals Dec. 21-22 before returning to OHS to host the first Knockout Christmas Tournament when 25 teams, including state champions Lake Highland Prep, Springstead and Holy Innocents High from Georgia. State runners-up Cleveland, Tenn., Lake Gibson and South Dade also will compete.

Celebration returns to the mat after a two-week break and will host its Varsity Duals at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Coach Vic Lorenzano said his team is learning to cope with  injuries and inexperience, but it is improving.

Freshmen Hank Woodward (106), James Allen (160), Mason Manning (145), Quinn Bohner (132) and Jared Liebler are among those who have been impressive early in the season.

Sophomores Derek Dunning (160) and Cristiham Ramirez have performed well along with juniors Patrick Velez (182) and Jon Padilla (285), Lorenzano said.

Gateway wrestlers performed well at Brandon’s Graves tournament last weekend, placing sixth, as Alex Velez defeated St. Thomas Aquinas wrestler Alex Uhre while placing second. Christian Vazquez also reached the finals, where he fell to Brandon’s Jacob Haydock.

Woodly Deseme also had an excellent tournament, placing third with a win over Lake Highland’s Carter Shipley, 9-1.

Three more Panthers were fourth and another was fifth.

Eight of nine Panthers placed fifth or better at the tournament.

“We improved between weeks and hopefully we can get a few more kids healed up and have an improved showing at Dr. Phillips this weekend,” Coach Jon Smorin said.

Harmony, which will host its 16-team duals Christmas Tournament presented by the U.S. Marines Dec. 21-22 (Admission $5 per day), tunes up with a trip to powerhouse Palmetto Ridge’s Chase Life Classic this weekend.

“It should be a tough tournament for our kids and a good indicator to see where we are at,” Coach Chris Todd said.

The Longhorns were seventh at Gateway’s Troy Smith Duals two weeks ago, losing two matches by a total of five points.

“We are trying to get our guys into the right weight classes to get the lineup we will be the most successful,” Todd said. “Some of our football players are just getting back into the swing of wrestling, so I expect them to do better as the season progresses.

At Okeechobee last week, Chase Lord was first, Richard Rodriguez was second, and Zac German, Jeremy Beesley and Alex Calderon placed third.

Poinciana will compete at the Celebration tournament this weekend.