Wrestlers hit the mat for districts

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Wrestlers hit the mat for districts

Sports

Thursday, 04 February 2010 01:56

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
District wrestling tournaments begin Friday when Osceola High hosts the 3A-5 meet starting at 2 p.m.
The Kowboys, defending state champions, are favored against Bayside, Lakeland, Gateway, Palm Bay and George Jenkins.
Four local squads compete at the 2A-5 tournament at Celebration Saturday at 11 a.m., where powerhouse Oviedo is the favorite against Harmony, St.. Cloud, Liberty, Edgewater, East River and the Storm.
Poinciana travels to Lakeland Seth McKeel Saturday at 11 a.m. for the A-7 tournament.
Osceola Coach Jim Bird said winning a district team championship is a goal, but it is more important to advance his wrestlers to next week’s regional meet at Brandon.
“We think we can get all 14 through,” Bird said.
The top four in each weight class advance.
The Kowboys, winners at several elite tournaments this season, boast three state champions in Levi Clemons (171), Joe Locksmith (135) and Pete Baldwin (140, 2008). Gabriel Bird (152) is unbeaten and won the Powerade championship in Pennsylvania over the holidays.
Harmony has enjoyed success this season and placed second behind OHS at the Bishop Moore Hutchins tournament two weeks ago.
Chris Valdez (112) and Chris Grillo (140) are trying for their third straight district titles. Matt Vaughan (135), Ariel Dominguez (103) and Alex Githens (171) are among those with the potential to advance.
“Our goal at districts is simple. We want to get as many of our guys as possible to the regionals. If we do that, the team score will take care of itself,” Coach Chris Todd said. “Oviedo, Liberty, Celebration, St. Cloud and Edgewater all are going to be tough. Our kids know that, and we as coaches know that, but we’ve been preparing for it all season.”
Liberty boasts one of the state’s best at 125 pounds in Felix Betancourt.
St. Cloud’s Frank Cousins (160) is the defending state champion, and heavyweight Josh Chattin is one of the district’s top heavyweights.
Celebration assistant coach Vic Lorenzano said the team should advance seven or eight wrestlers.
“We are peaking at the right time. Some early season losses will hurt our seeds, but we will just have to wrestle above that,” he said.
David Atkins (103), Skylar Lernar (130), J.J. Francis (145), Bryan Leon (215) all are underclassmen who have impressed the coach.
Josh Douglas (119), Curtis Temple (152), Cameron Ward (189) and Martin Rios (135) are juniors who can advance, said Lorenzano.
The regional tournaments are set for Feb. 12-13.