By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The Osceola Kowboys opened the wrestling regular season by winning five matches and the championship of its Marvin Haven Duals  Saturday at the Kowboys gym.

Osceola defeated No. 5 Class 2A Palm Bay (41-23) for the championship. Other victories came against No. 13 Class 2A Viera, South Fort Myers, Deltona and Sebring.

Also Saturday, Celebration wrestlers competed at the Lake Brantley Duals, where the team split four  matches.

Eight Osceola wrestlers were unbeaten, including 2008 Class 3A state champion Pete Baldwin (5-0) at 140 pounds, Trevor Darnell (5-0), Tim Locksmith (5-0), Chris Pagan (5-0), Alex Rivera (5-0), Paul Zupofksa (5-0), Ben Cruz (4-0) and Kenny Martin (4-0).

Baldwin, with five falls, brought his career total to 202, within one of tying Justin Zeerip’s (Hesperia High, Michigan) 2007 national record.

Darnell also had five falls.

Locksmith and Rivera each won matches against wrestlers ranked among the state’s top 10 in Class 2A. Osceola wrestlers compiled a combined 56-11 record and recorded 37 pins.

The Kowboys, who defeated No. 6 Class 3A Dr. Phillips in the preseason classic, next compete Friday at the Cougar Invitational at Plant City Durant High.

Celebration’s Josh Daniels (140, 4-0), Skylar Lerner (135, 4-0), Alvaro Norena (285) and Brandon Harris (215, 2-0) were unbeaten at Lake Brantley, while Cameron Ward (189) went 3-1.

Norena, who is a junior wrestling for the first time, was named the Storm Wrestler of the Week by Coach Vic Lorenzano for his performance.

“He trained hard all spring and summer on the mat and in the weight room, and had a terrific performance at the Iowa training camp,” Lorenzano said.