By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Several local wrestlers won championships at the recent USA state championships at Osceola Heritage Park.

Harmony High’s Ariel Dominguez won first in both Greco and freestyle at junior 105 pounds.

“Ariel is really putting in the hard work necessary to be on top of the podium next February in Lakeland (at the state tournament),” Eddie Specht, the Harmony Hook ‘Em wrestling club coach said.

Dominguez was the state runner-up as a freshman last season.

Three Osceola Attack Wrestling Club members won championships: Ben Cruz in both Greco and freestyle at 215 cadet; Maleke Hines, 65 novice freestyle and Chris Pagan, 189 junior freestyle.

Gateway High’s Christian Vazquez won cadet 171 freestyle with a pair of first-period pins. Vazquez will be among several wrestlers from Osceola County competing at the Cadet National Duals next month at Daytona Beach for Team Florida. He and teammate Alex Velez also will go to the National Championships at Fargo, N.D., in July.

Several Harmony wrestlers placed: Jeremy Beesley, third at 145 cadet Greco and second in freestyle; Brenten Cline, fourth at 112 cadet freestyle and Zac German, second at cadet 135 freestyle.

“Jeremy wasn’t in the varsity lineup for us (last season) but came out and put in a great effort after suffering a knee injury in spring football,” Specht said. “I’m proud of these guys, who are all underclassmen.”

Osceola’s George Duncan was third at 60 bantam freestyle and Kenny Martin was third at 160 junior freestyle. Hines was second in Greco style.

Celebration’s J.J. Francis placed third at 152 Greco. Alvaro Noreno was third in 285 Greco and freestyle, and Josh Douglas was third at 125 freestyle and fourth in Greco.

Gateway’s Austin Seward was second at cadet 140 to state champion Fox Baldwin.

Velez also placed second at junior 119 in a close match, 6-5, to state runner-up Skylar Moody of Lake Gibson, said Gateway Coach Jon Smorin.