The streak remains alive and moves to 16.
Osceola High School sent three wrestlers to the finals of the FHSAA State Championship, and they all won state titles as Anderson Heap (126 pounds), Cooper Haase (138) and Gunner Holland (160) all stood on top of their respective podiums.
Osceola has now produced at least one state champion for 16 consecutive years.
“Absolutely ecstatic with the performances of our guys tonight,” Coach Jim Bird said. “Anderson lost a tough one in the finals last year and came back in big way tonight. Cooper Haase is just a master technician. He wants to wrestle the best and no one works harder at studying his opponents. Gunner is just Gunner. He’s tenacious and loves the big stage. He just doesn’t believe he is going to lose. For him not to give up a point in the tournament with that bracket was an incredible achievement.”
Heap, who moved to 50-5 on the season, dominated his final against Gonzalez. After the first period ended in a 2-2 tie, Heap quickly turned him for a three-point near fall and a 5-2 lead. Thirty seconds later, he turned him again – this time pinning him.
It was a rematch for Heap, who beat Gonzalez, 10-4, in the Region 2 match a week earlier. After losing in the 113-pound finals a year earlier, Heap said he was confident but focused for the championship match.
“Obviously when you wrestle someone you have beaten before you feel good about your chances,” Heap said. “But I remember what it felt like losing in the finals last year and it was something I did not want to experience again.”
The Kowboys did not have to wait long to have a second wrestler take a title. Junior Cooper Haase (58-3) won his third one by pinning Riverview’s Nikolas Hernandez in the second period of the 138 final. Like Heap’s match, it was a rematch of the Region 2 Final. Haase said his strategy was to work takedowns and allow escapes, but in the second period Hernandez got a reversal to tie the match 4-4.
“It got my attention,” Haase said. “After I got the escape and takedown, we got into a scramble and I was able to hit the half, turn him and get the pin.”
Although it was his third state championship, Haase was more excited about Heap’s win. “Man was I fired up when I got see my training partner win,” Haase said. “He’s my brother and we keep pushing each other to be the best we can be.”
Holland (46-10) made it 3-for-3 when he defeated Kamdon Harrison in the 160 final, 3-0. Holland won the state title at 152 last year as a freshman and, despite having three wrestlers in his bracket who had wins over him this year, Holland went through the tournament without allowing a point in four matches.
Holland said focus and working to get better each week was the key.
“We wrestle tough competition and tough tournaments all year and to tell the truth it always seems to take some time for me to get from football to wrestling shape,” the sophomore said. “I may lose a few during the season, but I try to use that as a learning experience. I really believe when the state tournament starts I am going to be the best in my class.”
Heap becomes the 17th different Osceola wrestler to win a state title during the streak. Those 17 have accounted for 32 state championships. “We have a lot of history and I’m pretty excited to have all three of those guys coming back,” Bird added.
With 106.5 points, Osceola finished fourth in the Class 3A team race – also marking a 16th straight top six team finish in the state tournament.
Harmony ended up fifth with 72 points; while South Dade with two champions and 10 placers easily defended their 3A state team championship with 171.5 points.
Two other county wrestlers competed for state titles. In the Class 3A, 220-pound final, Harmony’s Nelson Toro (27-2) dropped a 14-3 decision to South Dade’s Sawyer Bartelt, while Liberty’s Brainys Robles (45-3) was pinned by Kathleen’s Jeremiah Jackson in the finals.
Although the Longhorns are still looking for their second individual state champion since Sawyer Root won five years ago, Coach Victor Lorenzano said his team represented the school well during the state tournament.
“I think as a coach you always have higher expectations, but we did a lot of good things this week. Ten to the tournament, four on the podium, and a top five team finish is a good showing. We’re a young team and will have six of these guys back next year so we will continue to work and get better.”
A total of 19 boys’ wrestlers from Osceola County qualified for the state championship, and 13 earned all-state honors (top seven in their weight class).
Celebration’s Chase McBroom lost his first match at 152 but rallied for three straight wins before finishing sixth. Osceola’s Melvin Ewen (33-17) and George Duncan (20-7) were sixth at 145 and 170.
Harmony saw four wrestlers reach the podium. J.C. McNichols (50-3) capped a fine season by finishing fourth at 138. He won his first two matches before dropping a semifinal decision to Haase, then was pinned in the third place match.
Rey Ortiz (126) finished fifth at and Caden Gayle (25-10) placed 7th at 285.
Eleven girls represented Osceola County in the first-ever FHSAA State Girls Tournament. Celebration’s Hayeni Costa (20-2) was the highest county finisher, making the finals at 170 where she was pinned by Mosely’s Henlee Haynes. Gateway placed two wrestlers on the podium as Lily Yambor (33-4) took fourth place at 170 and Emiliana Martinez (18-7) was sixth. Osceola’s Kellianna Mack (31-16) was fifth in the 125-pound division.
Freedom High of Orlando sent 10 to state and ran away with the team title (142 points). Gateway (37) was 12th, Celebration (23) was 27th and Osceola (22) placed 32nd out of 122 schools.
