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Harmony’s Aiden Poe (bottom) puts the finishing touches on an opponent, one of three pins he recorded in winning the 113-pound district championship. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDIE HINMAN/HARMONY WRESTLING
The resurgence of the Harmony wrestling team continued on Saturday, as the Longhorns won five weight classes and advanced all 14 of their wrestlers in winning the Class 2A, District 5 Championship.
Harmony scored 253 points and edged Winter Springs (217.5) for the team title. Winter Springs actually had more champions – winning six weight classes – but only had three second place finishes and a third.
The Longhorns, which ended Osceola’s decade-plus long string as Orange Belt Conference championships last week, had eight seconds and a third to go with their five champions. The eight second place finishes is what gave the Longhorns enough points to clinch the district crown.
“We got 13 to the finals, which really exceeded my expectations,” Harmony Head Coach Vic Lorenzano said. “We had five champions, but I think we could have had a few more. The great thing is those who came up short all advanced, so they will have their chances next week at regionals.”
Harmony’s titles came from Aiden Poe (113), Josh McNichols (126), Melvin Ewen (138), Marshall Smith (182) and Jaun Gomez (195).
Poe, who has lost just twice this season in 40 matches, breezed through the tournament with three straight pins. McNichols (36-9 on the season) also recorded three pins in the tournament.
Liberty (72.5), Poinciana (64), and Gateway (52) also participated in the tournament, finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively. Edgewater (47) and South Lake (44) rounded out the scoring in the seven team district race.
William Vallach (106) took home an individual championship for the Chargers. Five other Liberty wrestlers also placed in the top four to advance to next week’s regional.
Poinciana posted two champions in the event with Zayveon Mitchell capturing a title at 120 and Quaylen Hill winning at 285. One other Eagles’ wrestler, Levi Lewis (126), also advanced with a third place finish.
Gateway is sending four to the regionals, including former football stars Philip Bangura, who finished third at 170-pounds, and Kyjaun Allen, who took third in the 185 pound class.
The road for Harmony and other county schools in Class 2A gets a lot rougher next week. The Region 2 tournament is scheduled for Brandon High School and includes state powers Lake Gibson, Tampa Jesuit and host Brandon. Those teams finished first, second and fifth in last year’s state championship tournament.
“Individually this regional may not have the best team in the state, but it certainly has the most depth. We’re talking a regional that had the state champion, state runner-up and the fifth place team that had won 18 consecutive state championships prior to last year,” Lorenzano said. “It’s the toughest regional in the state across all classes and is going to be a tremendous challenge to our kids.”
With the top four wrestlers in each weight class advancing to states, Lorenzano says realistically, “we’re hoping to get 5-8 wrestlers through.”
