Longhorns take another OBC team championship
The Harmony Longhorns registered four individual champions and scored points in all 13 weight classes to win the Orange Belt Conference wrestling championship a third consecutive year, edging rival Osceola 210.5 to 195.5.
The second place Kowboys (195.5 points) sent seven wrestlers to the finals and led with six weight class win, but Harmony’s (210.5) depth picked up enough points to retain the OBC title.
“Fortunately we had enough depth and scored some key points in the wrestlebacks, which put the team over the top,” Harmony Coach Vic Lorenzano said. “We battled hard and had some outstanding matches. Whenever you can say you competed with an outstanding team like Osceola, it’s a good day.”
The finals featured two highly-anticipated matches; Harmony’s Rey Ortiz (23-1) squared off against Osceola’s Anderson Heap (40-5) at 128 pounds, and Osceola defending state champion Cooper Haase (40-2) battled undefeated JC McNichols (39-0) at 140.
Heap easily won an 11-0 major decision, but the Haase/McNichols match matched the hype. McNichols got a takedown in the first period and turned Haase to his back to take an early 5-0 and 7-2 leads. Haase rallied to tie the score in the third, then hit a quick takedown for a 9-8 lead that he managed to hold on to.
“Certainly not the way I wanted to start the match, going down 5-0,” Haase said after the win. “The important thing was not to panic and stay in the moment and focus on one move at a time. At the end, I really didn’t want it to go to overtime and so I gave up the escape with the idea I could get a quick takedown and win the match. did it and was fortunate to hold on for the win.”
“Two great wrestlers in a match that could have gone either way,” Lorenzano said of the showdown. “I would not be surprised to see those two in the state finals in March.”
Harmony champions included Landon Davis (115 pounds), Carlos Estrada (122), and Shawn McAllister (134). Nelson Toro (37-2) clinched the team championship for HHS with a 6-0 decision over Osceola’s Jomar Sanchez in the 222-pound title match.
In addition to Heap and Haase, Osceola champions included Melvin Ewan (147), Gunner Holland (162), George Duncan (172) and Bryan Gari (184).
Celebration sent four to the finals, and Chase McBroom (30-7) won the title at 154. Other winners included Gateway’s Aiden Cooper at 197, Liberty’s Brainys Robles at 287, and Poinciana’s Landon Trigueros at 108.
Gateway (99) in fourth, followed by Tohopekaliga (78.5), St. Cloud (71), Poinciana (40) and Liberty (35)
In addition to the boys OBC meet, Poinciana hosted the first official Girls OBC Wrestling Championship. Osceola (28) won the team championship in razor-close finish with Poinciana (26), Gateway (24) and Celebration (22).
Lady Kowboys champions included Stacy Pule (105), Kelliana Mack (125), Talia Lugo (130) and Cathia Timas (140). Celebration’s Hayeni Costa (170), Gateway’s Emiliana Martinez (235), Harmony’s Julia Martin (120), and Poinciana’s Kaylie Collado (160) won individual titles; as did Tohopekaliga’s Valentia Borges (100) and Andrea Rivera (135).
District tournaments begin this weekend. Celebration hosts District 3A-5 and welcomes Poinciana and Osceola. Tohopekaliga will compete in the 3A, District 9 meet hosted by Harmony.
The first-ever FHSAA official state girls wrestling championship will be held along with the boys tournament in Kissimmee on Mar. 3-5 at Silver Spurs Arena.
