After finishing second in the last two FHSAA state duals wrestling championships, the Osceola Kowboys went oneand- done in this year’s event, thanks mainly to injuries and illness.
Osceola qualified for the state _nals by winning a subregional in Viera. Kowboys came from behind to eliminate Fort Pierce Central, 38-34, in the opening round and then rallied from a big de_cit to beat host Viera 47-24 to advance to the state level for an eighth consecutive year.
But injuries and illness eliminated any chance of Osceola advancing past the _rst round. Coach Rick Tribit noted that as many as six of 14 starters were injured or battling flulike symptoms during the week leading up to the _nals.
In Friday’s opening round against Wellington, the shorthanded Kowboys forfeited _ve weight classes, costing them 30 team points in a 55-21 setback. Osceola won four of the nine matches they did compete in— Deacon DeLong (190 pounds), Jovanni Ortiz (106), and David Yi Sanchez (176) all recorded pins. Ibrahim Rustam picked up a thrilling 7-6 decision over Nikolas Gray at 144.
Wellington earned a trip to the Class 3A _nals but was no match for juggernaut South Dade, dropping a 64-3 decision. South Dade has now won the last three 3A state duals titles and seven of the eight to go with its 16 state championships in the traditional March individual bracket tournament.
Since its inception in 2018, Osceola has quali_ed for every state dual meet tournament, _nishing runner-up three times, (2020, 22-23).
In the other classi_cations, Mater Lakes Academy defeated St. John Neumann, 56-15, to claim the FHSAA Class 1A title and Tampa Jesuit won in 2A by defeating Charlotte, 59-13.
Girls weightli_ing districts: Five Osceola schools competed in the 10-team, District 3A-9 tournament at Harmony. As was the case at the Orange Belt Conference championships a week earlier, St. Cloud edged the Longhorns to win the team titles in both the Traditional (bench press/clean-and-jerk) and Olympic (clean-and-jerk/ snatch) competitions.
St. Cloud tallied 61 team points in the Olympic to edge Harmony (49). Tohopekaliga (32) was third, Osceola (12) __h, Poinciana (8) sixth, Celebration (5) ninth. In the traditional, St. Cloud outdistanced Harmony for the team championship (6046); with Tohopekaliga grabbing fourth place (32) Under FHSAA rules, only the district winners were guaranteed advancement into the Region 3 championship–which will be contested Saturday at St. Cloud. Gaining automatic advancement from Osceola County as district champions were: Traditional: Tohopekaliga: Jayleen Sanchez (119), Juliana Navarro (129); Harmony: Natasha Puchales (101), Nya Flores (139). Madilyn Fitzgerald (149), Morgan Pascual (169), Alexandra Alvarez (183); St. Cloud: Jaylone Majia (183), Morgan VanAuken (199), Autumn Frost (UNL); Olympic: Tohopekaliga: Jayleen Sanchez (119); St. Cloud: Ava Nasco (129), Morgan VanAuken (199), Autumn Frost (UNL); Harmony: Nya Flores (139), Madilyn Fitzgerald (149), Morgan Pascual (169); Osceola: Dudley Ferrer (101).
Harmony’s Flores earned the outstanding li_er award in both the Traditional and Olympic categories.
In addition to the four district champions that automatically qualify, 16 at-large spots are available to the next best totals across the four districts. In addition to its regional champions, Osceola County will be represented by another 25 li_ers who quali_ed for atlarge spots.
