After all was said and done in Saturday’s FHSAA Wrestling State Dual Championships at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, South Dade finished as the Class 3A champion for the eighth time in the nine years of the duals tournaments.
But what happened before the final match created a fervor in Osceola’s gymnasium with some who have attended all nine dual state finals flabbergasted at what they witnessed in a semifinal.
Needing to win its last three weight-class matches to advance, Freedom did just that to edge Palm Harbor University 35-30 in the semifinals. And it wasn’t just about going down to the last match. It went down to the last 10 seconds.
Freedom’s Jordyn Martin took a 9-8 lead late in the 285-pound match on a physical takedown when Palm Harbor’s Christopher Marqueen injured his knee.
After Marqueen took the three minutes allowed for an injury timeout, the wrestlers scrummed until Martin earned three more points for a flawless takedown with 10 seconds left to seal his win and the team victory.
“What Jordyn did at the end was all about determination and heart,” Patriots’ coach David Bush said. “He’s got mental toughness and he believes he can win.”
Martin’s dramatic effort was preceded by a major-decision wins by Joshua Ramirez at 215 pounds and Christopher Aubain at 190 pounds.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been that excited for a dual win,” Bush said. “And I know this group of kids hasn’t been that excited after a dual win.”
The semifinal had the added drama of the computer scoring going out before the 165-pound match, resulting in about a 10-minute delay.
Freedom was trailing 24-18 at that point before a pin by Aizea Lopez tied the match to set up the exciting finish.
The Patriots lost to South Dade 49-21 in the final to finish second in their first trip to the dual state meet.
Freedom did have a pair of pins within 40 seconds of match time to build some momentum.
Hagerty, Freedom advance in FHSAA wrestling duals state tourney
Ramirez was down 15-6 to South Dade’s No. 2-ranked Sebastian Morera at 215 pounds, but pulled off the victory by pin at the 4-minute mark. And Martin pinned Carido Louissaint 38 seconds into their match at 285.
“Those were breakout wins, and will build confidence (for the rest of the season),” Bush said.
In the other semifinal, Hagerty competed against perennial power South Dade before falling short, 42-27.
The Huskies won six of the 14 matches, including pins by Nikolas Blake (157 pounds), Brandon Khamis (120) and Renzo Cooligan (285).
“There are winners and learners, and we learned today,” Hagerty coach Scotty Diaz said. “We won some big matches today, and that’s going to help us build to get each individual kid get on the podium (at the Individual Bracket Tournament state meet, March 5-7).”
Diaz gave extra kudos to Jude Dicicco, who edged Morera, 4-3, at 215 pounds. Dicicco lost to Morera when the Huskies and Buccaneers faced each other earlier this season.
In Class 1A, Mater Lakes Academy defeated Cocoa Beach, 44-18, to earn a repeat state title.
Lake Gibson won its seventh duals title championship with a 39-16 win over Somerset.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
