Wrestling: Brandon cruises to another crown

There isn't a member of the Brandon High wrestling team who was alive the last time the team didn't win regionals. They kept it going Saturday with a rout in the Class 3A-Region 2 finals, jumping out to a huge lead and coasting to the title.

Brandon finished first with 289.5 points, while Kissimmee Osceola was second (205). Durant took fourth (93).

The Eagles have won 12 straight state team titles and two of their winners will be going after their fifth straight state title next weekend. Rossi Bruno and Clark Glass both won as eighth-graders and coach Russ Cozart said it would be unprecedented for anyone to win five straight.

We can't be complacent,'' Cozart said. "Anything can happen. We have too many veterans on this team to take anything for granted.''

Dylan Lucas, Jared Flint, Devin Berrian, Bruno, and Kevin Norstrom got the Eagles off to a huge lead with early wins, and Travis Berridge, Glass, Jacob Haycock, and Kyle Koziel also won for Brandon. In the match of the night, Haydock won by a 1-0 decision over Plant City's Cody Chaney in the 170 class.

Jeff Berlinicke

---

2A-2: Tough day for Pasco squads

In wrestling circles, the "Region of Doom" – Class 2A-Region 2 -- more than lived up to the hype this weekend. Just ask any Pasco County wrestler.

Five Pasco County teams entered the rugged 27-team, two-day event featuring a field highlighted by 2011's top Class 2A teams – Spring Hill Springstead and Lakeland Lake Gibson.

Springstead defended its region title with a Hernando County record 263.5 points. Lake Gibson finished second with 164.5 points.

District 8 runner-up Sunlake paced all Pasco County teams finishing sixth overall with 71 points.

Three Seahawks advanced to states: junior John Ortiz (runner-up) at 120 pounds and seniors Wesley Woods (fourth) at 113 and Austin Lopez (fourth) at 182.

River Ridge, which placed 16th with 31 points, saw junior Dakota Arends advance to states following his third-place finish at 106.

In Saturday's semifinals, Ortiz (32-8) qualified for his second straight trip to states by folding Seth Kelly of Lake Gibson in 1:13.

But in the tourney finals, Ortiz fell to Dunedin junior Clarence Arrington for the second time in three bouts, 10-7.

A week earlier, Ortiz bested Arrington in the district finals, 15-9.

"You know this is called the 'Region of Doom.' With Springstead and Lake Gibson and everybody else, this region is ridiculous. Tonight the difference was (Arrington) was more prepared," said the 16-year-old Ortiz, who placed sixth at states last winter behind a 2-3 run. "He put me on my back early in the match and that cost me."

On next week's goal, Ortiz pointed toward the top of the podium, "Realistically, I can be in the finals. I can win this."

Tony Castro

---

2A-3: 2 Armwood wrestlers win titles

Armwood's Donoven Hough and Tylor Dutrieaux won individual titles at the Class 2A-Region 3 tournament at Punta Gorda Charlotte.

Hough defeated Jacob Wasserman of King, 7-4, in the 106-pound class. Dutrieaux pinned Jordon Harriott of Osceola in 4:36 in the 160 class.

Riverdale won with 186 points while Armwood was fourth with 80.

---

1A-2: Fivay wins championship

One week after winning its first district title in school history, Fivay edged state power Orlando Lake Highland Prep to win the Class 1A-Region 2 championship.

Eight Falcons qualified for next week's state tournament, but it was a rough night for Fivay in the championship round. All eight Falcon wrestlers in the championship and consolation finals lost their matches, including top-ranked, 220-pound Mike Hahn. He suffered his first loss of the season, 3-2, to Lake Highland Prep's Carter Shipley.

Pasco, which finished in fourth place was once again led by 120-pound J.P. Gamez. For the third weekend in a row, Gamez faced Fivay's Sean Speer in the finals. After a narrow one-point decision over Speer last weekend, Gamez pinned Speer in the third period Saturday. Gamez is now a four-time state qualifier.

Steven Campbell

---

1A-3: Robinson triumphs

Robinson won three individual championships en route to the Class 1A-Region 3 team title at Naples Golden Gate.

David Nguyen (126), Luis Pequero (170) and Javon Woods (285) collected championships for the Knights. Other local winners were Kyle Norstrem of Tampa Bay Christian (106), Eric Franklin of Spoto (132) and Nick Popolillo of Wesley Chapel (152)

Robinson finished with 168.5 points while Wesley Chapel was second (125) and Gulf was fifth with 108.