WRESTLING

NSB wins region title; Volusia-Flagler high school programs send 16 wrestlers to states

The Daytona Beach News-Journal

New Smyrna Beach High School wrestler Michael Shannon qualified for the state tournament as a regional champion.

It's tournament season, and the Volusia-Flagler area produced a "sweet 16" of its own this weekend.

Sixteen local wrestlers, representing five programs, qualified for this week's Florida High School Athletic Association wrestling championships. The state finals are set to begin at 10 a.m. Friday from the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

New Smyrna Beach crowned a pair of individual champions en route to a first regional team title since 2000 — Jamey Bruner (34-3, 126 pounds) and Michael Shannon (36-2, 145). Shannon scored a major decision victory over Mosley's Nick Hejke in the final, and Bruner defeated Middleburg's Riley Girgis by a 10-5 decision.

New Smyrna Beach High is sending four wrestlers to the state tournament. From back left: Coach Kevin Kehoe, Coach Strouse, Jace Engberg, Coach Bernard, Michael Shannon, Jamie Bruner, Doug Dittmer.

Doug Dittmer (36-3, 195) and Jace Engberg (33-4, 132) secured runner-up finishes for the 'Cudas. New Smyrna Beach totaled 117 points, 10 more than second-place Tallahassee Chiles for Region 1-2A supremacy.

Flagler Palm Coast leads the way with six state competitors, including 160-pound contender Blaine DeFord. The junior took his first loss of the season in the Region 1-3A final, a 7-3 decision to Lake Mary's Jared Purcell.

More:5 Volusia-Flagler high school wrestlers to watch in 2020-21 season

Matanzas also had a pair of second-place finishers in Region 1-2A — Tyson Mills (23-5, 152) and Jordan Mills (20-6, 160), the first Pirate freshman ever to crack the state field. Deltona's duo of Ethan Chiu (33-5, 220) and Kevin Kerns (33-7, 120) clinched their second consecutive state appearances.

State wrestling qualifiers

Class 3A

Flagler Palm Coast (6): Kole Hannant (44-9, 113 pounds), John Hald (38-16, 120), Timothy King (38-8, 152), Blaine DeFord (9-1, 160), Bryce Dodge (17-7, 170), Marcelo Gonzalez (38-12, 182)

University (1): Christian Kennick (18-4, 220)

Class 2A

Deltona (2): Kevin Kerns (33-7, 120), Ethan Chiu (33-5, 220)

Matanzas (3): Carter Wilder (20-9, 106), Tyson Mills (23-5, 152), Jordan Mills (20-6, 160)

New Smyrna Beach (4): Jamey Bruner (34-3, 126), Jace Engberg (33-4, 132), Michael Shannon (36-2, 145), Doug Dittmer (36-3, 195)