Lake Gibson 3rd after 1st day at state wrestling

KISSIMMEE — Lake Gibson has won the past three state Individual Bracket Tournament team championships, but the Braves are finding more bumps in the road this year after the first day of the FHSAA Class 2A State IBT Wrestling Championships at the Silver Spur Arena.

The Braves finished Friday’s program in third place with 61.5 points, trailing Palmetto Ridge (74) and Charlotte (69).

“I thought we wrestled well today,” Lake Gibson coach Danny Walker said. “We just didn’t pull out the close matches. We did manage to get eight of our wrestlers to advance to day two, but we will need all eight to place. For us to win, we must get a lot of points in wrestlebacks attempting to get third place.”

Brendon Abdon (152), Raul Soto (170) and Tristan Middlebrook (220) won their first two matches to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

Abdon impressively won a 16-0 technical fall, and then gained a pin in his second match.

Soto earned a first-period pin, and then an 11-3 decision.

Middlebrook collected a pin in his first match, and a 16-10 decision in his second.

Lake Gibson wrestlers who lost a match Friday then won in the consolation bracket to remain alive were Austin Gehr (113), Alex Walker (120), Hayden Whidden (126), Blake Walker (132) and Frank Solorzano (160).

The only Lake Gibson wrestler eliminated on Friday was Jason Lemmond (145), winning once, but losing twice.

Kathleen’s Jeremiah Jackson (285) won his two matches Friday. Jackson (41-1) garnered a pin at 2:31 of the first period. Jackson, a junior, then won his second match with an 8-4 decision.

Lakeland’s Rudy Destin (195) was eliminated, losing his two matches.

McKeel's Williams reaches semifinals

McKeel scored 23.5 points to finish in12th in the team standings after the first day of the Class 1A meet.

Vish Williams (152) was the lone undefeated Wildcats grappler advancing to Saturday’s semifinal round, with two big wins, a 16-1 technical fall and a 12-4 decision.

Guy Yodock (120), is the other McKeel wrestler to advance after he won a second-period injury default, suffered a third-period pin loss, and then won a 7-3 decision.

Owen McNabb (138), Cody McNabb (145), Wayne Campbell (160) and Ashten Gehret (182) were all eliminated Friday.

Tenoroc picked up three wins for the day when Gabriel Leach (132), Nick Haworth (170) and Darrin Gillians (220) each won one match, before losing their next two to be eliminated.

Brandon Coleman (113) and Kris Hunter (126) lost their two matches.

Mulberry’s Joquorious Taylor (285) is still alive, having achieved a first-period pin, a first-period loss by pin, and a second-period pin.

Eric Cooper (195) won a 6-5 decision but was eliminated after losing his next two matches.

Peoples, Williams, fall in 3A

George Jenkins’ Nathan Peoples (195) collected a first-period pin, was pinned in his second match, then won a 5-1 decision to remain alive in the consolation bracket.  

Bartow’s Azarious Williams (220) was eliminated as he lost 5-3 and 7-1 decisions.