FHSAA WRESTLING FINALS: DeFord, Dodge, Dittmer earn podium finishes at states

Three Volusia-Flagler wrestlers — New Smyrna Beach's Doug Dittmer and the Flagler Palm Coast duo of Blaine DeFord and Bryce Dodge — stood on the podium with top-five state finishes on the final day of the Florida High School Athletic Association's wrestling tournament Saturday at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

DeFord, a 160-pound junior, entered the day as the only local competitor with a chance at an individual title. However, he lost 2-0 in the semifinal round to Palm Harbor University's Michael Cuttita and 7-0 in the third-place match to Lake Mary's Jared Purcell.

Purcell defeated DeFord 7-3 a week earlier for the Region 1-3A tournament crown.

Dodge earned his spot the hard way, thriving in the so-called blood rounds. The junior 170-pounder won three consecutive wrestlebacks, last pinning Oviedo Hagerty's Ethan Gomez to secure no worse than a top-six place.

Dodge lost in the consolation semifinals, and was awarded a victory in the fifth-place contest when Lakewood Ranch's Ranson Coons withdrew due to injury.

New Smyrna Beach, team champion in Region 1-2A, endured a disappointing second round in the winner's bracket Friday afternoon as 195-pound Dittmer, Michael Shannon (145) and Jamey Bruner (126) each lost.

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Dittmer, who opened the season with 30 straight victories, edged Pace's Wyatt Dillon in a 3-2 decision, pinned Sebastian River's Rafael Camarena and rallied from a consolation semifinal defeat to win 7-1 against Tallahassee Lincoln's Wyatt Yown.

Shannon, a third-place finisher in 2019-20 at 126 pounds, went 1-2 on the weekend. Prior to states, the junior suffered only two losses the entire season — helping the Barracudas reach the Class 2A Final Four in duals competition earlier this winter.