3A-7 wrestling: Chamberlain takes second, sends seven to regionals

PALM HARBOR — Chamberlain 130-pounder Christian Bollman said he heard reports all season that the 3A-7 tournament wasn't going to be easy.

He also admitted that after hearing those same reports, it made him work a little harder.

On Saturday night Bollman was one of three Chiefs to win individual district titles and one of seven to qualify for regionals.

"I'm proud of my team," said Bollman, who recorded two pins and a technical fall for a 3-0 record. "We worked hard all year and came in here as an underdog. All year Coach has been telling me how tough this district is and I had my doubts, but after every loss it made me work harder and it finally happened."

Palm Harbor University took the team title with 181.5 points and Chamberlain was second (120.5). Sha'von Flowers (103) and Roger Phillips (125) will also attend regionals as district champions.

Gaither took eighth (71.5) and qualified four for regionals. One of those who picked up an extra week of work was 103-pound freshman Daisy Santos, who posted a 2-2 record with two pins; neither of her wins were forfeits.

"I put my heart into it," said Santos (10-22), whose father Michel is also the coach. "I started doing this to have fun. Now I can prove to people that (even though) I'm a girl I can hang with the boys."

Gaither will be led at regionals by Michael Drapeau (119) and Nicholas Praddaxay (125), who both took third. Drapeau went 4-1, including a major decision in the consolation finals, and Praddaxay went 3-1, including a pin in the consolation finals.

District 7 Class 3A Wrestling

at Palm Harbor U.

Team Standings: Palm Harbor University 181.5, Chamberlain 120.5, Pinellas Park 119.5, East Lake 109, Seminole 105.5, Countryside 105, St. Petersburg 79, Gaither 71.5, Northeast 55, Clearwater 54.5.

Championship Finals: 103: Flowers (CHAM) p. Mashburn (CS) 4:38; 112: Hartman (CS) p. Parrino (STP) 1:11; 119: Tague (PP) p. Holt (CHAM) 2:58; 125: Phillips (CHAM) d. Rodenbeck (PHU) 11-7; 130: CBollman (CHAM) p. Beltran (NE) 5:43; 135: Jefferies (CLW) d. Davis (PHU) 6-4; 140: Finocchiaro (EL) d. Vios (PHU) 5-1; 145: Dougherty (EL) md. Larivee (SEM) 10-2; 152: Santangelo (PHU) d. Thacher (SEM) 11-10; 160: Nevitt (PP) d. Kennedy (STP) 5-4 OT; 171: Bryant (STP) p. Tarantino (PHU) 5:00; 189: Murphy (PP) p. Rekstis (SEM) 1:59; 215: Homol (PP) p. Stippert (PHU) 1:33; 285: Butler (PP) tf. Paar (CLW) 16-1.

Consolation Finals: 103: May (PHU) p. Santos (GAIT) 5:29; 112: Husserl (EL) d. Mott (SEM) 5-1; 119: Drapeau (GAIT) md. Gorman (PHU) 11-1; 125: Praddaxay (GAIT) p. Gullage (CLW) 2:44; 130: Spink (PHU) d. Ebanks (EL) 2-1; 135: Bedits (EL) d. MBollman (CHAM) 9-6; 140: Rice (CS) d. Brownell (CHAM) 5-3 OT; 145: Mahle (PHU) p. Rodriguez (GAIT) 4:32; 152: Putz (NE) md. Hayes (EL) 20-7; 160: Campbell (SEM) p. McDaniel (CS) 2:05; 171: Hayden (SEM) tf. Colon (CHAM) 17-2; 189: King (PHU) p. Touhy (EL) 4:58; 215: Matt (CS) p. Mayhone (STP) 5:35; 285: Johnson (CS) p. Roane (NE) 2:50.