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State wrestling: Dixie Hollins seventh in 2A after first day

 
Published March 5, 2016

KISSIMMEE — The first day of wrestling at the Silver Spurs Arena saw spirits soar and spirits crushed and everything else in between. There were 12 mats going simultaneously on a dizzying day of wrestling where a host of bay area wrestlers advanced to today's semifinals and even more were still battling for third-place finishes.

Tops among Pinellas County schools, Dixie Hollins got some surprises and some heartbreaks. The Rebels stood seventh in Class 2A with 31 points.

At 120 pounds, Drew Harrington downed region champ Justin Baxter in the first round 11-1 for a major decision, then won 5-1 to advance to the semis.

Coleman Bryant (138), just a freshman, won his first match but ran into Frankie Bruno of Brandon in the second round and lost in a technical fall.

Then the Dixie wheelhouse of 182-pounder Brandon Nevitt and 195-pounder Clifton Thomas broke through to the semis. Nevitt downed a very tough Connor Knauer of Hillsborough 10-4 in the quarterfinals and Thomas scored a pin and 5-1 decision to advance.

"Drew came to wrestle today," Dixie assistant coach Ed Bryant said. "He didn't come to wrestle last week but he came to wrestle today."

Indian Rocks Christian got the start it wanted from its two undefeated wrestlers. Even with the whole team coming down with colds both Michael Gingras (152) and Conner Allshouse (182) blasted through to the Class A semis. Gingras scored a 21-second pin and 13-5 major decision; Allshouse scored a pin and 5-3 decision to advance.

Gingras was on track to meet Lake Highland Prep's Erich Byelick in the final. Byelick is a former IRC Golden Eagle and bumped Gingras out of the championship bracket a year ago.

Also for IRC, Selby Steward was still alive in the third-place bracket at 195 as was Jack Pohler at 132. IRC stood ninth in Class A with 26 points.

"They (Gingras and Allshouse) wrestled good but not their best yet," IRC coach Jay Dugmore said. "They all have a little flu so I sent them back to get some rest and hopefully get their energy back for tomorrow and come out firing."

Dunedin had Brendan Ditro (145) and Robbie Washam (160) still in the 2A championship bracket. Washam won 12-8 and Ditro 3-1 to advance.

Palm Harbor University had 106-pounder Chris Fragale break through to the 3A semifinals with two pins. Anthony Didden (182) was still alive for a third-place showing for the Hurricanes, as was East Lake's George Hall (170).

In Hillsborough County, tradition power Brandon led Class 2A through Day 1 with 69 points. Fort Myers Riverdale was close behind with 60.

Trey Lane (106 pounds), Andreus Bond (113), Kyle Norstem (126), Lawrence Scrivens (132), Frank Bruno (138), Noah Ridley (145) and Joe Marcano (195) all reached the semifinals for Brandon. Norstrem, in his pursuit of a fifth state title, had older brother Kevin (one of only four current Florida wrestlers to win five titles) on hand.

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Also in Class 2A, Jesuit's Adam Lewis (145) scored a tech pin and 5-3 decision to make the semis. Teammate Julian Ramirez (152) also reached the semis with two first-period pins. Brian Buser at 182 scored a pin and 11-4 decision to advance. The Tigers were eighth in 2A with 28.5 points. Tampa Prep's Ashton Habeil (132), Anthony Artalona (145) and Leo Tarantino (160) all made the semifinals in Class A.

In 3A, defending state champ Cullen Telfer (126) and defending state finalist Kizhan Clarke (132) got to the semis, as did Gaither's Brad Bolesta (2A, 170) and Berkeley Prep's Laurence Grundy (285).