Lake Gibson's Jorge, Moody Grapple Way to Titles

Sat. February 11, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. | By Mike Cobb

By MIKE COBB

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

Class 2A, Region 2 wrestling tournament

ST. CLOUD | Polk County had two regional champions and 14 wrestlers who qualified for next week's state finals Saturday at the Class 2A, Region 2 wrestling championships at St. Cloud High School.

Lake Gibson teammates Skyler Moody (113-pound class) and Brandon Jorge (132) brought home regional titles leading a group of eight Lake Gibson wrestlers who will compete in the FHSAA Finals Friday and Saturday at The Lakeland Center. Winter Haven, Kathleen and Auburndale will each send two wrestlers to the state finals.

"Anytime you get anybody to the state, that's a big accomplishment. Getting eight through, that's another big accomplishment for Lake Gibson wrestling," Braves coach Danny Walker said.

The Braves, who had five wrestlers in the championship finals, finished second in the team standings Saturday with 164.50 points. Springstead took home the team title with 263.50 points.

Moody, with a career record of 119-16, used three takedowns to defeat Springstead's Mike McDonald, 7-2. This will be his third trip to the state finals, and he's looking to win his first state championship. He finished fourth last year and was the runner-up two years ago as a sophomore.

"My goal this year is to win the state. Regional champs, and the district is a big deal; a lot of people are just happy to get to state," he said. "For me, these are more stepping stones to get to where I need to be, which is the state tourna­ment."

Jorge, whose brother Anthony won two state titles, will be going for his third straight state championship. His brother Brent made it to the state finals but didn't win a title.

"Basically anything but winning would be a loss. It would be disappointing. I'll just try to go out with a win," Jorge said."

Jorge, with a career record of 149-11, earned the regional title with a pin against St. Cloud's Ryan Finneran at 5:08.

Five other Polk wrestlers lost in the championship finals. Auburndale's Hunter Dowdy (132) was pinned by Springstead's Josh Herrera in 1:14; Lake Gibson's Chase Krutzy lost to Springstead's Sean Redman, 3-0; Kathleen's Johnathon Meggers lost to Dunedin's R.J. Luth, 3-2; Lake Gibson's Jean Silverance was pinned by Dunedin's R.J. Luth in 5:32; and Lake Gibson's Devante Terrell lost to Springstead's John Dreggers, 4-2.

Seven other Polk wrestlers advanced by making it to the consolation finals. Auburndale's Glauberson Cajuste (160) finished third while Lake Gibson's Seth Kelly (120), Lake Gibson's Jake Tarvin (126), Lake Gibson's Seth Allen (132), Winter Haven's Cole Mueller (195), Kathleen's Del Baldwin (220) and Winter Haven's Robert Mueller (285) all finished fourth.

The top four advance to the FHSAA Finals.

TEAM SCORES

TOP FIVE: Springstead 263.50, Lake Gibson 164.50, Nature Coast 145.00, Citrus 139.50, Dunedin 133.00.

POLK SCHOOLS: 9. (tie) Auburndale 47.00; 11. Kathleen 41.50; 12. Winter Haven 40.00; 23. (tie) Lake Region 11.00; 27. Bartow 3.

FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

113 – Skyler Moody (LG) dec. Mike McDonald (SPR), 7-2; 132 – Josh Herrera (SPR) pin. Hunter Dowdy (AUB), 1:14 ; 138 – Brandon Jorge (LG) pin. Ryan Finneran (STC), 5:08; 145 – Sean Redman (SPR) dec. Chase Krutzky (LG), 3-0.; 195 – Thomas Gupton (SPR) dec. Johnathon Meggers (KHS), 3-2.; 220 – R.J. Luth (DUN) pin. Jean Silverance (LG), 5:32; 285 – John Dreggers (SPR) dec. Devante Terrell (LG), 4-2

THIRD PLACE

120 – Stephen Pavao (SPR) dec. Seth Kelley (LG), 3-1.; 126 – Mark Allison (DUN) dec. Jake Tarvin (LG), 5-2.; 132 – Chandler Pope (DUN) dec. Seth Allen (LG), 5-3.; 160 – Glauberson Cajuste (AUB) dec. Chris DeJesus (SEB), 7-3; 195 – Peter Holloman (NTC) pin. Cole Mueller (WH), 0:15.; 220 – Zach Collins (CIT) pin. Del Baldwin (KHS), 2:29; 285 – Alvaro Norena (CEL) dec. Robert Thornton (WH), 6-2