Jorge Takes Spot Next to Lawhon
Sun. February 19, 2012 at 2:05 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff
Kathleen's Trent Lawhon was the first Polk County wrestler to win three state titles. He was matched by Lake Gibson's Brandon Jorge on Saturday. (Photo by CALVIN KNIGHT | THE LEDGER (1998))
By SOLANGE REYNER
THE LEDGER
LAKELAND | Brandon Jorge added his name to a short premier list Saturday night when he won his third straight high school wrestling title.
The senior became the second wrestler from Polk County to win three when he pinned Fort Myers Riverdale's Christian Jurney in 1:36 in the 138-pound division in Class 2A at the Lakeland Center.
Trent Lawhon, a heavyweight who competed for Kathleen in the mid to late 90's, also won three, dominating his division while he competed in high school.
Lawhon won titles in 1996, ‘97 and ‘98.
He didn't lose a match for two-and-a-half years during his high school career and was also a Junior Olympic champion.
"He was truly special," Lawhon's old coach, Mike Morse, said.
The accomplishment was all Lawhon's until Saturday when Jorge became the first in Lake Gibson's history to win three.
Hearing the news, though, brought a smile to Lawhon's face.
"I live over here in Brandon and all I hear about is Brandon High School so anyone from Polk County who can do it I'm glad to see. I'm still a big county supporter," Lawhon, now a strawberry farmer, said during a phone interview on Saturday night.
"There's nothing like winning a state title. I would say the first one is the most special but three is definitely an accomplishment."
Like Jorge, Lawhon won all three of his at the Lakeland Center. The first one, in 1996, was the first year that the FHSAA held the tournament at the site in Lakeland.
"It was definitely a shock because in the state semis you're only one of three matches going on and there's nearly 2,000 people watching you," said Lawhon, who wrestled at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. "It's definitely an adrenaline rush."
Jorge has been to the state finals all four years of his high school career.
His only loss was as a freshman when he competed at 103 pounds. As a sophomore, he won it at 112 pounds. Last year he competed at 125 pounds and won by decision.
This time, the pressure was on him to win his third.
And in doing so, he won one more than his brother, Anthony, a two-time state champ for Lake Gibson who wrestled for Duke University.
"It's surreal," said Jorge, who finished his season undefeated at 26-0. "But it's good to be on a short list of three-timers."
