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Clay dominates region wrestling semifinal

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/17/18

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – After a warmup 68-9 blowout win over Bolles in their region 1-1A duals quarterfinal match, Clay High bolted to supremacy via pins to oust Bishop Kenny 57-9 in the region …

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Clay dominates region wrestling semifinal


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – After a warmup 68-9 blowout win over Bolles in their region 1-1A duals quarterfinal match, Clay High bolted to supremacy via pins to oust Bishop Kenny 57-9 in the region semifinal in Thursday’s region duals semifinal at Clay High School.

“The Duals tournament is unique in that the kids get a little more jazzed up to go team on team,” said Clay coach Jim Reape. “The teams get to see their teammates in action right in front of them and can keep score in their heads to know how the team stands. In the traditional meets, it’s a long two-days and the team

scores are tallied, but it has a lot more factors involved.”

Clay next advances to the first-ever FHSAA region finals and state championship weekend at Osceola High School on Jan. 19-20. Clay finished second to Lake Highland Prep in last three traditional state meet championships. The Duals State meet is the state’s first foray into a team vs. team state championship.

“We have to first take care of Wakulla before we start thinking about Lake Highland,” said Reape. “Our lineup is balanced with no real area that we can’t get a solid wrestling performance. We get a lucky break here and there and the scores changes quickly. One guy scoring a big win could fuel an entire momentum shift for the rest of the lineup.”

At the Jan. 19-20 championship weekend at Osceola, Clay (2nd in 2017) opens with Wakulla (8th in 2017), who beat South Walton and Florida High (6th in 2017) to advance. Hernando (30th in 2017), with wins over Crystal River and Nature Coast, and Lake Highland Prep (1st in 2017), with wins over Cocoa Beach and Space Coast, is in the bottom of the region bracket with Clay and that winner will face the Clay vs. Wakulla winner on Sat., Jan. 20 in the state semifinals set for 9 a.m.

In the opposite region finals, McKeel Academy, with wins over Zephyrhills Christian and Mulberry, faces Lemon Bay (15th in 2017), with wins over Lakewood and Lely. Cardinal Gibbons (3rd n 2017), with wins over Jupiter Christian (29th in 2017) and American Heritage (7th in 2017), faces Somerset Academy (23rd in 2017), with wins over Pine Crest Prep and Mater Lakes (19th in 2017) in the other region final. State semifinals will start 9 a.m. at Osceola with a showcase dual match between Southeastern University and St. Andrews University at noon followed by the state duals championship matches.

“We know Wakulla will be balanced and strong just like us,” said Reape. “Lake Highland is strong again, but we beat them a few years ago in a dual match and that’s just how a dual meet goes. Our lineup is pretty solid top to bottom now.”

Against Bishop Kenny, Clay opened with three straight first period pins against Bishop Kenny with officials starting at 170 pounds. The Blue Devils dominated with Carson Yost, Abbott Taylor and Kurt Jackson all pancaking for wins and a quick 18-0 lead for Clay. Jackson was third at 220 last year.

“Those guys are seasoned and have been around a while for us,” said Reape. “Kurt, I think, is the leader of that group with his power moves.”

At 220, Joe Grelli won a tough 3-1 match before, at 285, Ryan Rivers lost to Kenny’s Josiah McCallum, the Class 1A runnerup at 285 last year, by pin to put the score at 21-6.

From there, Clay’s lighter weights scorched the Bishop Kenny lineup with a first period pin from Joel McGinnis at 106 sandwiching a 16-1 tech fall by Daniel Porter, a 10-1 win at 120 from Steve Chopek and a first period pin at 126 from Cale Hoskinson. Chopek was runnerup at 113 last year for Yulee High School, losing to Ryan Chauvin of Lake Highland Prep. Porter was a state qualifier for University Christian.

“Chopek is still unbeaten and adds a second strong wrestler in the 113-126 group with Peyton Hughes our most seasoned guy,” said Reape. “Daniel has come in and accepted the task of cutting weight to 113 to add to the lineup. The new guys have settled in with our system.”

A 10-4 win by Gabe Peddycourt at 132 preempted a back and forth match with Peyton Hughes finally ending the flurry with a second period pin to put Clay up 48-6 before Grant Stanish lost 5-1 at 138 to Kenny’s Andrew Slade, a state qualifier at 138 last year. Hughes was third at 126 last year.

Dylan Taylor and Connor Green finished off the Kenny lineup with Taylor winning 5-3 and Green getting a first period pin.

“Connor Green and Dylan Taylor have been strong coming back from injuries last year and add experience to the middle of the lineup,” said Reape.

Clay advanced to the region duals with a 64-9 win over Baker County in the district duals qualifier last week.