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English beats state champion; Eagles advance

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/17/18

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High wrestling fans may have gotten a sneak peak at the 132 pound state championship lineup for Class 3A Thursday night after watching Jaquan English take out Flagler …

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English beats state champion; Eagles advance


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High wrestling fans may have gotten a sneak peak at the 132 pound state championship lineup for Class 3A Thursday night after watching Jaquan English take out Flagler Palm Coast’s Avery Holder in the Golden Eagles’ 63-6 win over Flagler Palm Coast at Thursday’s FHSAA Duals region semifinal at Fleming Island High School.

Fleming Island, with the win, advances to the State Duals championship tournament at Osceola High School on Jan. 19-20 with the Golden Eagles to face Winter Springs on Thurs., Jan. 19. Winners advance to the Saturday state tournament with semifinals at 9 a.m. and finals at 4 p.m. Winter Springs beat Hagerty after a 34-34 final score on criteria to advance to face Fleming Island. Note: Southeastern University, home to Fleming Island state 182 pound champion in 2017 Jason Davis, will wrestle a showcase dual match with St. Andrews University at noon, also at Osceola. Holder, the defending champion at 126 pounds, entered the match unbeaten with English beaten just once; two weeks ago against a Georgia state champion.

“To me, it was just another match against another wrestler,” said English, who transferred last year from Raines High School where he was a 2A state qualifier. “Him and I may look the same on paper, but my mental game and confidence is much stronger now. I was thinking two or three moves ahead of him out there.”

After both wrestlers stalled with takedown attempts being thwarted by whizzers, English struck first with a two-point take down off a single leg sweep. Holder had little to answer for English’s speed and power as the match ended 4-0.

For the Golden Eagles who defeated Flagler a month ago 59-12 in the district 1-3A duals state qualifier, the second time around was even more demonstrative as coach P.J. Cobbert next takes his troops to Osceola with a possible showdown with defending state champion South Dade who beat Fleming Island in last year’s traditional state meet.

“This meet doesn’t matter too much for us,” said Cobbert. “Jaquan’s match was probably the state final at that weight. We have to have a great week of practice next week; no outside drama.”

Fleming Island opened with a loss at 152 from Luke Chop, but then rocked the Flagler lineup with a pin for Trace Insalaco at 160, followed by three forfeits and the return of football ace Ryan Smenda to the lineup with a 14-7 win at 220.

Jose Concepcion, at a slim 281 pounds, pinned at 285; with Lou Gagliardo and Briar Jackson pinning to put Fleming Island up 45-3. At 120, Albie Snedaker lost a 7-5 decision before a second barrage of wins from Jacob Sandoval, by pin; English, a 3-0 win by sophomore Tyler Williams and a final pin from Vince Hauser.

“Tyler is going to be a tough wrestler for Fleming Island,” said Cobbert. “He fits the mold.”

For the Duals regionals, Fleming Island (2nd in 2017) faces Winter Springs (5th in 2017); Osceola (6th in 2017) faces Palm Harbor (17th in 2017); South Dade (1st in 2017) faces Cypress Bay (14th in 2017) and Wellington (12th in 2017) faces Coral Springs.