GAINESVILLE – Despite the distraction of a falling body from the ceiling in one of the oddest mishaps in a high school wrestling arena, the Fleming Island High wrestling team continued their onslaught of area opposition with a resounding 319-190 thrashing at the district 1-3A wrestling championships held Friday at Gainesville Buchholz. Oakleaf was fifth with 66 points. Fleming Island and Oakleaf head to Flagler Palm Coast for the region 1-3A championship on Fri.-Sat., March 1-2.

“Now, I look up to the ceiling to make sure we’re good to go,” said Fleming Island coach P.J. Cobbert, who watched as a vandal attempting to walk across the Buchholz gym ceiling mistepped and crashed on to the gym floor while Fleming Island was in the final match of the night with Raul Gonzalez battling Fletcher’s Stanley Hollenbach. “Raul lost 3-0, but I don’t blame him after having what happened happened. After figuring out what happened and the delay, they moved his match to the next mat to continue.”

Besides the theatrics of a stunt man audition as part of the wrestling festivities, Fleming Island had already establish its dominance with 13 individual champions in 14 matches.

“We took care of business,” said Cobbert. “Next is region. We’ll be back practicing Sunday and getting ready like always.”

Pins for wins came from Hunter Herrington (106), Dalton Baysinger (132), Gavin Smith (170) and Anthony Breeden (182).

Breeden’s pin, a third period masterpiece over Buchholz’ Armando Acosta, who was 53-2 and had beaten Breeden in the 3A Duals regions, came near the end of a thrilling 2-1 match that saw Breeden lock up Acosta in a cradle with just 25 seconds left in the match.

“I just wore his neck down,” said Breeden. “My arms were cramping holding on so tight trying to get him locked down.”

In the region 1-3A bracket, Breeden would be facing Acosta again if he gets past Winter Springs’ Jessia Contreras (44-2) who are on the same side of the bracket opposite Breeden and would likely meet in their second round match. Breeden’s top threat is Hagerty’s Ethan Lopez, a sophomore at 30-14.

Herrington (39-14) may eventually face Hagerty’s Ryan Rowland, 48-2, fifth at 106 last year, in the final as both are opposite each other in the region 1-3A bracket. Hobson (37-19) will have Timber Creek sophomore Jayden Tapia (39-12) as a major threat in the 126 bracket with 3A fifth placer at 120 last year Dylan Kohn of Hagerty (31-3) lurking as a finals’ probable.

Scoring bonus points to add to the team total were Riley Holton, a 17-0 win at 113; Briar Jackson, a 19-4 tech fall at 120; Tyler Williams with a 12-0 major decision at 138; Garrett Janssen with an 11-3 major decision at 145 and Tanner Hill with a 17-7 major decision at 160.

Jackson’s bracket features a handful of opponents with double digit wins and single digit records lurking to take down the 3A 113 champion. Janssen will have Winter Springs’ Joshua Contreras (44-7, SQ138 ) as a possible second round threat. Hill also has a Winter Springs threat as a finalist with Rowdy Forsberg (40-3) on the opposite end of the bracket for 160. Smith has Hagerty’s Logan Perkins (49-3) as a probable finals foe. Perkins, third at 152 last year, had unfortunate timing with South Dade’s Brevin Balmeceda, a three-time 3A champion, his semifinal opponent last year.

With wins were Ryan Hobson, 7-2 at 126; Luke Chop 6-0 at 152; Jeffrey Lascano 5-3 at 220 and Chad Nix at 195 won by forfeit after two pins in early rounds.

Chop has a Winter Springs possible semifinal foe in Hayden McCandless (40-8).

Oakleaf was led by David Parkes at 145, who lost in the final to Janssen.

At 106, Marcus McGee took third and, at 120, Abdiert Escobar placed third. Logan Gilbert was fourth at 132.