Just hours after saying goodbye to their wrestling coach, Chis Hixon, the Stoneman Douglas high school wrestling team finished as runner ups in the Florida 3A-12 wrestling tournament.
The host school ended up taking home the title, held just last night at Coral Springs High School.
That didn’t stop the underdog Stoneman Douglas Eagles from exceeding expectations at the tournament.
Coach Henry “Hank” Johnson, a coach at Coral Springs High School had this to say about the Stoneman Douglas Eagles.
A lot of wrestling comes down to the mental part of what we do. I believe the kids only have a handful of moves that they actually become proficient with. The rest comes down to belief in your abilities and having a will to overcome what’s coming from across the mat.
That being said, it was a question from many coaches as to what they would have left after the strenuous week that they had.
Would they be emotionally spent and as a result have nothing left for competition?
Not only did they show up and have the grit and fortitude to battle, they exceeded all expectations by ending the tournament in second place. I don’t think anyone saw that coming. I was proud of their performance, I know Coach Hixon would have been as well. Hats off to the Douglas wrestlers.
Ricky Marcus, who is an administrator for the 7000 member Florida Wrestling Room on Facebook said:
Douglas is not known as a powerhouse but by finishing in 2nd place they finished ahead of teams that are considered a powerhouse.
St Thomas Aquinas is a team that placed 3rd in the state last year and has won the District many times (4) in a row.
They have some very good wrestlers at 138,145 and 152. Douglas finished ahead of them which I never would’ve picked to happen.
I am very impressed with these kids intestinal fortitude and the fact that they walked into the gym to compete an hour after burying their coach! Not only did they compete, but they won too!! They are bringing 9 wrestlers to this weekends Regional tourney and the top 4 in each weight class advance to the state tourney.
I think Coach Hixon will be watching over them. We may see some upsets that normally wouldn’t happen! We will find out this weekend.
ESPN even featured a piece on their website titled “This was for Coach Hixon“.
Stoneman Douglas results below:
106: Jason Wolk 1st place
113-Ernest Patton 4th place
120-Matt Nimah 4th place
126-Steven Erched 2nd place
145-Jacob Fishman 3rd place
152-Jordan Fleming 3rd place
160-Sara Ochoa 4th place
170- Zach Heller 2nd place
195-Matt Kelly 1st place
Final Results Below:
106
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Jason Wolk of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
2nd Place – Nico Cava of Monarch
3rd Place – Nathan Wilson-Trapp of Coral Glades
4th Place – Christian Papalardo of J.P. Taravella
1st Place Match
Jason Wolk (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 34-0, So. over Nico Cava (Monarch) 27-7, So. (OT 14-12)
3rd Place Match
Nathan Wilson-Trapp (Coral Glades) 20-4, Jr. over Christian Papalardo (J.P. Taravella) 24-14, Fr. (Fall 0:55)
113
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Justin Huertas of J.P. Taravella
2nd Place – Kieran Pidgeon of Monarch
3rd Place – Ivan peralta of Plantantion
4th Place – Ernest Patton of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
1st Place Match
Justin Huertas (J.P. Taravella) 27-8, So. over Kieran Pidgeon (Monarch) 18-6, Jr. (Fall 1:45)
3rd Place Match
Ivan peralta (Plantantion) 23-5, Jr. over Ernest Patton (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 17-21, So. (Fall 3:11)
120
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Raiden Johnson of Coral Springs
2nd Place – Justin Picciolo of Monarch
3rd Place – Glenn Theard of Deerfield Beach
4th Place – Matthew Nimah of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
1st Place Match
Raiden Johnson (Coral Springs) 35-3, Jr. over Justin Picciolo (Monarch) 26-9, Jr. (Fall 4:13)
3rd Place Match
Glenn Theard (Deerfield Beach) 17-8, Jr. over Matthew Nimah (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 16-13, Jr. (Fall 0:41)
126
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Chrisley Accime of Coral Springs
2nd Place – Steven Erched of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
3rd Place – Roderick Whisby of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – Frank Messina of Saint Thomas Aquinas
1st Place Match
Chrisley Accime (Coral Springs) 41-4, Sr. over Steven Erched (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 36-3, Jr. (Dec 12-6)
3rd Place Match
Roderick Whisby (Fort Lauderdale) 23-4, Sr. over Frank Messina (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 17-24, Fr. (Fall 1:27)
132
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Dylan Burton of Coral Springs
2nd Place – Virgil Lemons of Deerfield Beach
3rd Place – Steven Burress of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – Withney Pavilus of Plantantion
1st Place Match
Dylan Burton (Coral Springs) 30-5, Jr. over Virgil Lemons (Deerfield Beach) 28-7, So. (Fall 2:30)
3rd Place Match
Steven Burress (Fort Lauderdale) 27-8, Sr. over Withney Pavilus (Plantantion) 23-8, So. (Fall 5:04)
138
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Vinny Sessa of Saint Thomas Aquinas
2nd Place – Felton Morris of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Eric Maestres of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – David Donahue of Monarch
1st Place Match
Vinny Sessa (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 27-1, Sr. over Felton Morris (Coral Springs) 37-9, Sr. (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match
Eric Maestres (Fort Lauderdale) 27-9, Sr. over David Donahue (Monarch) 20-11, Jr. (Fall 4:59)
145
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Grant Aronoff of Saint Thomas Aquinas
2nd Place – Jason Berry of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Jacob Fishman of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
4th Place – Angel Reyes of Piper
1st Place Match
Grant Aronoff (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 45-0, Sr. over Jason Berry (Coral Springs) 32-10, Sr. (Fall 2:33)
3rd Place Match
Jacob Fishman (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 15-11, Jr. over Angel Reyes (Piper) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 3:53)
152
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Gianni Guerriero of Saint Thomas Aquinas
2nd Place – Victor Ferrera of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Jordan Fleming of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
4th Place – Ryan Sandrin of Fort Lauderdale
1st Place Match
Gianni Guerriero (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 41-7, Jr. over Victor Ferrera (Coral Springs) 27-13, Sr. (Fall 1:17)
3rd Place Match
Jordan Fleming (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 20-6, Sr. over Ryan Sandrin (Fort Lauderdale) 19-15, Sr. (Fall 3:59)
160
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Shawn Pierre of Deerfield Beach
2nd Place – Xavier Diaz of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Mason Mulka of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – Sara Ochoa of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
1st Place Match
Shawn Pierre (Deerfield Beach) 37-9, So. over Xavier Diaz (Coral Springs) 6-9, Jr. (MD 11-0)
3rd Place Match
Mason Mulka (Fort Lauderdale) 29-14, Jr. over Sara Ochoa (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 10-7, So. (Fall 2:42)
170
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Samir Senatus of Fort Lauderdale
2nd Place – Zachary Heller of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
3rd Place – Jacob Weissgerber of Piper
4th Place – Kobby Isen of Monarch
1st Place Match
Samir Senatus (Fort Lauderdale) 36-1, Sr. over Zachary Heller (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 33-8, Sr. (Fall 3:26)
3rd Place Match
Jacob Weissgerber (Piper) 3-1, So. over Kobby Isen (Monarch) 12-5, Jr. (Inj. 0:00)
182
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Jasmy Claude of Coral Springs
2nd Place – Kebby Louidor of Plantantion
3rd Place – Marlon Derilus of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – Jesse Aguila of Monarch
1st Place Match
Jasmy Claude (Coral Springs) 30-12, Sr. over Kebby Louidor (Plantantion) 19-6, Jr. (MD 17-8)
3rd Place Match
Marlon Derilus (Fort Lauderdale) 27-14, Jr. over Jesse Aguila (Monarch) 19-8, Jr. (Fall 3:51)
195
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Matthew Kelly of Marjory Stoneman Douglas
2nd Place – Chase Rutledge of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Max Michel of Fort Lauderdale
4th Place – Coby Newton of Coral Glades
1st Place Match
Matthew Kelly (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) 19-7, Jr. over Chase Rutledge (Coral Springs) 10-6, Jr. (Dec 6-4)
3rd Place Match
Max Michel (Fort Lauderdale) 24-15, Sr. over Coby Newton (Coral Glades) 9-9, Jr. (Fall 0:16)
220
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Mason Mobley of Deerfield Beach
2nd Place – Tyrae Session of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Anthony Mingarelli of Saint Thomas Aquinas
4th Place – Julian D`orazio of Fort Lauderdale
1st Place Match
Mason Mobley (Deerfield Beach) 33-7, Sr. over Tyrae Session (Coral Springs) 20-2, Sr. (Fall 2:18)
3rd Place Match
Anthony Mingarelli (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 29-17, So. over Julian D`orazio (Fort Lauderdale) 23-13, Jr. (Dec 4-1)
285
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – John Pope of Saint Thomas Aquinas
2nd Place – Nick Guerra of Coral Springs
3rd Place – Reace Cavanaugh of Deerfield Beach
4th Place – Nick Caban of Monarch
1st Place Match
John Pope (Saint Thomas Aquinas) 37-9, Jr. over Nick Guerra (Coral Springs) 44-8, Jr. (Fall 2:27)
3rd Place Match
Reace Cavanaugh (Deerfield Beach) 25-10, Sr. over Nick Caban (Monarch) 6-10, So. (Fall 0:39)
