CONCHS GRAPPLERS BREAK THROUGH TO STATE’S ELITE EIGHT

Senior RJ Brown slams his opponent at the regional duals championships held in Key West last week. Brown was 1-1 in the tournament, helping Key West to win its first regional title and advance to the state’s elite eight Jan. 24. MAICEY MALGRAT/Keys Weekly

Key West made history last week, earning its first bid to the State Duals Elite Eight on Jan 24. The Conchs battled their way through Region 4 1A to become a contender at the FHSAA State Duals for the first time in program history. The Conchs join seven other teams hoping to grapple their way into the final four teams in 1A.

Coral Shores, also a regional duals qualifier, did not advance to states, but the Hurricanes made school history as well by earning a bid to the regional quarterfinals. 

While the boys were making history, the Lady Conchs were laying the groundwork for some history of their own. Six athletes found their way to the podium Jan. 18 at the Lady Indian Tournament at Immokalee High School. The team was led by Sheyla Figueira, a state-qualifier last season, who took second place at the tournament in the 105-pound class. Maria Halushka (125) was third while Wenxin Yu (110), Sunisa Kuhn (155) and Yarnesie Corrales (170) were fourth. Isabella Cosme took fifth place at 145 pounds to help the team secure sixth place out of the 28 teams who entered. 

Tracy McDonald
Tracy McDonald fled to the Keys from the frozen mountains of Pennsylvania hours after graduating from college and never looked back. She is a second generation coach and educator, and has taught in the public school system for over 25 years. She and her husband met at a beginning teacher meeting in 1997 and have three children born and raised in Monroe County. In her free time, McDonald loves flea markets, historical fiction and long runs in the heat.