A half-dozen of the Keys’ top wrestlers will have their chance to make a statement on the state stage this week.
With the Keys’ top male wrestlers still vying for spots, one local athlete’s ticket was already punched for the FHSAA 1A State Championships in Kissimmee on March 5 to 7. Lady Conch Maria Holushko’s regional runner-up finish guaranteed her a place in the brackets. On Feb. 27 and 28, the boys fought it out to claim their places in the Region 4 championships held at Cardinal Gibbons High School.
Coral Shores’ Sterling Keefe was the big winner last week. Keefe went 4-0 to win the 157-pound competition, punching his card to states. Joining Keefe are teammates Sebastian McCoy and Gavin Matheis. McCoy finished second after going 3-1, losing his final match in a close decision in the 120-pound competition. Matheis was 4-1 at regionals, placing third in the 132-pound weight class. His only loss was by decision, making it clear all three Hurricane grapplers have a shot at state hardware.
Coral Shores finished fourth as a team out of the 27-team pool. But they weren’t the only ones making a statement on the mats. Key West finished 11th and qualified two more wrestlers for the big show.
Joining Holushko will be Allens Alexandre and Michael Guzman. Guzman was 4-2, losing both matches to the same wrestler, but improving the score in the second go-round. Guzman placed fourth in the 165-pound competition. Alexandre finished second in the 285-pound class with a 3-1 record at regionals.
The six wrestlers are the final winter sport athletes from Monroe County in contention for state glory. They will compete at Silver Spurs Arena in a three-day tournament beginning Thursday, March 5 at 12:20 p.m., with final matches taking place late in the afternoon of Saturday, March 7.
