On Feb. 20, South Florida’s best 1A wrestlers converged on the Southernmost City for the District 16 championships. When the final bout was complete, Key West’s trophy case was a bit more crowded, with their 17th consecutive first-place trophy.
In addition to the team title, the Conchs saw a pair of individuals crowned with district titles. Michael Guzman (165 pounds) defeated two opponents via technical fall, piling on the points on his way to the podium. Allens Alexandre made short work of his final opponent, pinning him in under 30 seconds for district gold.
In second place were Kyle Condella (138), Jacob Ferguson (126), and Donald Kirkpatrick (113). Angel Morales (175) and Aristerne Richardson (106) brought home bronze and Jaylyn Annylus (144), Kascper Kowalik (215) and Prometheus Delacerda (132) finished in fourth. All 10 will advance to regionals at Cardinal Gibbons this week.
Coral Shores finished fifth overall, but took more titles home to Tavernier. Three Hurricanes stood in the top spot on the podium and nine wrestlers advanced to regionals with top-four finishes.
David Beltran won the 175-pound division. Beltran, a state qualifier last season, looks primed for a return to Kissimmee this year. Joining him as a district champ are Gavin Matheis (132) and Sebastian McCoy (120). Both athletes pinned all their opponents at districts and have what it takes to make it all the way to the big show this season.
Sterling Keefe (157) and Nathaniel Tristram (150) were district runners-up and will have a shot in the next round, as will third-place finishers Jeramiah Ortiz (144), Jack Brown (165) and Ethan Struhs (138). The final Keys regional qualifier is Ricardo Mack, a freshman who finished fourth in the 190-pound competition.
Marathon, in its first year of varsity wrestling, brought three athletes to the event, two of whom were middle school students. Despite the obstacles, the Fins finished in eighth place, picking up 18 points in the final meet of their inaugural season.
The following afternoon, two Keys athletes represented Monroe County in the girls wrestling Region 4 1A championships. Maria Holushko of Key West and Marathon’s Autumn Wolfe earned their spots in the brackets with outstanding district performances earlier this month.
Holushko punched her ticket to states after amassing a 3-1 record at regionals, defeating two opponents by fall and claiming the runner-up spot in what is easily the toughest region in Florida. Holushko did not lose until the title match, to the same athlete who defeated her at districts. The sophomore sensation will represent the Southernmost City in early March at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee at the state championships.
Wolfe’s first-round loss gave her a tougher path at regionals, but the resilient sophomore won her next two matches to keep her hopes of a state berth alive. A second loss at the tournament, however, meant Wolfe’s first year of varsity wrestling ended at regionals.
