BROOKSVILLE — Palm Harbor University dominated the 11-team field Saturday at Nature Coast’s Bill Combs Duals, going 10-0 to capture the team championship, the Hurricanes’ third in a row at this event.
No program really came close as Palm Harbor U. scored at least 50 points in each of its 10 duals, winning by at least 20 each time.
Jared Prince (126 pounds) was named outstanding wrestler for the tournament, going undefeated with a notable major decision over Wesley Chapel’s Jon Galvan, who placed at state last season. Jared Prince and brother Connor (132) maintained their undefeated season records.
Crystal River was the event runnerup at 9-1, beating Wesley Chapel (8-2) in its second-to-last dual to get there. That dual went down to the wire, the Pirates coming out on top 39-35.
Galvan’s loss to Prince was his only blemish in the tournament and his season, as he went 9-1 to bring his record to 32-1.
“We started the tempo the way we wanted it,” Wesley Chapel coach Jeff Beson said, “but (Jared) Prince has a way of making you wrestle the way he wants you to wrestle. Galvan’s already started to learn from this experience.”
The Wildcats’ Nathan Love (182) went undefeated in his seven matches to raise his season mark to 31-3.
Weeki Wachee got noteworthy individual performances from Anthony Vines (285) and Jesus Nieves (132). Vines went 9-0 to push his record to 44-2, while Nieves went 9-1, his only loss to Connor Prince, to reach 44-5.
“With only nine guys suited up, I’m very happy with how we did,” said coach Joe Felice, whose Hornets went 4-6 for seventh place, ahead of teams that fielded a full lineup. “We barely lost to Nature Coast and Land O’Lakes. Not a bad weekend.”
Land O’Lakes, which finished sixth, was led by Cedric Lowe (170), Darius Lowe (220/285) and Luis Casado (120). Casado went 8-1, and Darius Lowe 9-1, each beating state-ranked wrestlers from PHU over the course of the event. Darius Lowe got all nine of his victories via pinfall.
Hernando’s Jesse Gaudin (220) went 10-0 to improve to 26-2 this season. “Win or lose, Jesse usually has the same attitude,” coach David Pritz said. “The last two weeks have been some tough tournaments, and this weekend gave us a chance to show what we had.”
Host Nature Coast boasted two one-loss wrestlers: Anthony Contegiacomo (220) suffered his only loss against Gaudin; and Le’Shaun Gray (170) was 8-1.