ST. PETERSBURG — Dixie Hollins continued its dominance of the St. Petersburg City Tournament Saturday, winning its sixth consecutive team title by placing 12 wrestlers in the finals, where five emerged as champions.
"This was a good confidence booster for our guys," Rebels coach Nick Spataro said after his team easily outpointed Northeast 245-187. "They get to bring home trophies and medals; it gets us ready to roll for the end of the season when it really counts."
Rebels junior Andre Matthews (285 pounds) was named most outstanding wrestler for the heavyweights, while Vikings senior Joshua Deese (152) took the honor for the middle and lightweights. Both pinned all of their opponents.
Senior Adam Lovell (145) helped to seal the victory for Dixie Hollins. He won a tight final against Northside Christian freshman Clifton Thomas when Lovell scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to win 9-7.
David Schultz (113), Thomas Esker (120), Luis Aldana (170) were the three other Dixie Hollins individual champions.
Northeast edged St. Petersburg for second place, 187-151.5. The Vikings got a lift from Danny Guiterrez (126) pinning Vincent Clanzy of Dixie Hollins in the first round of their final. Vikings senior Stephen Doyle (182) edged Dixie Hollins' Artez Small 8-6.
Boca Ciega's Jacob Mohr breezed through at 138 pounds and pinned Dixie Hollins' Andrew Boylson in the final.
Junior Ezekiel Villalba (132) was Lakewood's lone champion.
St. Petersburg senior Thomas Moser (22-0) continued his dominance at 160 pounds, repeating as city champion and pinning all three of his opponents.
Moser's senior teammate, Brandon Mayhone (220), kept his unblemished record (22-0) intact by pinning Admiral Farragut sophomore Jarvar Nader in the first round.
Northside senior Alex Kruklinski (195) dispatched all three of his opponents by pins and all in the first round. Kruklinski improved to 21-1 on the year.
Flagler Invite: Countryside's Matt Collora scored a 12-0 major decision to beat Winter Springs' Brandon Staley for the 106-pound championship at the Flagler County Rotary Invitational. The Cougars' Jake Laursen was sixth at 182 pounds.