Raiders Begin Season 6 - 0, Win District Duals

    The 2009 - 2010 season started with a bang, as the Raider Wrestling team won the inaugural District 1 Class 3A Dual Tournament.  Hosted by Fletcher High School, the Raiders beat every team in the district except for First Coast, who did not show.  Included were wins over Fletcher, Fleming Island, Gainesville Bucholz, Middleburg, Sandalwood and Mandarin.

    "What this means is, our program is headed in a positive direction," Head Coach Chad Parker said.  "We were fortunate to win these duals.  But we wrestled with great intensity, effort, focus and attention to detail.  We preach it every day in practice.  Do those four things and good things will happen.  Today is a testament to that."
   
In the first round, the Raiders wrestled Fletcher, who entered as the co-favorites to win (along with Fleming Island).  After beginning the dual down 30 - 15, the Raiders finished off the Senators 39 - 37.  "We got more pins than we gave up," Parker said.  "The pin is the ultimate.  It's worth the most team points and can really swing the momentum of any dual.  We'd like to not give up any.  That could cost us in the future."  The Raiders picked up 6 pins, while allowing only 3.  "Fletcher is such a tough team.  They're physical and battle for the entire match.  On another day, it could have been them winning."

    The second round featured a match with cross-town and county rivals Fleming Island.  The Raiders again picked up 6 pins, while allowing only one.  "There were a few matches where guys came through by just not getting pinned," Parker said.  "Fleming Island is such an emotional dual.  We rose to the challenge, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure how to feel about that win.  They were without three starters.  You add those guys and, again, it could have been them winning."

    The 3rd round saw the Raiders down a scrappy Bucholz team 51 - 27.  "What I was proud of most during this match was our ability to refocus.  After such an emotional win against Fleming, the guys were still able to stick to the script, so to speak.  We picked up pins when the opportunity arose, and kept pushing the pace."

    The first match on Saturday featured a fourth round matchup with the Middleburg Broncos.  Although the team score was 45 - 28, the Raider Coach was not happy.  "I saw some guys get a little too cocky," Parker said.  "There is that small line, where, yes we want you to be confident that you are going to win, but it needs to be because you are going to continue to do the right things.  Cockiness makes you believe that no matter what you do you are going to win.  And in this sport, with the teams we wrestle, you will get knocked off that perch very quickly.  We gave up 5 pins!  If Middleburg wasn't forfeiting three matches, we may very well have lost that one.  There is a difference between trying not to get pinned and getting off your back.  It was a great wake-up call."

    In the fifth round the Raiders picked up a convincing win over Mandarin, winning 60 - 14.  "We really racked up pins in that match, and guys just kept feeding off that," Parker said.  "That was the first team victory of the day.  We settled in and wrestled what we drill."  The Raiders racked up 6 pins again, while giving up just one.  "I would really like to see us not give up any pins.  It's like a turnover in football.  Win the turnover battle and you probably win the game, but at the same time you don't want to turn that ball over even once."
   
The Raiders saved their best performance for last, winning 68 - 12 over Sandalwood.  "We got eight pins in that match," Parker said.  "We ended the day and wrestled well.  Emphasis and capital letters on our WRESTLING.  Our transitions were great and our positioning looked much better."

    "Overall and individually, the kids are buying into the program," Parker said.  "As a coaching staff, I felt it was necessary to move in another direction.  In the past we've had teams that did not perform up to expectation or their ability.  So I really hammered home all offseason the changes that had to be made in order for us to turn the corner.  Let me make this clear, we are not where we want to be and the question is, do we allow this to be the highlight of our season."

    Wrestlers going undefeated were Tim Lattimore, Richard Brown and Bryan Somera.  Additionally, Luke Frame, Daniel Wolfe, Levi Duvall and William Wiltsie all ended the tournament with just one loss.  "Most of the starters got six quality matches," Parker said "This is great way to start the season, and gives each individual a chance to see what it's going to take get to that next level.  And we want it in plural.  Every day, every practice, every drill we need a team of individuals who are constantly jumping levels, improving their wrestling."

Orange Park 39 - Fletcher 35
103 - Jacob Allen (OP) pin Daniel Flores (FL)
112 - Tim Lattimore (OP) pin Dylan Lein (FL)
119 - Drew Chinloy (FL) tech fall Luke Frame (OP) 21 - 5
125 - Daniel Luvisi (FL) dec Nick Morf (OP)  9 - 2
130 - Bryan Somera (OP) pin Jordan Suttles (FL)
135 - Daniel Wolfe (OP) pin Lance Cote (FL)
140 - Lane Suttles (FL) pin Jordan Muntain (OP)
145 - Isaiah Culpepper (FL) pin Dominic (OP)
152 - Andrew Billman (FL) dec Brennan Bober (OP) 15 - 5
160 - Levi Duvall (OP) dec Jonathon Richie (FL) 8 - 4
171 - David Martin (FL) pin Logan Sadler (OP)
189 - Grant Fong (FL) tech fall Kimani Leecan (OP) 18 - 3
215 - Richard Brown (OP) pin Scott Tillis (FL)
285 - William Wiltsie (OP) pin Dylan Vissman

Orange Park 45 - Fleming Island 22
103 - Chris Fox (FI) major dec Jacob Allen (OP) 12 - 2
112 - Tim Lattimore (OP) pin Blankenship (FI)
119 - Luke Frame (OP) pin Buffin (FI)
125 - Nick Morf (OP) pin Newton (FI)
130 - Bryan Somera (OP) tech fall Henderson (FI) 16 - 1
135 - Danield Wolfe (OP) dec Bierer (FI) 8 - 7
140 - Collins (FI) dec Jordan Muntain (OP) 7 - 4
145 - Anderson (FI) dec Tommy Li (OP) 7 - 1
152 - Brennon Bober (OP) pin Varkon (FI)
160 - Levi Duvall (OP) pin Antonucci (FI)
171 - Adams (FI) win by forfeit
189 - Bradley (FI) pin Kimani Leecan
215 - Richard Brown (OP) dec Krabill (FI) 1 - 0
285 - William Wiltsie (OP) pin McDaniels

Orange Park 51 - Bucholz 27
103 - Jacob Allen (OP) win by forfeit
112 - Tim Lattimore (OP) dec Nathan Lofty (BZ) 10 -  6
119 - Luke Frame (OP) pin Nick Hahety (BZ)
125 - Bade (BZ) pin Aldo Vassallo (OP)
130 - Watson (BZ) pin Andrew Donahughe (FI)
135 - Rico (BZ)  dec Daniel Wolfe (OP) 12 - 5
140 - Jordan Muntain (OP) pin Reed (BZ)
145 - Tommy Li (OP) dec Jenkins (BZ) 15 - 10
152 - Cravier (BZ) maj dec Brennon Bober (OP) 14 - 1
160 - Levi Duvall (OP) pin Good (BZ)
171 - Knox (BZ) win by forfeit
189 - Kimani Leecan (OP) pin Bow (BZ)
215 - Richard Brown (OP) pin Roman (BZ)
285 - William Wiltsie (OP) pin Deadman (BZ)

Orange Park 45 - Middleburg 28
103 Kyle McClintin (MI) pin Jacob Allen (OP)
112 - Tim Lattimore (OP) pin Robert Higgs (MI)
119 - Luke Frame (OP) pin Jacobs (MI)
125 - Swartz (MI) pin Vassallo (OP)
130 - Bryan Somera (OP)) win by forfeit
135 - Daniel Wolfe (OP) pin Shaw (MI)
140 - Jordan Muntain (OP) pin Fentz (MI)
145 - Tommy Li (OP) dec Steichen (MI) 12 - 6
152 - Edmond (MI) dec Brennon Bober (MI) 12 - 3
160 - Levi Duvall (OP) win by forfeit
171 - Double Forfeit
189 - Jordan Fincher (MI) pin Donald Heffner (OP)
215 - O'Brien (MI) pin William Wiltsie (OP)

Orange Park 60 - Mandarin 14
103 - Jacob Allen (OP) win by forfeit
112 - Timothy Lattimore (OP) win by forfeit
119 - Luke Frame(OP) win by forfeit
125 - Nick Morf (OP) pin Feasel (MA)
130 - Bryan Somera (OP) pin Cook (MA)
135 - Daniel Wolfe (OP) pin Wedderbourn (MA)
140 - Calloway (MA) pin Jordan Muntain (OP)
145 - Costler (MA) pin Dominic Jones (OP)
152 - Brennon Bober (OP) pin Scully
160 - Kenard Hird (MA) dec Levi Duvall (OP) 8 - 5
171 - Double Forfeit
189 - Kimani Leecan (OP) pin Raags (MA)
215 - Richard Brown (OP) pin Garrow (MA)
285 - William Wiltsie (OP) pin Spencer Moore (MA)

Orange Park 68 - Sandalwood 12
103 - Jacob Allen (OP) won by forfeit
112 - Tim Lattimore (OP) tech fall Dang (SW) 17 - 2
119 - Luke Frame (OP) pin Aden Blackmon (SW)
125 - Singleton (SW) pin Aldo Vassallo (OP)
130 - Bryan Somera (OP) pin Repka (SW)
135 - Daniel Wolfe (OP) pin Quentan (SW)
140 - Jordan Muntain (OP) pin Manning (SW)
145 - Dominic Jones (OP) pin Hayes (SW)
152 - Brennon Bober (OP) dec Warren (SW) 9 - 6
160 - Levi Duvall (OP) pin Roshager (SW)
171 - Double Forfeit
189 - Kimani Leecan (OP) pin Vidal (SW)
215 - Richard Brown (OP) win by forfeit
285 - William Wiltsie (OP) pin Ridley (SW)