Orange Park wins District 3A - 1

    For the first time in a decade, the Orange Park Raider Wrestling Team brought home the district title.  "This is a great accomplish for our program," Head Coach Chad Parker said.  "Ultimately, it shows we have improved leaps and bounds from a year ago.  The kids we have worked for and earned this victory."

    The Raiders won in dominating fashion, besting the second place team, county rival Fleming Island, by 51 points.  "We haven't changed our focus and preparation since the beginning of the season," Parker said.  "Early in the week, we set a goal.  Thirteen.  Get all thirteen wrestlers competing to the Regional Tournament.  We told them, do that, get to the next step in the State Series and we'll let the team score figure itself out."

    The Raiders advanced 7 wrestlers to the finals.  "Fleming also had 7 in the finals, so it came down to the wrestlebacks," Parker said.  "Like we said a week ago at Conference, tournaments are won in the wrestle-backs.  We had six in the wrestle-backs and all of them won at least one match."

    The Raiders finished with five champions.  Timothy Lattimore, Luke Frame, Bryan Somera, Levi Duvall and Richard Brown won their respective weight classes.  "Those five guys have set themselves up for next weekend," Parker said.  "While I'm very proud of their accomplishment on the day, this is not the ultimate goal.  What they can take heart in, is the fact that they earned their victories and proved to themselves they have the opportunity to do well next weekend."

    Finishing second were Jordan Muntain and Austin Turner.  "Those two are absolute success stories," Parker said.  "In the past, neither have said the success I would have liked them to have, but because they were willing to battle and practice hard on a daily basis, they are wrestling at a high level.  I like where they are at this point."

    Finishing third for the Raiders were Jacob Allen, Nick Morf, Daniel Wolfe, Tommy Li and Kimani Leecan.  "Having five guys finish third is amazing," Parker said.  "That shows me guys are willing to wrestle regardless of the situation.  Is it disappointing to be in the wrestle-backs?  Of course.  But are you a competitor and are you willing to compete for your teammates?  Today, that question was answered."

    Joseph Gonzalez wrestled to a fourth-place finish.  "Gonzalez is a great story," Parker said.  "And more importantly, he's a great kid.  A year ago, he season was ended prematurely, due to injury.  Early in the year, he wasn't wrestling well, to put it bluntly.  But for a kid like that to put it together at the end of the season, and join his teammates on the second step of the State Series is an example of why this sport is such a great character builder.  Keep working hard, doing the right things and plugging away and good things will happen."

    The Raiders are not content with the day's success.  "We told them to take the weekend and enjoy this," Parker said.  "On Monday, we bury that District Trophy and get back to work.  Literally.  The Regional tournament presents a new set of challenges and we can't afford to be happy, so to speak.  We have to be ready to wrestle what we drill, and getting that next score."

    The Raiders next competition is the Region 3A - 1 Tournament at Ocala Forest.  Wrestling starts at 10 am on Friday, February 10.