In a tuneup for the district tournament which starts in a couple of weeks, Freedom High School of Tampa leads 33 other schools after the first day of the IBT westling tournament at George Jenkins Friday afternoon.
LAKELAND — In a tuneup for the district tournament which starts in a couple of weeks, Freedom High School of Tampa leads 33 other schools after the first day of the IBT westling tournament at George Jenkins Friday afternoon.
This tournament is different from the Polk Duals tournament a couple of weeks ago as this is individual based. It is a double-elimination tournament and the semifinals and finals of both consolation and winners bracket when wrestling resumes at 9:30 a.m.
"You have this great turnout with the parents and teams coming out and the kids have already won," George Jenkins junior varisty football coach Raymond Epps said. "It is a great thing to see."
Auburndale, which is one of six Polk County schools in the tournament, set the tone early as their first four wrestlers accumulated pin-fall victories.
"So far so good, tThe early start) " Auuburndale coach Jorge Espinoza said. "This is a good test before the districts."
Host George Jenkins has four wrestlers advancing into the semifinals: Parker Baum at 106, Donovan Barger at 145, Sloan Cullifer at 182 and Dez Flowers at 170, and each posted three victories.
"It is double elimination so everybody has to bring their A-game," Eagles coach Jason Heath said. "Here it is two-nd-one or two-and-barebecue.
Kathleen High School's Jaylon Andrews, who coming into the tournament was 38-2 in the 132-pound class, lost a tough 5-4 decision to Jonathan Ley of Melbourne as Andrews fell behind 2-0 in the first period, yet scored the next four points but could not get thedecision as he gave up the final three points.
"The good thing about this tournament is that it allows you to bring your horses or you most experienced wrestlers to the meet," Kathleen coach Bing Osborn said "But on the flip side, the bad thing is that there is a lot of down time and bottom lineit is along day of wrestling."
Every tournament has a bit of controversy and it happened in the Liberty and Suncoast match as a misreading of the rules led to confusion on both sides.