2A Elite 8 Results ... as they happen

Matches began at 138

Fleming Island vs. New Smyrna Beach

  • It was over when … Fleming turned the corner at 132 and went on a run that New Smyrna Beach couldn’t answer. Fleming gave up a forfeit to Jamey Bruner at 126 and then Joshua Mukkaddam pinned Simjay Engberg and Kaden Schaefer majored Jace Engberg and there was no way NSB was going to be able to stay with the Eagles.

  • Fleming won 12 of the 14 matches including a huge win by Laird Duhaylingsod over Jonathan Bruner 3-0 at 120.

Jesuit vs. Charlotte

  • Best match of the opening round - as expected

  • It was over when … Danny Vargas downed Patrick Nolan 2-1 at 120. Charlotte trailed 34-24 heading into that match with State Champ Andrew Austin on deck for Charlotte … a win by Nolan and a fall by Austin makes it 34-34 heading into the last match. But the Vargas win pushed it beyond Charlotte’s reach - 37-24 (even with 2 falls).

  • Charlotte got falls as expected from 126, 220, 285, and 106 from Camren French over Xavier Albo. They also got a fall from Isaac Schaeffer at 170, but it wouldn’t be enough - losing 9 matches to 5.

Lake Gibson vs. River Ridge

  • It was over when … Hayden Whidden took the mat the Braves. Whidden begins a string of hammers for Gibson and River Ridge literally had no one in the lineup from 138-182.

  • This one wasn’t expected to be close … River Ridge was missing a significant part of their lineup and Lake Gibson is simply too talented of a team to lose even most of the matches that were wrestled.

Merritt Island vs. St Thomas Aquinas

  • It was over when … Kaden Barrial stepped up and slammed the door on any comeback with a fall at 106 to push the Mustangs lead to 42-12. It was probably out of reach earlier when Merritt Island went on a run from 160-220, but if Aquinas had been able to build some momentum from 285-113 they could have made it interesting. Barrial wasn’t interested in that and stopped any idea of a comeback.

  • Merritt Island looked tough and it will be interesting to see how they match up wth Lake Gibson. They won 11 of the 14 weights … something they won’t do against Lake Gibson - so getting close wins will be the key to victory in the semis.

Jason FulmoreComment