- November 5, 2024
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Bodies slammed the mat early Saturday morning inside the gym at Matanzas High School. The Pirates, competing as the host school in the Matanzas Duals, were in the process of steamrolling past Palatka, 72-12, in its fourth dual of the weekend.
Wrestling season is here.
Matanzas went on to finish 6-1 over the two days, with its only loss coming to a strong Mandarin team.
The Pirates knocked off three district teams and four conference teams in the tournament, weighing in a total of 25 wrestlers — many of them first-year wrestlers, coach John White said.
“We were able to rotate those new wrestlers in to get matches,” he said.
Those first-year wrestlers include Kwentrel Moultrie, Chris Mixan, Jacob Perry, Damontre Harris, Nathan Pooler, Sam Brown, Ron Caffacus and Ramel Adams. All of them picked up varsity wins over the weekend.
But the Pirates have several talented returning wrestlers, too.
That crop includes returning regional qualifiers Pedro Nieves, Troy Magnuson and Chad Samples.
Nieves (145 pounds), Magnuson (138) and Clayton Dennis (182) all went 7-0 on the weekend.
White said his team gave up too many bonus points against Mandarin. But other than that match, he liked what he saw on opening weekend.
“It’s still early in the season, and the returners looked good,” White said. “The new wrestlers are improving every day. They will play a big role in our success in the post season.”
Matanzas will have 10 days off before competing in the Flagler Duals Nov. 27.
Returning wrestlers
106 pounds: Rocky Samples 6-1
120: Chad Samples 5-2
126: Tristan Kraus 6-1
138: Troy Magnuson 7-0
145: Pedro Nieves 7-0
160: Nick Holifield 5-2
182: Clayton Dennis 7-0
195: Jordan Castanheira 6-1
285: John Dougherty 6-1
Matches
Matanzas 57, Nease 22
Matanzas 76, Ponte Vedra 6
Matanzas 70, St. Augustine 6
Matanzas 72, Palatka 12
Matanzas 54, Satellite 27
Matanzas 51, Pedro Menendez 27
Orange Park 41, Matanzas 33
