- November 23, 2024
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Standing on the fourth-place section of the podium at last-year’s state finals, Michael DeAugustino felt good to have placed as a freshman, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wants first in every tournament, and to win every match.
Though his record bears two losses, DeAugustino has taken the crown at every major tournament this season, his latest the 120-pound championship at the 3A-Region 1 Meet Saturday, Feb. 26, at FPC.
“So, heading in, I was confident I would win regionals,” DeAugustino said. “I believed in my coaches and my team since day one, and I believed in my training.”
Since dropping down to the 120-pound division earlier in the season, DeAugustino has gone undefeated (34-0), and he believes his stainless record in his current division will stay intact going forward.
“Next stop is states,” he said. “I'm just going to keep wrestling how I have been wrestling all season. I'm good enough to take the title home; now it's time to show it.”
Saving the best for last
With just one win, Matanzas senior and region champion Maverick Dennis will eclipse the 50-win mark for this year. He cruised through the regional tournament, winning by pinfall in his first three matches and beating his final opponent 10-4.
“I knew I had a high chance of winning because I knew I'd be in the finals,” Dennis said. “While I’m extremely happy, I know I've still got work to do.”
Pull quote: “I believe I'll be in the top finals, and the goal is just like every other wrestler: to be a state champ.”
MAVERICK DENNIS, Matanzas regional champion
Dennis has passed his old records, school records and his brothers’ wrestling records, and, for the first time in his four years, he was crowned district and regional champion.
“I realized after last year that this is my last year, and the last time a Dennis will wrestle at Matanzas, after Coach (John) White has had at least one of my brothers every year for the past nine years,” he said. “I have to leave a mark on this school and make the Dennis name stick to this school forever.”
Dennis will set out to become the Pirates’ wrestling first champion, and DeAugustino looks to capture FPC first title since Allen Rutherford in 2007 at the 2016 FHSAA Wrestling State Championships on Saturday, Mar. 5, at the Silver Springs Arena in Kissimmee.
