- November 22, 2024
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Matanzas state wrestling qualifiers: Nahilha Lubin, Mariah Mills, Landon Wright, Jordan Mills, Tiana Fries, Tyson Mills, Christina Borgmann and Saiomy Cabrera. Not pictured: Isabella Tietje. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Landon Wright was sort of taking one for the team.
Now he’s headed to the Class 2A state wrestling championships along with Matanzas teammates Jordan and Tyson Mills.
The Pirates have also qualified six wrestlers for the FHSAA’s first girls tournament: Mariah Mills (105 pounds), Tiana Fries (110), Christina Borgmann (120), Isabella Tietje (135), Saiomy Cabrera (140) and Nahilha Lubin (235).
The state tournaments run concurrently from March 3 to March 5 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
Wright qualified at 195 pounds, which is more than 20 pounds over what he actually weighs. Before each weigh-in, he drinks multiple bottles of water to reach the minimum weight of 172 pounds.
The junior placed fourth at the Region 1-2A championships Feb. 26 at Chiles High School in Tallahassee. Sophomore Jordan Mills won the region title at 170 pounds to become the Pirates’ first regional champ since Quenteen Robinson in 2020. Also a 170-pounder, Robinson placed third in the state.
Senior Tyson Mills placed second at region at 152 pounds. The Mills brothers are heading to state for the second year in a row. This year, they will be joined by their sister, Mariah, a freshman.
Wright started the season weighing about 167 pounds and wrestling at 182 pounds. He was bumped up to the 195-pound class on Feb. 4 for the Clay Rotary tournament.
“We were looking at where we can score the most points, and our best shot was Landon at 195 pounds,” said Matanzas coach T.J. Gillin. “He never complained.”
Wrestlers are allowed to bump up only one class above their body weight, so the 5-foot-9 Wright has to weigh in at a minimum of 172 pounds. To make sure he can do it each week, he eats about five peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a day in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“I lose weight every night,” he said.
At the Clay tournament, he drained about four bottles of water to hit 172 on the scale.
“Right after weigh-ins, I have to go straight to the bathroom,” Wright said.
Wright, who weighs about 170 during the week, is not only giving up 20 pounds or more to each of his opponents, but the wrestlers are also a lot stronger at 195 pounds, he said.
“I just have to be faster and smarter,” he said.
Wright, who has a 31-15 record, lost his first regional match by a 2-1 decision to Carter Tobik of Fort Walton Beach. He then won four matches in a row, including two 2-1 decisions, before losing a 3-2 decision in the consolation final to Aidan Bryan of Pace.
“We were looking at where we can score the most points, and our best shot was Landon at 195 pounds. He never complained.”
T.J. GILLIN, Matanzas wrestling coach
“He stayed low to the mat and kept guys off his legs,” Gillin said. “He got to the edge of the mat a lot, got to the legs of the other guys and found a way to keep his feet in and score.”
Gillin said wrestling gets a bad rap because wrestlers often have to shed pounds to make weight. Rarely, do you see a wrestler who has to gain weight, he said.
But the coach has second-guessed his decision.
“The week of districts, I started to wonder if I made the right move, because we didn’t give him a lengthy amount of time to do it,” Gillin said. “If we did it in November, he could have been lifting and getting stronger. We want to put good weight on him.”
But Wright looked at it as an opportunity. The 195-pound class was his best chance to qualify for state, and now here he is, one of the final 16 wrestlers in Class 2A in his weight class.
