Somerset Academy moves up and secures second state IBT wrestling championship
Somerset Academy now has a Class 2A state title trophy to set next to its 1A trophy.
Somerset moved up to 2A this season and promptly staked claim to the territory by winning the FHSAA state championship on Saturday at Silver Spurs Arena. Somerset rolled up 173 points, which was just enough to edge Tampa Jesuit (166), but it was a nail-biter down the stretch.
“We had an 80 percent shot to win this and Jesuit had a 25 percent shot, and their lead wasn’t big enough,” Somerset coach Joe Blasucci said. “We kind of knew going in we could win and we felt confident with our kids.”
Somerset placed five wrestlers in the finals and came away with four individual state champions, including Tristan Sainz (150), Eric Hodge (157), Michael Sainz (175) and Mateo Martinez (190). Additionally, Carlos Sainz (126) finished as state runner-up.
“The kids in (wrestlebacks) were pivotal for us. Tristan’s match was a barn-burner. It was tight all the way to the wire. We needed that one. Hodge was really the cherry on top because that was Somerset vs. Jesuit head to head. Pretty much the winner of that match was going to be in control of the rest of the tournament.”
Tristan Sainz was a two-time runner-up in the past and Hodge was a two-time placer, making the state titles even sweeter and more timely for them.
“My match was a great battle,” Hodge said. “I just had more grit and more will to get it done.”
Tristan said he expected his match to be tough but he just pushed through and picked up the win at the end.
“I just trained so hard this season and I am just so thankful to get a win like that,” Tristan said. “Coach Blasucci just kept telling us we have to get these matches. We believed in him, and we let God do the rest.”
Also winning state titles were Illia Kyryianeko (South Broward) 132 and Michael Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons) 215. Mocco finished the season undefeated.
Finishing as state runners-up were Nathan Chen (Pine Crest) 285, Peter Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons) in 1A
Also winning medals: (3A) Third: David Leiva (Douglas) 126; Fifth: Rocco Ruiz (Columbus) 126; Seventh: Rocco Duygulu (Douglas) 113; Eighth: Sage Suarez (South Broward) 190. (2A) Fourth: Bluny Davilma (Somerset) 165; Fifth: Cano Austin (Somerset) 106; Sixth: Ericson EJ Coney (Everglades) 138; Noah Catala (Miramar) 165; Seventh: Dully Brutus (Miramar) 132, Darion Shannon (Somerset) 144; Eighth: Abdur Bey (Somerset) 285. (1A) Third: Andrew Isek (Cardinal Gibbons) 144, Bryan Picallo (Cardinal Gibbons) 150, Frankie Florio (Cardinal Gibbons) 165; Fifth: Preston Lindsay (Coral Springs Charter) 144; Eighth: Logan Bajor (Cardinal Gibbons) 113 and (Girls) Fourth: Ariana Blanc (Douglas) 170; Latoya Sylvestre (South Broward) 190; Gabriela Kerber (Cypress Bay) 105.