What you need to know about the state wrestling championships this weekend
The Charlotte High wrestling team won its fourth regional title in five years Saturday by capturing the Class 2A-Region 3 meet at Wally Keller Gymnasium in Punta Gorda.
The Tarpons, who captured the state title in 2021, will be going for another when they send an area-high 10 wrestlers to the FHSAA State Championships on Thursday to Saturday at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
Coached by former wrestling great Evan Robinson, Charlotte crowned an area-high three regional champions Saturday: Camren French at the 113-pound weight class, Kaiden Ballinger at 120 and Cael Newton at 220. The Tarpons qualified 10 wrestlers for the state tournament. Manatee High was second in state qualifiers in 2A-3 with six.
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Braden River High had two champions at 2A-3: Matthew Ireland at 106 and Jessey Colas at 182.
Lemon Bay finished third in Class 1A-Region 3 and had two regional champions: Jack Oliver at 113 and Koen Hoffman at 170. The Manta Rays had nine state qualifiers, second in the area.
Defending state champion Dominic Joyce of North Port High and Blaine Taranto of Venice High were regional winners at 3A-2 in Kissimmee.
In all 55 area wrestlers, including eight girls will compete at the state meet. With three state qualifiers, Port Charlotte High heads the girls contingent.
Here is the state wrestling information:
WRESTLING
FHSAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHEN: Thursday to Saturday
WHERE: Silver Spurs Arena | Osceola Heritage Park (1875 Silver Spurs Lane, Kissimmee)
SCHEDULE: click here
ADMISSION: $9 per session if purchased in advance via Ticketmaster, and $12 if purchased day of (No Re-entry)
PARKING: $10
AREA STATE QUALIFIERS
CLASS 3A
Lakewood Ranch
Nate Smith (285)
North Port
Austin Nappi (126), Dominic Joyce (182), Carmichael Gonzalez (195)
Sarasota
Reese Hibbard (152), Nicholas Torres (160), Mikael Kipila (182)
Venice
Kase Hopper (106), Blaine Taranto (120)
CLASS 2A
Braden River
Matthew Ireland (106), Gage Wiggins (160), Jessee Colas (182)
Charlotte
Matthew Schuler (106), Camren French (113), Kaiden Ballinger (120), Eric Clary (126), Luke Davis (138), James Baltutis (160), Jeff McCauley (182), Nathaniel Box (185), Cael Newton (220), Nikki Fratarelli (285)
Manatee
Luke Arthur (120), Jeson Carbajal (126), Jake Samuels (145), Julian Smith (152), Mason Miller (170), Damontez McDowell (195)
Palmetto
Luke Lindley (170), Dastan Chiketaev (195)
Port Charlotte
Derek Pinedo (138), Tyler Rodriguez (152), Vincent Chavez (285)
CLASS 1A
Bayshore
Dominic Myers (113), Pablo Santamaria (152)
Booker
Noe Phommathep (285)
Lemon Bay
Jack Oliver (113), Logan Kelly (120), Brycen Warren (126), Bryan Ashcraft (132), Justin Brady (138), Jake Sheets (160), Keon Hoffman (170), Chase Alden (182), Ben Arnett (220)
Saint Stephen’s
Jagston Shepard (120)
Sarasota Military Academy
Nate Varley (113), Caleb Dickerson (195)
GIRLS
Booker
Dyleen Perez (120)
Charlotte
Iyonna Ross (115)
Lemon Bay
Giovanna Capolla (135)
North Port
Solana McCaughen (125)
Port Charlotte
Gabriella Mitchell (120), Mya Bolden (145), Lily MacGregor (155)
Sarasota Military Academy
Christina Turner (125)
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Boys and girls florida state wrestling championships information
