Championships up for grabs
Wrestling, cheerleading state tourneys coming
Wrestling will showcase its truest team event this weekend when the FHSAA Wrestling Dual State Championships are staged at Osceola High School on Kissimmee.
The best teams in the state will be on display where it matters not only how you win, but sometimes how you lose, as each point could be the difference between moving on or going home.
Central Florida will be represented by Osceola and Timber Creek in the Class 3A region finals that serve as state quarterfinal matches on Friday night at 6 p.m.
The host Kowboys have advanced to the duals-series state tournament all four years it has been held, finally breaking through last season with a region title and an eventual state runner-up finish to three-time champion South Dade.
Osceola will face Fort Myers Riverdale in the 3A, Region 2 matchup on Friday.
Timber Creek makes its first appearance in a duals region final as the only district runner-up this season to defeat its district champ in a region semifinal rematch. The Wolves lost to Hagerty in the District 4 final but bounced back to post a 45-30 road victory last week.
Fleming Island, which is 3-0 in 3A, Region 1 final appearances and has twice finished as state runners-up, is the next challenge for Timber Creek on Friday.
“We just have to go compete, wrestle as hard as we can and try to steal some matches,” Wolves coach Jon Cone said. “It’s just great for the team to get this chance. We’ve never been here before and we have a tall task, but we’ll be ready.”
Action begins with the Class 1A region finals at 11 a.m. and Class 2A matches at 2 p.m.
Winning teams advance to the state semifinals on Saturday morning. The championship round for all three classes will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets ($12 and $15) must be purchased through GoFan.co with FHSAA as the search term. There will not be onsite ticket sales.
Competitive cheer: The FHSAA competitive cheerleading state championship performance will be held this weekend at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
The venue’s social media account featured a message Thursday reminding visitors socially distant seating will be “strictly enforced” and masks are “strongly recommended”.
Area teams that finished first in region competitions were: DeLand, Foundation Academy, Hagerty, Lake Brantley, Lake Mary, Ocoee, Windermere and Winter Park.
The other area Class 1A state qualifiers for Friday competition are: Bishop Moore, Harmony, Lake Highland Prep, Lake Nona, Leesburg, The Master’s Academy and Windermere Prep.
Saturday’s other area Class 2A state qualifiers are: Apopka, Boone, Celebration, Cypress Creek, Dr. Phillips, East Ridge, Lake Brantley, Lake Howell, Ocoee, Olympia, Oviedo, Orlando University, St. Cloud, Timber Creek, Tohopekaliga, West Orange and Winter Springs.