Freedom’s Galvin worked harder to get to state final
KISSIMMEE — After winning a state title as a junior, some high school athletes may rest on their laurels and cruise through that senior year looking ahead to college.
Not Freedom’s Cameron Galvin, who won a girls wrestling state title last season in only her second year of competition and first year the sport was FHSAA-sanctioned.
She went the opposite direction, and her reward is being on the brink of a second straight title.
“I’ve worked harder this year than I have in my whole life for anything,” Galvin said after winning a 7-0 decision over Brittney Vincens of Fort Pierce Central in the 115-pound semifinals on Friday at Silver Springs Arena. “As a senior this year I’ve tried to be a leader for everyone, so that’s motivated me to get better.”
Unlike last year when Freedom ran away with the team title, the Patriots have some work to do on Saturday as they trailed Matanzas by 14 points after the semifinals. Freedom has two girls in championship matches (Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz is the other at 170 pounds) and five girls in consolation matches, so getting three extra points for pins in those matches would help.
Other local girls in championship matches at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday are Osceola’s Kealonie Vega at 100 pounds, Lake Nona’s Milana Borrelli at 120 pounds and Gateway’s Emiliana Martinez at 155 pounds.
One boys wrestler who fell short of the championship match was Mount Dora senior DJ Richards at 145 pounds in Class 1A.
In his first year at Mount Dora after moving from Virginia, the senior injured his left pectoral muscle early in his semifinal loss to Jewell Williams of Jensen Beach but didn’t withdraw until late in the second period.
“He fought as best he could,” Mount Dora coach Dave Kemmy said. “But he had a great season.”
There were a couple of local surprises in the semifinals. In Class 3A, Osceola’s Gunner Holland lost a 5-3 decision to South Dade’s Lawrence Rosario at 170 pounds. Holland was going for a third straight state title and another sweep with teammates Anderson Heap (145 pounds) and Cooper Haase (152), both of whom advanced to their finals.
In Class 2A at 132 pounds, Ryan Phillips of Winter Springs fell short of the final with an 11-5 decision loss to Fleming Island’s Jayce Paridon. But a local wrestler did still make it to the championship in that weight class as Deltona’s Kevin Kerns pulled out a 6-4 decision over Jonathan Martinez-Mercado of South Fort Myers.
A pair of undefeated local wrestlers kept a zero in the loss column. Elijah Penton of Winter Springs won a 4-1 decision over Konner Stuttgen of Bonita Springs in Class 2A 170 pounds while Harmony’s Nelson Toro pinned DeLand’s MJ Smokes at Class 3A 285 pounds.
Here are the local girls and boys who advanced to Saturday’s championship matches in each class:
BOYS
CLASS 3 A
145: Anderson Heap, Osceola 152: Cooper Haase, Osceola
285: Nelson Toro, Harmony CLASS 2 A
132: Kevin Kerns, Deltona
170: Elijah Penton, Winter Springs GIRLS
100: Kealonie Vega, Osceola
115: Cameron Galvin, Freedom 120: Miliana Borrelli, Lake Nona 155: Emiliana Martinez, Gateway
Varsity Content Editor Buddy Collings can be reached by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel. com.