Gibbons runner-up to Lake Highland

KISSIMMEE — Cardinal Gibbons’ wrestling team found itself second only to one this inaugural FHSAA Dual Wrestling State Championships season.

And coach Frank Pettineo was not disappointed with the individual state tournament postseason less than a month away.

Despite solid wins against Somerset Academy (39-33) and Englewood Lemon Bay (45-27) in the first two rounds, Gibbons had no answer for Orlando Lake Highland Prep in the Class 1A title match, falling 72-0 on Saturday at Osceola High School. Lake Highland won 10 of the 14 matches by pinfall and never was challenged as the Chiefs (30-3) lost for only the third time this season.

“This is a whole different system,” Pettineo said. “It’s a new format. We’re young right now, but experienced. I’ve been in this position before.”

Gibbons found some solace in the strong performances of its middle weights (152, 160, 171 pounds). The Chiefs’ Amadeus Concepcion lost a hard-fought match to Kai Bele 16-10, blowing a 6-4 first-period lead.

At 160 pounds, Gibbons’ Osani Ley led Erich Byelick 2-1 at the end of the first period, but couldn’t hang on and lost a 4-3 decision. Then, at 172 pounds, the Chiefs’ Shane Cannon battled Hunter Brinkman tooth-and-nail before falling 9-7. Cannon twice battled back from three-point deficits and nearly won it with time running out.

“I think you’ll probably see us in the title matches of [those] three weight classes,” Pettineo said.

Cannon seemed disappointed in the defeat, but agreed with his coach that the state dual-meet tournament was a good training ground for the individual postseason.

“It was definitely a training experience,” Cannon said. “I felt I was better than [Brinkman]. I’m going to get him next time when we see each other.”

In other action Saturday, Wellington lost to state power South Dade 59-15 in the Class 3A semifinals. South Dade jumped out to a 23-0 lead and never looked back. Winning semifinal matches for Wellington were Jared Abramson (138), Cameryn Townsend (145) and Eric Saber (182).

Coral Springs and Cypress Bay were eliminated in first-round Class 3A action, while Olympic Heights lost a first-round Class 2A match to Jensen Beach 40-27. Wellington defeated Coral Springs 41-34 on the first day.

Cypress Bay fell to South Dade 66-9 on opening day.

PHELAN M. EBENHACK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Cardinal-Gibbons’ Osani Ley, left, wrestles Lake Highland’s Erich Byelick in the Class 1A finals.