State run ends for Erched, Wolk

KISSIMMEE — The day started with a moment of silence and each match ended with hugs from opponents and their coaches.

On Friday at the FHSAA tournament, the wrestling community showed its support again for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and respect for the wrestlers who chose to carry on after tragedy.

“As small as we are, the community opened up their hearts, their arms and their facilities,” assistant and acting coach Daniel Sanchez said. “They gave us every resource possible to ensure that we were in the right state of mind and still able to compete.”

Sanchez took over leading the team after athletic director and wrestling head coach Chris Hixon was killed during a mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas.

Jason Wolk (106) and Steven Erched (126) both advanced to the state tournament and each saw their postseason run end in tough brackets on Friday.

“Coach Hixon always told them to never give up and that’s exactly what they did, they wrestled hard for six full minutes in each match and always had hope,” Sanchez said.

Wolk lost to Miami Southridge’s Christopher Busutil in the first round and then to Fleming Island’s Louis Gagliardo in his first consolation match.

After losing his opening match, Erched defeated Strawberry Crest’s Jacob Spray before having his season ended by Miami Beach’s Daishaun Felton.

“My coach would not have wanted this to slow us down,” Wolk said of Hixon. “We’ve worked so hard for this tournament.”

“I told myself that I would give myself as much time to grieve after the season, but right now I tried to focus on the task at hand.”

Chase Gillis Estevez Valledor Miranda

Amadeus Concepcion (152), Osvani Ley (160) and Shane Cannon (170) are all still in contention in the championship bracket.

Coral Springs Charter’s Michael Sarron (132) also went, 2-0, on Friday.