Hines Wrestler of Year

Osceola senior leads team that includes 7 individual state champs

The Sentinel Varsity 2018-2019 All-Area wrestling team includes seven individual state champions.

Five of those titlists hailed from Lake Highland Prep, which cruised to victories in both the state duals and individual bracket FHSAA finals.

Wrestler of the Year

Malyke Hines, Sr., 138 pounds, Kissimmee Osceola Hines finished his high school career as a three-time state champion with a 267-4 record in high school.

Did you know? The Lehighbound Hines was a two-time NHSCA national champion and a multiple-time All-American in all three wrestling disciplines.

First-teamers

Logan Andrew, Lake Highland Prep, Sr., 195: Two-time state champion is on his way to UTChattanooga after a 35-5 season.

Kai Bele, Lake Highland Prep, Jr., 182: The future N.C. State wrestler picked up his second straight state title after a strong season.

Nic Bouzakis, Lake Highland Prep, Fr., 126: The freshman already has won three Florida state titles and finished the year ranked No. 5 in the country.

Jessiah Contreras, Winter Springs, Sr., 182: Region champ finished the year 52-3 and lost to the state champion by a single point in the semifinals.

Joe Gonzalez, Hagerty, Fr., 132: The young star pushed three-time state champion Bretli Reyna in the state final, coming up just short in his first Kissimmee experience.

Jaekus Hines, Kissimmee Osceola, Soph., 120: State runner-up piled up an impressive resume of wins throughout the season and reached the state-title bout for a second consecutive year.

Matt Kaplan, Lake Highland Prep, Jr., 220: Won every match in the postseason by fall on his way to his first state title.

Danny Nini, Lake Highland Prep, Fr., 106: Picked up a third-place finish after meeting the eventual state champion in a tough semifinal bout.

Travis Pawlowski, South Lake, Sr., 152: Had four wins over state finalists during the season and finished in third after meeting the eventual champ in the semifinals. Ryan Rowland, Hagerty, Sr., 106: Honored his late mother with a dominating season-long performance, winning the state title while going 56-2.

Curtis Ruff, Seminole, Jr., 285: Seminole heavyweight picked up his first state title after a 44-1 season.

Chris Rivera, Lake Highland Prep, Jr., 145: Won his third straight individual state championship while battling with a torn ACL season. the second half of the

Justin Rivera, Lake Highland Prep, Jr., 138: State runner-up finished the year ranked No. 13 in the country, one spot behind the state champ in the state’s showcase weight class.

Ethan Woods, Hagerty, Sr., 145: Three-time state placer won 55 matches, losing to the state champion in a highly contested semifinal.

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN M. DOWELL/ORLANDO SENTINEL Osceola’s Malyke Hines has his hand raised after winning the state title in Kissimmee in March. Hines is the Sentinel Varsity Wrestler of the Year.

Andrew Logan of Lake Highland Prep, bottom, battles Charles Alexander of Rockledge in the state meet.

Winter Springs High’s Jessiah Contreras was a winner at the Region wrestling duals tournament at Freedom High School on Jan. 17.