Wakulla returns to state duals with a region title-winning performance
BY BRANT PARSONS —Wakulla has been building its way back to this moment and on Friday, the War Eagles got to celebrate a region duals title after beating Baker County 64-15.
“Today was one of the first times this year we looked a little flat, like the moment got to us so it was good to see them wrestle through the moment,” Wakulla coach Nate Litowski said. “The cobwebs are off and we’re going to do a little workout tonight and we’ll be ready tomorrow.”
Wakulla won 11 of the 14 weight classes with Patrick Cooksey (132), Aaron Robinson (144), Clayton Manzi (165), Cole Manning (175), Blake Barodte (215), Brayden Hodges (106), Kyle Manzi (113), and William Harvey (126) all won matches by pin.
Brady Jackson (tech at 138), Gavin Mitchell (tech at 190), and Matthew Thaxton (forfeit at 120) also picked up wins for the War Eagles.
For Baker County, Taz Kinghorn (150), Sebastian Overland (157), and Jordan Perez (285) all scored wins.
Wakulla advances to Saturday’s semifinals with a meeting against defending state champion Mater Lakes.
“The only one that matters is the next one so we have to just keep it going and we have the kings tomorrow,” Litowski said.
Wakulla 64, Baker County 15
132: Patrick Cooksey (W) p. Robby Driggers (BC) 5:16; 138: Brady Jackson (W) tech. Kylee Hopkins (BC) 19-3; 144: Aaron Robinson (W) p. Ayden Prehaska (BC) 0:29; 150: Taz Kinghorn (BC) dec. Troy Thaxton (W) 9-5; 157: Sebastian Overland (BC) by FF; 165: Clayton Manzi (W) p. Collin Daniel (BC) 5:03; 175: Cole Manning (W) p. Eli Leggett (BC) 3:15; 190: Gavin Mitchell (W) tech. Kristian Chancey (BC) 20-3; 215: Blake Barodte (W) p. Anthony Williams (BC) 4:34; 285: Jordan Perez (BC) p. Lonnie Pierce (W) 3:37; 106: Brayden Hodges (W) p. Connor Alexander (BC) 1:25; 113: Kyle Manzi (W) p. Cooper Richardson (BC) 0:37; 120: Matthew Thaxton (W) by FF; 126: William Harvey (W) p. Kenneth Watson (BC) 2:46.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
