Cocoa Beach earns first region title, sets stage for Saturday
BY BRANT PARSONS —Cocoa Beach burst out of the starting blocks and rode the way to win the school’s first-ever region duals title at the FHSAA State Duals.
The Minutemen won the first seven matches and beat Hernando 53-19 to win the 1A-2 crown.
“It’s the first time here for us and the first time we’ve been here,” Cocoa Beach coach Chris Kelly said. “To get out there and win like that was important and we need to come back tomorrow and be even better.”
Christian Day (132), Cole Webb (138), Adrian Day (144), Kealan Sieni (150), Gustavo Ferreira (157), Aaron Horr (165), and Micah Wittenberg (175) all picked up wins to give Cocoa Beach a 38-0 lead.
Hernando bounced back with Kian Blyss (190), Leonard Young (215), William Blair (285), and Corbin Helm (106) picking up four straight wins.
The Minutemen then rallied with Asher Cabral (113), Duane Mallory (120), and Anthony Aquafredda (126) closing the dual out.
“Hopefully this was an eye-opener and we could out better tomorrow with more energy,” Kelly said.
Cocoa Beach will face St. John Neumann in the state semifinals on Saturday morning.
Cocoa Beach 53, Hernando 19
106: Corbin Helm (H) p. Brayden Acquafredda (CB) 1:31; 113: Asher Cabral (CB) tech. Jacob Walker (H) 17-0; 120: Duane Mallory (CB) p. Diego Alverio (H) 2:41; 126: Anthony Acquafredda (CB) p. James Browning (H) 0:15; 132: Christian Day (CB) maj. Cael Helm (H) 11-3; 138: Cole Webb (CB) p. David Moen (H) 1:57; 144: Adrian Day (CB) tech. Jacob Fetzner (H) 17-2; 150: Kealan Sieni (CB) dec. Terrance Shields (H) 7-4; 157: Gustavo Ferreira (CB) p. Dameon Lopez (H) 1:09; 165: Aaron Horr (CB) p. Chase Monsegur-Brunet (H) 1:36; 175: Micah Wittenberg (CB) p. Mason Pauliot (H) 3:26; 190: Kian Blyss (H) dec. Nathan Pond (CB) 2-1; 215: Leonard Young (H) p. Landon Fischer (CB) 13-4; 285: William Blair (H) p. Brett Robbins (CB) 1:40.
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.
