Freedom tops team race in Knockout Girls Christmas Classic | All 14 weight class recaps
BY BRANT PARSONS — The Knockout Girls Christmas Classic did not disappoint with exciting finals and a full collection of new Knockout champions.
Orlando Freedom won the team title with 175.5 points. The Patriots finished with seven placers.
Viera earned the second-place trophy with a true team effort that saw 10 of their wrestlers score points.
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Florida Christian edged Mater Lakes Academy for third place by a single point.
Here’s a breakdown of the finals:
100: Breanna Higgins (Camden County) dec. Paola Perez (Mater Lakes Academy) 9-6
Higgins got an early takedown and then fought her way back in the third period to get the win.
“I am disappointed in how I wrestled there but if anything, the fact that I had great coaches just telling me to keep going was the difference,” Higgins said.
105: Grace Jawulski (Brandon) dec. Joslyn Johnson (Flagler Palm Coast) 10-3
Jawulski sealed the deal with a seven-point move in the second period to knock off last year’s Knockout champion.
“I just can’t believe I did it,” Jawulski said. “I was able to test myself today and I’m grateful I had the opportunity and I want to thank all of my opponents who wrestled real hard with me.”
110: Jazlyn Diaz (Riverdale) p. Zoey McDonald (St. John Neumann) 2:20
Diaz went five-for-five for wins by fall this weekend, totally 30 points and taking home her school’s first Knockout singlet. The senior scored 32 points for her team and lead the most pins/least time category.
“I’m the first one ever in my school to win a Knockout championship and it’s just a blessing,” Diaz said. “I don’t like how I placed last year in the state so this is my last year and I’m going to give it everything I can.”
115: Camdyn Elliott (Gulf Breeze) dec. Melissa Gallo (Florida Christian) 3-1
One of the most anticipated matches of the finals, this one didn’t disappoint with Elliott getting the win from a takedown late in the first the first and then battled off the unrelenting Gallo to earn another Knockout singlet.
“I think taking deep breaths throughout the match really seems to help and the knowledge that nobody works harder than me,” Elliott said. ”Coming back after losing it last year and this being my senior year, I really wanted to win it.”
120: Abigail Gonzalez (Miami Southridge) p. Catalina Kenney (Viera) 0:40
Gonzalez followed up her Ironman championship performance at 115 pounds with a dominant display this weekend.
“I’m trying to show people that no matter what weight class, you can be what you set your mind to,” Gonzalez said. “Just go and have fun and don’t take any moment for granted. I love wrestling and I’m having so much fun right now.”
125: Arianna Ruiz (Mater Lakes Academy) maj. Caly Rodriguez (Brandon) 9-0
Ruiz won her school’s first Knockout championship while not allowing a single point against her all weekend.
“I went out there and I wrestled hard,” Ruiz said. “I’ve been training for this and I think I really deserve this title.”
130: Kami Rice (Charlotte) d. Elliotte Strange (Conroe The Woodlands) ID
Rice jumped out to a 5-0 lead before winning the match by injury default.
“I just tried my hardest and put my work to the test,” Rice said. “I was confident in myself. “
135: Ella Hughes (Jefferson) p. Sarah Walsh (Middleburg) 1:41
The returning Georgia state finalist was nearly untouchable this weekend, giving up only a reversal in the final while earning four pins.
“It means a lot to win here,” Hughes said. “I’m working for that state championship and to get it this year and this is that step forward.”
140: Zoe Delgado (Florida Christian) maj. Julianna Caisse (St. John Neumann) 15-5
Delgado bounced back from an 11-7 loss at Let Freedom Ring to even the series between the two returning state finalists.
“Confidence was the difference,” Delgado said. “Last time at Freedom, I think I was very frozen and I doubted myself and my capabilities. I was also motivated by those cute Knockout singlets and I really wanted to win one.”
145: Ailee Briggs (Lemon Bay) maj. Arianna Antoniou (East Lake) 15-6
In the third meeting between the two wrestlers this season, it was Briggs winning by her third major decision.
“I’ve never won a Knockout ever and just having that monkey on my back and getting it off is just amazing,” Briggs said. “I just worked on wrestling in every position and every little detail.”
155: Mackenzie Schultz (Enterprise) p. Zaria Slater (Lake Mary) 3:28
Schultz was a scrappy 4-0 this weekend, winning all four back-and-forth matches by fall.
“I wanted to show that we have good wrestlers in Alabama and that we’re not to be looked down on,” Schultz said.
170: Isabella McFarlane (King) dec. Alexa Calidonio (Flagler Palm Coast) 3-0
A title battle was decided by a late takedown in the first period. The win was the second big one in the past two weeks as McFarlane won the Ironman in Ohio last weekend.
“I’ve learned that the work pays off and it will always pay off,” McFarlane said. “Sometimes its those days that you don’t want to come up to practice, or you don’t want to wrestle two big tournaments in two week but you have to keep showing up. “
190: Hazuki Sykes (Sumner) maj. Aimar Donastorg (Freedom) 16-2
Sykes dominated the final from the beginning and kept the pressure on, scoring points in each period.
“My work from the offseason is really showing here,” Sykes said. “I think last year, as a heavyweight, it was hard but now I’m back in shape now and right where I need to be.”
235: Mekialla Mauvais (Freedom) p. Kenzie Barrett (South Dade) 3:02
Mauvais did it again. For the second time in three weeks, the Freedom junior threw her opponent to her back and won with a fall.
“I feel my training and my conditioning make a difference and my teammates push me so much and it helps me believe in myself and I’m thankful for that,” Mauvais said. “I’m really happy that we (Barrett and Mauvais) got to wrestle again and at the end of the day, we are going to keep clashing with each other and you can never know what happens in a match.”
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.
