District Wrestling: Dunedin, PHU take titles

CLASS 2A DISTRICT 8

Sunlake finished second in a close, hard-fought Class 2A-8 district meet with host Dunedin. Sunlake finished just 10 points (172) behind Dunedin's 182 for the district crown.

It was hardly a bad day for Sunlake. Like Dunedin, Sunlake won five district weight classes. Of the 14 wrestlers Sunlake had competing in the district, 12 qualified for region competition.

"We're very pleased with all the guys," Sunlake coach Russ Schenk said. "The kids set themselves up really nice for a good draw at the region [meet]. Our main goal was to get better."

The five district winners for Sunlake were Wesley Wood (113), John Ortiz (120), Austin Lopez (182), Zach Kweller (192) and Brandon Franklin (285).

Sunlake had five district title winners, three wrestlers which finished second, two who finished third and two which placed fourth. The top four places in each weight class advance to region competition.

LEE DIEKEMPER

CLASS 3A DISTRICT 7

Palm Harbor coach Brad Sakevich made it 4-for-4, winning the Class 3A-7 district title. Sakevich has been coach at Palm Harbor for four years and has won districts each time, but this time, the young team has its eyes on higher goals.

"We were a team that flew under the radar the first couple of years, but now people are paying attention,'' Sakevich said. "We are starting to get ahead now. Eight winners in districts. Things are really coming along. We weren't even a blip on anyone's radar a few years ago.''

Junior Josh Kampman, who won at the 132-pound class, said the Hurricanes aren't going to be ignored in the regionals.

"We are a family and we are the most experienced in the past four years,'' Kampman said. "We have some really high hopes.''

Palm Harbor winners included Connor Prince (106), Jared Prince (113), Kampman (132), Aaron Hartman (145), and Tyler Modlin (220).

JEFF BERLINICKE