BY GENE NARDI
The Wellington High School wrestling team traveled to Palm Beach Central High School last week to battle on the mat in the regular-season opener. The Wolverine grapplers handled the Broncos 47-18.
Both teams were recently voted “top 10” by Palm Beach County wrestling coaches, with Wellington holding firm in the No. 2 slot, just under county wrestling power Olympic Heights High School, with the Broncos coming in at No. 9.
Last season, Wellington set a school record, sending eight wrestlers to the state tournament. Colton Macfarlane returns for the Wolverines in the 132 lb. weight class; Macfarlane finished with a 44-7 record last season in the 120 lb. class. Palm Beach Central’s Ivan Pena represented the Broncos in the state tournament in the 126 lb. weight class last year. Pena entered the tournament with a 28-8 record as a junior last season. Pena has moved into the 138 lb. division this year.
The Wolverines started out strong, dominating the mat early, racking up 18 points, but as the teams moved through the upper weight classes, the Broncos chipped away at the deficit. The Wolverines recorded four falls and one technical fall in the meet, while the Broncos had one fall. Due to the Broncos’ slow start, they could not muster enough points to close the gap.
Details of the meet are as follows: 100 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Donovan Ortiz earned the 10-5 decision over Palm Beach Central’s Charlie O’Neil; 113 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Robinson Cid had a forfeit; 120 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Robert Saldarriaga earned a 15-0 technical fall over Palm Beach Central’s Dominic Davis; 126 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Cameryn Townsend earned a fall over Palm Beach Central’s Hunter Llano; 132 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Colton Macfarlane earned a fall over Palm Beach Central’s Kyle Josey; 138 lb. weight class, Palm Beach Central’s Ivan Pena earned a 8-7 decision over Wellington’s Tyler Difiore; 145 lb. weight class, Eric Reid of Wellington earned the fall over Palm Beach Central’s Nicholas Ferrar; 152 lb. weight class, Palm Beach Central’s Paul Ancene recorded a 7-3 decision over Wellington’s Jacob Treanor; 160 lb. weight class, Roland Kupoluyi for Wellington earned the 5-1 decision over Palm Beach Central’s Nick Byrd; 170 lb. weight class, Wellington’s Pharoah Charles received a forfeit; 182 lb. weight class, Eric Saber for Wellington recorded a fall over Palm Beach Central’s Michael King; 195 lb. weight class, Isiah Cook took a forfeit for the Broncos; 220 lb. weight class, Ryan Stanfill earned the fall for Palm Beach Central over Wellington’s Camron Allen.
ABOVE: Eric Saber of Wellington gets the fall against Palm Beach Central’s Michael King in the 182 lb. weight class.
