BY GENE NARDI
Wrestling season kicked off last week, and the Wellington High School grapplers hosted their annual pre-season classic. Teams in attendance were Forest Hill, Santaluces and Palm Beach Gardens high schools. The Wellington squad won both of its meets, first against Forest Hill, 66-15, and then against Palm Beach Gardens, 48-21.
The meet serves as a tune-up to get wrestlers ready to compete in the regular season. Last year, the Wolverines qualified a school record nine wrestlers for the state tournament.
Some returning to the mat this year are Camreryn Townsend at 132 pounds, Jacob Treanor at 152 pounds, Eric Saber at 170 pounds and Isaac Adonis at 195 pounds. Saber, a junior, qualified for the Super 32 Pre-Season National Tournament recently.
The Wellington wrestling program has developed into an area power over the years under the tutelage of head coach Travis Gray, who’s in his 11th season with the Wolverines. Gray was the 2016 Coach of the Year. His squad finished the season with a 27-9 record and led the Wolverines to county and district championships last season.
Gray is also a coach for the Wellington Wrestling Club. The club has a large following in the wrestling community and competes throughout the year. Kids as young as 8 can start grapping on the mat, which explains much of the Wolverines’ success over the years. Wellington is sure to remain competitive this season and will look to win the regional title. The Wolverines settled for the runner-up spot last season.
Results from the pre-season classic are as follows:
Wellington vs. Forest Hill: 106-pound Jesse Weinberg (Wellington) forfeit; 113-pound Kevin Hernandez (Forest Hill) pin Davio Coury (Wellington); 120-pound Justin Henry (Wellington) pin; 126-pound Robert Saldarriaga (Wellington) pin Carlos Chang (Forest Hill); 132-pound Derick Gould (Forest Hill) dec. Adam Parrish (Wellington); 138-pound Cameryn Townsend (Wellington) pin Kyle Milliken (Forest Hill); 145-pound Eric Reid (Wellington) pin Nate Auld (Forest Hill); 152-pound Jacob Treanor (Wellington) pin Julio Alvarez (Forest Hill); 160-pound Steele Holman (Wellington) pin Izaiah Cardona (Forest Hill); 170-pound Jake Pilat (Wellington) pin Bruno Rossi (Forest Hill); 182-pound Eric Saber (Wellington) forfeit; 195-pound Stephen Passeggiata (Wellington) pin Jorge Loy (Forest Hill); 220-pound Jacob Thomas (Wellington) pin Jordan Earle (Forest Hill); and 285-pound Eddie Dejesus (Forest Hill) pin Julian Odums (Wellington).
Wellington vs. Palm Beach Gardens: 106-pound Jesse Weinberg (Wellington) pin Jilovens Marcelin (Palm Beach Gardens); 113-pound Luigi Vaccaro (Palm Beach Gardens) pin Davio Coury (Wellington); 120-pound Justin Henry (Wellington) pin Evans Charles (Palm Beach Gardens); 126-pound Robert Saldarriaga (Wellington) pin Asher Ogden (Palm Beach Gardens); 132-pound Adam Parrish (Wellington) forfeit; 138-pound Cameryn Townsend (Wellington) pin Rashaud Dorestin (Palm Beach Gardens); 145-pound Eric Reid (Wellington) pin Alphanso Williams (Palm Beach Gardens); 152-pound Dan Ferreira (Palm Beach Gardens) dec. Jacob Treanor (Wellington); 160-pound Steele Holman (Wellington) dec. Jason Quesada (Palm Beach Gardens); 170-pound Eric Saber (Wellington) dec. Jamie Long (Palm Beach Gardens); 182-pound Lindel Coffie (Palm Beach Gardens) pin Jake Pilat (Wellington); 195-pound Stephen Passeggiata (Wellington) forfeit; and 285-pound Ahmed Khaleel (Palm Beach Gardens) pin Jacob Thomas (Wellington).
ABOVE: Wellington’s Eric Saber (170 lbs.) tries to turn Palm Beach Gardens’ Jamie Long to his back.
