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After two days of the FHSAA State Wrestling championships, four Osceola County athletes will battle for titles Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. at the Silver Spurs Arena.
Nelson Toro will attempt to become just the second state champion in Harmony Longhorn history when he takes on Palmetto Ridge’s Austin Page in the 285-pound Class 3A final. It has been a dominating performance by Toro so far as he has pinned all three of his opponents, including Fletcher’s Toby Matson in Saturday’s quarterfinals and DeLand’s Marion Smokes in the semifinals.
In no surprise, defending Osceola High state champions Anderson Heap (145) and Cooper Haase (152) easily advanced to the finals. Heap defeated Winter Park’s James Gonzalez, 9-3, in his semifinal match; while Haase dominated South Dade’s Gavin Balmaceda, 12-3.
Anderson will face South Dade’s Misha Aibos (46-8) in his final; Haase draws Riverview’s Alexander Soto (53-4). Anderson needed overtime to defeat Aibos, 10-7, at January’s dual meet championships.
The other county finalist comes on the girl’s side, where Osceola’s Kealoni Vega (38-1) reached the final by pinning Barron Collier’s Kiera Partello in the 100-pound semifinals. She will face Gulf Breeze’s Camdyn Elliott (22-1) in the championship.
Two other Osceola High wrestlers fell in the semifinals. Attempting to win his third straight state title, junior Gunner Holland lost in the 170-pound semifinal to South Dade’s Lawrence Rosario, 5-3; while sophomore heavyweight Elijah Vansickle lost a tough 3-2 decision to Southwest Dade’s Jonathan Fraga.
