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Wrestling with a complete lineup for the first time since November, the Matanzas High School wrestling team took second place Saturday in the District 4-2A tournament, finishing 20 points behind first-place Orange Park. 

Eight Pirates advanced to Saturday’s regional meet, which will be held at Matanzas. 

In the 132-pound class, Pedro Nieves finished second, losing a tough match in the finals to the defending state champion, 9-5. 

Marquese Jones (160 pounds) and James Rumph (220 pounds) both won their weight classes. 

“Marquese had a great tournament,” Matanzas coach John White said. “He went in as the No. 4 seed, but he easily defeated the top two wrestlers. There isn’t a kid in the state he can’t take down.”

Rumph defeated a wrestler from Orange Park in the finals, 4-2 — avenging a loss from earlier in the season. 

In the 285-pound class, Steven Moseley finished second, losing in a 9-6 decision.

“I knew all year we were a better team than the results showed,” White said. “The morale of the guys was much higher this weekend. They knew what we were capable of.”

Matanzas will host the Class 2A, Region 1 meet this weekend. White said wrestling in Matanzas’ home gym should help the Pirates. 

REGIONALS BOUND
120 pounds: Chad Samples, 4th
132: Pedro Nieves, 2nd
138: Troy Magnuson, 3rd
160: Marquese Jones, 1st
182: Carmine Pronesti, 3rd
195: DeShawn Myles, 4th
220: James Rumph, 1st
285: Steven Moseley, 2nd

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