Bulldogs wrestling went 15-5 last season. This year, they’re hungry for more.
Flagler Palm Coast wrestling coach Robert Bossardet enters his fourth season as head coach, and he has one thing in mind: domination.
The Bulldogs ended last season with a 15-5 mark, were 5-Star Conference runners-up and took third place in Class 3-A, District 2.
The Bulldogs are off to a 6-1 start this season, with their only loss coming against Clay High School, who is currently ranked second in the state. FPC lost the meet 38-35.
Two of the top Bulldogs wrestlers suffered injuries last season but are on track for another successful year.
Senior J.Z. Williams, who wrestles in the 135-pound weight class, went 25-5 last season. The state ranked him in the Top 5 all year before getting injured prior to the district tournament. So far this season, Williams is 7-0, and is ranked fifth in the state. Williams has pinned all of his opponents this season, and he represented Team Florida last year at the National High School Coaches Association National Duals.
Bossardet said Williams has a realistic shot to be the best in the state in his weight class.
Johnny Barrett, also a senior, wrestles the 189-pound weight class, and he went 25-6 last season. He was injured before the district tournament, too, and was ranked in the Top 10.
Senior 215-pounder Nick Shaw qualified for the state tournament last year. He has started this season 7-0, and is currently ranked second in the state and is hoping to win his first state championship this season. Bossardet said Shaw loves to compete.
“He does a good job of staying in good position for his weight class and grinding out his opponent,” Bossardet said.
Jimmy Gomes, a senior in the 160-pound class, is also 7-0 this season. He defeated his second state-ranked opponent Dec. 1, against Orange Park High School.
Freshman Byron Lively wrestles the 112-pound weight class, and he represented Team Florida in the Middle School National Duals last year.
Heavyweight Derron Green was conference runner-up last season.
The Bulldogs lost six seniors from last year’s team, but Bossardet said this year’s team has a lot of leadership.
“This year, we are led by a good group of seniors who are focused on becoming champions,” Bossardet said. “They are hardworking and talented young guys who are focused on making an impact on our team.”
Bossardet hopes to build on FPC’s rich wrestling history, which includes 12 individual state champions and three team state titles. He said this year’s team has wrestlers who can contend for a state championship.
“Our expectations are to constantly improve to become one of the most dominant programs in the state,” Bossardet said.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
7 p.m. Dec. 15 New Smyrna Beach
3:30 p.m. Dec. 17 @ Lyman Christmas Tourney
Dec. 27-28 @ Disney National Duals
5 p.m. Jan. 7 @ Clay Rotary Tournament
10 a.m. Jan. 8 @ Clay Rotary Tournament
2 p.m. Jan. 14 Flagler Rotary Tournament
10 a.m. Jan. 15 Flagler Rotary Tournament
WRESTLERS TO WATCH
NAME WEIGHT GRADE
Byron Lively 112 pounds Freshman
J.Z. Williams 135 pounds Senior
Nick Michael 140 pounds Senior
Jimmy Gomes 160 pounds Senior
Johnny Barrett 189 pounds Senior
Nick Shaw 215 pounds Senior
Derron Green Heavyweight Senior
