- May 2, 2024
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Holder stands at the top of the wrestling mountain as the 126-pound 3A state champ. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Holder nearly pinned Asenjo in the second period but couldn' t get both of his shoulders on the mat. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Pablo Asenjo reverses Holder' s position for three points in the second round. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Holder forgets to remove his leg band and looks for coach Tom Bartolotta at the end of the match. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Bartolotta and Holder share an emotional moment as the new state champion. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Holder came from behind in the final period to beat Pablo Asenjo 8-6. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Holder gets congratulated by FPC Vice Principal Anna Crawford. Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Photo by Jeff Dawsey
Mushroom pizza never tasted better and root beer soda never went down smoother for Flagler Palm Coast Bulldog Avery Holder, now that he’s the 126-pound Florida High School Athletics Association state wrestling champion.
When the junior awoke from a night’s slumber on Sunday morning — his 17th birthday — it became even more certain that Holder (50-1) was not dreaming. He had just capped off a historic season with an 8-6 comeback win over Pablo Asenjo of West Palm Beach Forest Hill for the Class 3A 126-pound championship on Saturday, March 4, at Silver Spurs Arena.
“This is the best feeling in the world,” said Holder with tears in his eyes. “I really can’t put it into words.”
After going up 4-0 in the second period, Holder found himself trailing 6-5 in the final period, when Asenjo reversed a few of his positions.
“I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get this reversal?’” Holder said. “And I fought as hard as I could, and I just did it.”
Holder was able to maneuver out of Asenjo’s body lock for a near-pinfall to earn the go-ahead points, becoming FPC’s first individual state champion since Alan Rutherford in 2007 and head coach Tom Bartolotta’s first title winner from FPC.
“He did a great job adapting throughout the match,” Bartolotta said. “Avery had his ups and downs, and the other kid wrestled well. We didn’t get any takedowns or tilts, but we found a way to win.”
Right when clock expired, an emotional Holder ran and jumped into Bartolotta’s arms and let out a loud roar to the sound of thousands of fans and a small FPC cheer section.
“It was a great moment,” Bartolotta said. “He was very happy.”
Holder is now 140-18 for his career, currently ranked third behind Michael and Stephen DeAugustino for all-time wins at FPC.
The other Dawgs
FPC state qualifiers Steve Canidate, Tyrone Jones, Christian Sheppard and Mike Martins failed to place (finish in the To 6), but fellow junior Michael DeAugustino finished third. He suffered a 7-1 loss to Osceola’s Malyke Hines — whom he split a pair of bouts in the season — who went on to win the 120-pound title.
DeAugustino (54-3) has finished on the podium for three straight seasons (fourth in 2015 and runner-up in 2016). He, along with Holder Avery Holder, Jones, Martins, Sheppard, John Johnson (ranked No. 5 in the state before injured), Damion Figouera (two-time state qualifier), Tyler Irigoyen, Curtis Brock and Nathan St. Pierre (Injured this past year but was First Team All-Area in 2015-16) will be returning, which gives Bartolotta a great deal of confidence going forward.
“We’re going to have a great team next season,” Bartolotta said, “similar to the 2015 team that finished in the Top 5 — and maybe a lot better. I’m excited.”
