Flagler County wrestlers having busy, successful summer

Area wrestlers competed in the Spartan Nationals in Tampa on May 19-20 and the National High School Coaches Association National Duals in Virginia Beach on Memorial Day weekend.

By Brent Woronoff
| 7:41 p.m. May 30, 2023

Matanzas wrestlers Kendall Bibla, Tiana Fries, Mariah Mills and Christina Borgmann at the NHSCA National Duals wrestling tournaments held in Virginia Beach on May 27-29. Photo by Rachel Mills

Mariah and Juliana Mills show off their second-place medals on May 19 at the Spartan Nationals in Tampa. Photo by Rachel Mills

Mariah Mills goes for the pin at the Spartan Nationals on May 19 in Tampa. Photo by Rachel Mills

Tiana Fries holds her opponent to the mat at the FHSCA National Duals May 27-29 in Virginia Beach. Photo by Rachel Mills

Michael Fries pulls his opponent back into the circle at the Spartan Nationals in Tampa on May 20. Photo by Rachel Mills

T.J. McLean looks for ways to score points at the NHSCA National Duals May 27-29 in Virginia Beach. Photo by Rachel Mills

Kaden Golder wins a match at the Spartan Nationals in Tampa on May 20. Photo by Rachel Mills

FPC's Ana Vilar, left, prepares to wrestle in a match at the Spartan Nationals in Tampa on May 19. Photo by Rachel Mills

Kendall Bibla wins a match at the NHSCA National Duals. Photo by Rachel Mills

Kaden Golder fights off a takedown at Spartan Nationals in Tampa on May 20. Photo by Rachel Mills

Tiana Fries pressures into her opponent at the NHSCA National Duals. Photo by Rachel Mills

Brielle Bibla holds her opponent down at the NHSCA National Duals. Photo by Rachel Mills

Mariah Mills prays before a match at the NHSCA National Duals in Virginia Beach. Photo by Rachel Mills

Kevin McLean at Spartan Nationals. Photo by Rachel Mills

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

It's been a busy summer already for Flagler County wrestlers, and it's just getting started.

Matanzas High-Legend Athletics Club wrestlers competed in the National High School Coaches Association Boys and Girls National Duals on May 27-29 in Virginia Beach.

Matanzas wrestlers rolled up a combined 28-4 record in their matches. Flagler Palm Coast's Ana Vilar and Jocelyn Johnson competed in the tournaments along with Legend Athletics' Christina Borgmann, Brielle and Kendall Bibla, Tiana and Michael Fries, Mariah and Juliana Mills and T.J. and Kevin McLean. Mariah Mills competed in the boys duals.

Borgmann went undefeated at the NHSCA National Duals with a 9-0 record, capturing her second national championship in just over a week. She also helped her team win at the Florida Amateur Wrestling Association's Spartan Nationals on May 19-20 in Tampa.

Vilar qualified for a spot on Team Florida in a qualifying tournament last month in Fort Lauderdale. The rising junior won the girls 138-pound spot for Team Florida, which will compete in USA Wrestling's Junior National Duals on June 13-17 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Vilar won four matches at the tournament.

Vilar is the first FPC wrestler to make the state team for the Junior National Duals since her high school coach, David Bossardet, did it in 2002.

"It's an awesome opportunity for her," Bossardet said. "She's been working hard."

Borgmann, Vilar, Johnson, Tiana Fries, Mariah Mills and T.J. McLean were among the wrestlers who competed in the Spartan tournament in Tampa and qualified to compete in the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, on July 15-23.