- April 24, 2024
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FPC's Malaki Washington battles Marcelo Gonzalez. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Brendan Buckles sliding by Drew Dance. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's A.J. Cinelli brings an opponent to the mat. Photo by Ray Boone
Bulldogs coach Zach Sanford coaches his team at practice. Photo by Ray Boone
The Bulldogs' Joseph Rizzo wrestles with John Hald. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Zachary Clabby wrestles with Kole Hannant. Photo by Ray Boone
Flagler Palm Coast’s boys wrestling team didn’t have much when Zach Sanford took over as head coach during the 2018-19 season.
Back-to-back state champion Avery Holder graduated the year prior, and other state qualifiers were lost to either graduation or transfer.
The Bulldogs returned four wrestlers from that year’s team. As a result, nine freshmen started for the Bulldogs in Sanford’s first season at the helm.
They didn’t finish with a winning record, and they didn’t send anyone to states. But Sanford still sees last season as a success.
The Bulldogs put into motion the steps that are going to make them successful in future seasons.
“We had great guys on our team last year, and I’m really happy with what I had, but we were pretty much starting from scratch,” he said. “It was a blessing and a curse. But I got to start my program the way I wanted to and instill our values without much pushback.”
He added: “Last year, we were all heart. Now, we have heart and some technique.”
This season is “night and day” from last season.
Senior A.J. Cinelli returns to lead the team in the unlimited weight class. He and sophomore Blane DeFord are the most likely on the Bulldogs’ roster to qualify for states.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a good number of guys qualify for states,” Cinelli said. “I feel like we’ll eventually have a run at the state title.”
DeFord, who lost in the blood rounds at regionals last year, said Sanford’s coaching has greatly improved his wrestling.
“He really cares,” DeFord said. “If you’re not doing something right, he’ll tell you. He doesn’t hold back.”
The Bulldogs are gunning for a district championship, a conference title and top four in the region, as well as qualifying as many guys as possible for states.
“It’s going to take a lot of maturing,” DeFord said. “We’re going to have a lot of guys growing over the next couple years. But we’ve made a 180-degree turn from last year.”
