Sidelines: Pirates battle to third straight win

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Pirates battle to third straight win

With every week comes another milestone set for Matanzas, who just passed last year’s win total to reach 3-0 for the first time, in a 9-7 defensive win over Mount Dora on Friday, Sept. 11, in Lake County.

After a scoreless first quarter, The Pirates struck first with a Patrick Tully field goal from 33 yards out in the second quarter. Just before halftime, quarterback Mackenzy Wagner led a 96-yard drive, where he ran for a 26-yard gain and hooked up with Andre Bodison for a 44-yard touchdown pass, which was enough to hold off the Hurricanes, who scored a late touchdown.

“We are just taking it one game at a time,” said Dillard, who has rushed for nearly 400 yards in three games. “The difference between us last year and this year is that we all believe that we can win. No matter what opponent you put in front of us, it will not stop us from playing hard and trying to outwork them.”

Dillard finished with 140 rushing yards, and Bodison had five catches for 90 yards and a score.

The Pirates will open their district schedule against the winless Seabreeze Sandcrabs at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Matanzas, where they will look to win a district game for first time in three years.

Flagler wrestling takes down champs

The Flagler Attack wrestling team competed in the Super 32 Qualifier Labor Day Weekend Tournament, which featured over 430 wrestlers representing eight different states. The following wrestlers participated, and the Top 4 placers qualified for the Super 32 National Tournament that will be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1:

Kaz Maia placed first in the 152-pound division, going undefeated and defeating Cody Cochran, a state runner-up in Georgia 2-1 in the finals. Evyn Insalaco placed third in the 145-pound division, going 7-1 on the weekend in the 64-man bracket. Insalaco defeated three state placers and a state champion (Gabriel McDuffie from Redback, Tennessee, by pinfall). His only loss came by way of undefeated defending state champ Justin Ruffin in the quarterfinals. Insalaco was up 2-1 with seconds left in the match and was reversed to his back.

Michael DeAugustino finished fourth in the 126-pound division, going 6-2 on the day and losing in the quarterfinals to defending state champion Charles Thurman from Heritage, Georgia. DeAugustino defeated nationally ranked Evan Carrigan, a defending South Carolina state champ in the consolation quarterfinals.

Avery Holder went 4-2 on the day and defeated the second seed and defending state champions Keegan Smith from Bremen, Georgia, in the third round. Holder also had a big win over Paul Watkins, who placed fourth, in the quarterfinals. Holder barely missed placement with a loss to third-place finisher Philipp Freeman 5-4.

“Well, this was an offseason tournament, and our kids are progressing well for the season in the winter,” Tom Bartolotta said. “I feel like we have three of four kids that can contend for a state championship, and I am very pleased with their effort and dedication.”

Pirates conquer the waters

The Matanzas swim team opened its season with victories in the girls and boys meets against Palatka on Thursday, Sept. 3, at Palatka.

The girls won 82-81, and the boys 85-52. First place swims were turned in by Maddy O’Keefe in the 100 Butterfly, Kylie Allen, 500 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke; Chiara Longo in the 100 and 200 Freestyle.

For the relays, the girls 200 Medley (O’Keefe, Allen, Longo, Anne Shoemaker) took first with a time of 2:10.78 as did their 400 Freestyle relay (O’Keefe, Martina Fonti, Longo, Allen) with a time of 4:31.50.

First place swims for the boys were Jacob Purvis in the 200 Freestyle; Alex D’Errico, 50 and 100 Freestyle; Brendan Zagumennikh, 200 Individual Medley and 100 Backstroke. The boys’ relays won the 200 Medley (Zagumennikh, Edguardo Gonzalez, Purvis, D’Errico) with a time of 1:55.19 and the 200 Freestyle (Zagumennikh, D’Errico, Gonzalez, Purvis) with a time of 1:40.45.

FPC bowling

In losing efforts to Atlantic, Alex Detoma bowled three 200 games (211, 219, 202) for the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs. For the girls, Shelby Taulbee rolled 183,181 and 216.