Canes second in 3A-8 tourney

BRADENTON — Andy Gugliemini hopes his wrestlers heard the cheers and caught a glimpse of the celebration.

He hopes such sights and sounds provide a spark to his Manatee Hurricanes, who for the first time since 2005, watched another team walk away with a district championship trophy.

Manatee finished runner-up to North Port during Saturday’s Class 3A-District 8 tournament, totaling 206 points to the Bobcats’ 220.5.

On the plus side, the Hurricanes advanced 14 wrestlers to the Region 2 meet, which begins Friday in Brandon.

Given what happened Saturday, Gugliemini hopes they’re a motivated bunch.

“If this doesn’t bother them, and if this doesn’t make them work harder, then we’re in the wrong sport,” Gugliemini said after Manatee’s string of district titles was snapped at four. “Next year, the district championship will be in (North Port), so maybe we can turn the tables.

“Congratulations to North Port, but once again, we’ve got guys that aren’t fulfilling their obligations to the Manatee wrestling team. They’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing. ... It’s my job to figure out why.”

It wasn’t all bad news for Manatee. Aside from sending all 14 wrestlers to regionals, the Hurricanes had nine guys in the finals and crowned a tournament-best six champions.

Included in that lot is 140-pounder Stephen Cotton, who has had little trouble furthering his momentum after making the state tournament for the first time last year. Cotton cruised to the title Saturday on the strength of a pin and two technical falls, running his record to 43-4.

“Our coaches always tell us, one percent better every day, and that’s something that we try and do,” Cotton said. “From state on, we keep working, and we try to get one percent better every day. Each day ... is just another chance to get better.”

Cotton didn’t take away a medal from last year’s state meet, so he feels just getting to The Lakeland Center this year won’t be enough.

“I want to do it again — let’s see how high I can place,” he said. “It makes you feel good when you get there. But when you place, when you can say, ‘I’m one of the best guys in the state of Florida,’ that’s quite an accomplishment.”

Joining Cotton atop the medal podium Saturday were Ronny Whitt (103) and Travis Fulk (125). It was the third straight district title for Fulk, a junior.

Alex Doran (135), Brett Barber (145) and Bryan Woods (152) also won titles. Woods had the most dramatic win, scoring a reversal during the match’s final 13 seconds to clinch an 11-10 win over Sarasota’s Clinton Canaday.

Donnie Jankowski (112), Andre Romilus (160) and Quinn Tibbetts (285) were second, while Tyler Napoli (119), Wesley McMullen (130), Sam Gregory (171), Nathaniel Riggs (189) and Thor Miller (215) qualified for regional via the consolation bracket.