Area wrestlers take aim at state berths

The numbers are plentiful. The regional tournament will thin them out.

Area wrestlers will take their shot at the state tournament starting Friday and ending on Saturday. The top four wrestlers in each weight class at regionals will advance to respective state tournaments Feb. 18 and 19 at The Lakeland Center.

Mosley’s Jimmy Kahle (145-pound weight class) is the area’s most experienced competitor, as the senior seeks a fourth consecutive state berth. He will compete alongside five teammates in the Region 1-2A event at Orange Park Ridgeview. Mosley’s Ryan Newsome (140) aims for a third straight berth and Dillon Humphrey (125) a second.

Arnold leads a contingent of 44 wrestlers competing in the Region 1-1A meet at Jacksonville Bolles. The Marlins have 12 athletes and are fresh off a District 1-1A championship.

Zane Turnipseed (145) paces the Marlins and seeks his third straight state berth. Joel Ensminger (119), Colby Baker (130) and Jayme Atkins (135) each aim for a second berth. Each of the four won district championships and will open the regional against a fourth-place finisher from another district.

Bozeman advanced the next-highest number of regional wrestlers with 10. The list is led by 112-pounder Brandon Reyes, who is looking to move on to state for the second time.

Bay, Marianna, Rutherford and Wewahitchka also have regional qualifiers in the 1-1A meet. Each look for initial state qualifying berths, including Rutherford’s Marcus Roberts, who won a district title last week at 215 pounds and missed state by one match last season.

The odds for advancement are slimmer this week than at the district tournament. There are 16 wrestlers in each bracket at regionals, with a quarter of the field moving on, compared to nine or fewer at the district level.

Matches begin at 11 a.m. CST Friday. Saturday’s schedule starts with championship semifinal matches at 9 a.m. with finals at around 5 p.m. Admission is $6.

Area wrestlers competing in regional tournaments Friday and Saturday

Region 1-2A at Orange Park Ridgeview

• Mosley: Brady Smith (119), Dillon Humphrey (125), Forrest Lang (135), Ryan Newsome (140), Jimmy Kahle (145) and Wes Minchew (heavyweight)

Region 1-1A at Jacksonville Bolles

• Arnold: Joel Ensminger (119), Doug Miner (125), Colby Baker (130), Jayme Atkins (135), Taylor Ryan (140), Zane Turnipseed (145), Jimmy Lee (152), Keenam McAdams (160), Tyler Bragg (171), Wesley Bush (189), Dillon Lamont (215), Caleb Clayton-Molby (Hwt.)
• Bay: Charles Smith (130), Tyrell Biggs (Hwt.)
• Bozeman: Jonah Savage (103), Brandon Reyes (112), Johnathan Kenney (119), Dalton Tarter (130), Devin Peacock (140), Mason Crane (145), Charles Vincent (152), Kris Kenney (160), Doug Marshall (189), Chase Bullock (Hwt.)
• Marianna: Anthony Ward (112), Christian Rogers (160), Dalton Hendrix (171), Dylan Halstead (189), Alex Winskey (215)
• Rutherford: Beau Boggess (103), Mitchell Gomillion (119), Logan Perryman (125), Ian Patterson (135), Tarrance Reed (140), Daniel Nguyen (145), John Lee (189), Marcus Roberts (215)
• Wewahitchka: Weston Sarmiento (112), Nick Malcolm (125), Tyler Sarmiento (135), Trent Bruce (140), Casey Dauphin (145), Sean Rice (152), Randy Roth (171).