2012-13 Results and Media Coverage
,
Saturday’s Bulldogs Duals at Fontainebleau featured nine teams and 18 duals, and when it was finished, defending Division II state runner-up Holy Cross showed why it’s a favorite to make another run at the state wrestling title.
The Tigers defeated Jesuit 38-28 and St. Paul’s 45-21 to claim the tournament title. Tigers senior Alex Nicosia, the defending Division II state champion at 113, said the victory was a true team effort.
“We wrestled well, but we had a game plan coming in,” he said. “Of course, you want to win every one and get as many points as possible, and that’s what we tried to do. In a dual meet format, whenever you get those pins rolling and get your teammates riled up, it’s hard to stop. It feels good to get good victories over these Division I teams this early in the season. We’re excited.”
The Tigers trailed St. Paul’s 12-9 early in the final match before Holy Cross reeled off a series of pins to secure the victory. Holy Cross Coach Eric DesOrmeaux said his team’s confidence actually began at a team tournament in Iowa over the summer.
“The time the boys are putting in is really the difference,” he said. “The kids believe they can wrestle with anybody in the state and anybody in the country. We started out this summer going to Wartbugh University where we were in a team camp there against some of Iowa’s best, and we ended up winning. The spark started then.
“The boys really enjoy wrestling as a dual meet team. We enjoy individual competition, of course, but when you can get your entire team behind you and watching one match, that makes this into a great sport.”
Jesuit finished second, thanks to a hard-fought 36-33 victory over St. Paul’s, which finished third. Fontainebleau was fourth.
Jesuit Coach Spencer Harris said he was happy with the Blue Jays effort.
“We’re missing a number of starters that are out sick right now, but I think most teams are,” he said. “It gives us a chance to coach up some younger guys and get some mat time for everyone. I really liked the way our young guys wrestled because I think they fought hard.”
The nine participating teams included Pearl River, 2012 Division I third-place finisher Rummel, Northshore, Mandeville and 2012 Division II eight-place finisher Shaw, which also won the meet’s second consolation pool.
The morning matches consisted of duals between teams in randomly selected three-team pools. The pools were then re-seeded based on the team’s morning record as the afternoon matches began.
Fontainebleau coach Rick Zimmer said he chose the format because it gives teams a chance to get valuable mat time early in the season while also providing quality competition.
“The format is just the way to go,” he said. “The quality of teams is outstanding. For this early in the season, it’s perfect in terms of getting teams matches for all their wrestlers. It gives each team a chance to get some experience against several teams.”