Crestview wrestling comes in second at districts
By RANDY DICKSON
ramdyd@nwfdailynews.com
CRESTVIEW — Nick Panucci made his last home wresting match one to remember.
The Crestview senior pinned Choctawhatchee’s Robert Carrillo in the 171-pound finals of the District 1-2A tournament as the Bulldogs took second place with 141 points.
Crestview’s second-place finish was the best in team history. Mosley won the tournament with 173 points. Fort Walton Beach was third with 122.5 points and Choctaw finished fifth in the eight-team tournament with 111 points.
The top four wrestlers from each weight class advance to the Region 1-2A tournament that will be Friday and Saturday at Fleming Island.
The Bulldogs and Vikings will each send eight to region and the Indians will send four.
Six Okaloosa County wrestlers claimed district titles. Also claiming individual titles were Crestview’s Danny Johnson (112), Andrew Fuller (152) and Johnny Robinson (215) of Fort Walton Beach and Choctaw’s Clint Hill (160) and Kyle Purcell (275).
“I’m really happy,” Panucci said. “Last year I didn’t make weight and I missed districts so coming out with a championship really feels great.
“He (Carrillo) has really gotten stronger since the beginning of the season. He gave me a good match.”
The sport of wrestling and waiting can be tedious at times during the district match, but the local grapplers handled it well.
With a crowded field at 160, Fuller was one of those who had to wrestle three times, but he seemed unfazed by the extra match.
“It feels great to put in the work and see the results,” he said. “I’m proud that the work led to a district championship.
“The guy I was wrestling didn’t want to give up, but it was good to be able to help the team come out strong.”
Choctaw’s Hill was already thinking about next weekend and the regions.
“The regional is a bigger, tougher match,” he said. “It’s more wearing than this, but having a tough district match will help get me ready.”
Crestview coach Jeff Fowler was thrilled not only for his kids, but for all the locals that will be advancing to region.
“It was a really good tournament and a lot of good wrestling,” he said. “I think the kids from our district will show well.
“As far as Crestview goes, I couldn’t be prouder. Of course we wanted to win it, but Mosley is a really good team and for us to claim our first team trophy is a really big deal.”
Team scores: Mosley 173, Crestview 141, Fort Walton Beach 122.5, Rutherford 111.5, Choctawhatchee 111, Tate 101, Pace 75.5, Milton 28.
Region qualifiers by school weight and place finished.
Choctaw
130-Andrew Fusco, 3
135-Patrick Fitzgerald, 2
160-Clint Hill, 1
171-Robert Carrillo, 2
189-Michael Brantley, 3
275-Kyle Purcell, 1
Crestview
112-Daniel Johnson, 1
119-Colin Smith, 3
125-Justin Smoyer, 3
130-Kyle Miller, 2
152-William Mitchell, 3
171-Nick Panucci, 1
215-Trevor Sauls, 2
275-Joshua Longman, 4
Fort Walton Beach
112-Alfred Seabrook, 4
119-Matt Cabanas, 2
135-Brett Matlaga, 3
152-AndrewFuller, 1
171-Matthew Frank, 4
189-Jayce Holley, 2
215-Johnny Robinson, 1
275-Ulysses Roof, 3
