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Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park’s James Bland takes the advantage Lake Highland Prep’s Kyle Johnson during the first day of Class 1A-Region 2 tournament at Panther Gym on Friday.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: February 10, 2008

AVON PARK — Sebring senior Shaanan Spiegel walked through South Florida Community College's Panther gym, watching all his fellow wrestlers in competition, with his mind set on nothing but his upcoming match.

"I just take it one match at a time," Spiegel said. "But I've been here before. This is nothing new and a lot of times my experience gives me the edge I need."

Spiegel (152) turned off his iPod and entered the squared circle against Space Coast's Gage Mullins. Less than four minutes later, he walked off with minimal sweat and maximum effort given to dispatch the final opponent of the day.

Spiegel doesn't leave just yet, as he watches a few matches before heading out for a run. The Sebring senior caught a glimpse of a few other wrestlers in his weight class, sizing them up for future reference.

"I watched to see what moves he makes and how he positions himself," Spiegel said. "It gives me details like how he uses a move, and I visualize how to counter that move and form a game plan against him."

Spiegel joined teammate Andrew Crump (215) and Avon Park junior's Kermosi Hatten (171) and James Bland (160) in the ranks of the undefeated during day one of the two-day Class 1A-Region 2 wrestling tournament on Friday.

All four headed into Saturday's action just two matches from a regional championship and a trip to the state tournament.

Bland, who came in with a touch of the flu, defeated Corey Foy of Cocoa Beach by technical fall and Lake Highland Prep's Kyle Johnson by pin at the 3:32 mark of the match.

A technical fall is a victory condition satisfied by outscoring your opponent by 15 points, according to scholastic rules.

Bland was really pleased by his performance, but had to change his wrestling style due to his illness.

"I wrestled very technical matches today other than my normal freestyle approach," the AP junior said. "By wrestling very technical, I was able to save some of my strength."

Hatten dominated both of his matches, pinning Pasco's Joseph Atwell in 1:38 and winning an 8-1 decision over Joe Conway of Citrus.

Avon Park's Troy Knight (215) had the toughest test of the day by far, facing off against undefeated Taylor Rotunda (30-0) of Hernando.

Rotunda has wrestling in his genes: His father Mike Rotunda is also Irwin R. Schyster, who often teamed with Barry Windham to form the two-time World Wrestling Federation tag-team champion known as U.S. Express.

Knight hung with Rotunda for a brief period, not afraid of the hype surrounding the Hernando grappler and initiating the action. But the end came just 1:35 into the match, as Rotunda graciously shook hands with Avon Park's Ed Brown and walked off in victory, while Knight's frustration boiled over.

Knight threw his head gear in disgust, which cost the Red Devils a point off their team total, but rebounded to defeat Matt Hallagher of Gulf in an 8-2 decision to move on, along with teammate Charles Hubbard to the second day's wrestlebacks.

Full results of the regional tournament will be featured in Monday's sports section.

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