Streaks 4th in Swamp Challenge

Sebring wrestling coach Josh Miller wanted an early-season challenge for his young team.

How about facing Brandon, the fifth-ranked high school squad in the nation?

"That was a great experience," Miller said, "because it let the kids see what a championship program looks like."

Sebring finished fourth in the 10-team Swamp Challenge Duals on Saturday, a surprising result for a team that returns only five wrestlers with prior experience. The Blue Streaks placed second in this tournament last year.

"The tournament was a lot tougher this year, which I don't mind at all," Miller said. "The kids got some good matches in."

Including their very first match against Brandon, a state - and national - powerhouse.

Yes, the Eagles beat Sebring 79-0 - they also swept the event, 403-0.

But, as Miller said: "Brandon did everything we do. They don't do anything fancy, nothing special, nothing over the top. You've got to get great at the basics to be a championship team. You don't need to do anything fancy or off-the-wall."

After that initial defeat, the Blue Streaks went on to beat Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and host Land 'O Lakes. They also lost to Clearwater Central Catholic.

Senior heavyweight Shane Liskey, Jabriel Exantus, a 160-pound senior who is a first-year wrestler, sophomore Jeremy Qualls (135) and senior Michael Polatty lost only one match Saturday. Several Blue Streaks also picked up their first wins of the season, which was a "great bonding experience for the team," Miller said.

"For the level of competition and to come out of here fourth place out of 10 teams was awesome," he said. "Awesome tournament. Everybody got five matches in, and it always takes until about this time of the year for the new kids to start picking up on things and let it start clicking. And it really clicked Saturday."

Both Sebring and Avon Park will compete in the Okeechobee Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday.