Hubbard ignites Devils in win

State qualifier Charles Hubbard scored a decisive pin midway through Avon Park's match Tuesday, propelling the Red Devils to a 48-34 win over upstart Frostproof in the first home dual meet of the season.

"We had a scare," Avon Park co-coach Ed Brown said. "Coming over here, we knew that Frostproof had the intent to beat us for the first time, and we didn't want to let that happen."

And they didn't. Barely.

Brown said Avon Park made "too many beginner mistakes" that nearly dealt the Red Devils an early-season reminder. Instead, they got a steady supply of veteran victories that carried them through the latter stages of the meet.

"I've got mixed emotions," Brown said. 'I'm glad about the win, but some things that we've been working on in practice, I didn't like seeing."

Those bad habits are bound to crop up in the season's first few matches. Mistakes like not shooting, not setting up their shots and reaching back will be corrected over time, Brown vowed.

"It could have been so much better," he said. "Just those beginner mistakes that killed us. But I'm confident they'll come around soon."

Avon Park got off to a strong start, with Jeff Satine (119) pinning Tyler Strickland and Bret Bennett claiming a victory via forfeit.

But the Red Devils lost their next four matches - three of which were pins - as their young grapplers failed to take advantage of fleeting chances to score.

Jose Torres (135) was pinned. So, too, was Jessie Guzman (140), despite leading most of the first round. Eric Villafuerte, wrestling in the 145-pound weight division, lost to Clayton Farrer, 17-3, in a major decision. Then, Brandon Bates was pinned by Rodney Strickland with 1.8 seconds left in the first round.

"We're just very young, very inexperienced," Brown said. '"For some of these guys, it just hasn't sunk in yet."

But that was why Brown enrolled Avon Park in this past weekend's Citrus Tournament, which drew 18 teams in one of the stronger early-season events in the state. In fact, there were 30 state qualifiers in the first seven weight classes.

"We chose to go for that reason," Brown said. "This isn't a game. This is looked at as a martial art."

And at 160 pounds, Hubbard is constantly perfecting that craft.

He won all five of his matches to claim the title in Inverness, then dominated Gary Pistole on Tuesday to score a pin in the first minute. After a forfeit, two Avon Park wrestlers - Robert Cabrera (189) and Cody Schonek (215) - claimed victories via pin to seize control of the meet.

"I think the Citrus Tournament opened some eyes for our new kids," said Brown, whose team placed ninth. "Most of them have never seen teams like that before, and they're only used to what we do in practice when they wrestle against teammates."

Avon Park received six more points at 103 when Frostproof forfeited after an unusual mouth guard malfunction, and John Chittum (119) closed out the meet with an impressive pin over Tyler Davis.

One of Avon Park's strongest wrestlers, Omar Torres, was recently cleared by doctors to continue competing after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

He was "chomping at the bit" to wrestle Tuesday, Brown said, but Frostproof had no counter at 171 pounds. "That sort of spoiled that party," Brown said, smiling.

Alas, Torres will have to wait until Saturday, when the Red Devils compete in the 16-team Okeechobee Invitational.

"It'll click for these kids," Brown said. "One day, the light will come on, and when it does, it'll be great."