'Solid' Sebring takes 5th at tourney

Sebring wrestling coach Josh Miller kept waiting for his team to turn the corner. He wanted to see the Blue Streaks win matches with technique, not just talent.

That happened Saturday at the Big Lake Classic.

"Last weekend it started to show," Miller said, "but this weekend, it was in full force. We looked like a solid, well-disciplined team. We barely made any mistakes and none from our upperclassmen - and that's what you want."

Sebring produced three champions and finished fifth in the 10-team tournament, surpassing Miller's expectations and setting a high standard for the rest of the season.

The Blue Streaks finished 2-1-1, their lone loss coming against eventual champion Melbourne. They defeated Clewiston and Treasure Coast, while tying South Fork.

Avon Park, meanwhile, had one individual champion - Charles Hubbard at 160 pounds.

"They wrestled really solid and everything is falling together finally," Miller said. "We made hardly any mistakes, and if we got beat Saturday, we got beat because somebody had more experience on us. It was solid wrestling with good positioning, and that's key."

In his first match for the Blue Streaks this season, Cody Spiegel made a dazzling debut, finishing first in his weight class at 140 pounds. Senior co-captain Mike Polatty also was a tournament champion, after beating his opponent via technical fall - more than 15 points - in the finals.

"To beat a kid like that in the finals," Miller said, "really impressed me. That's really solid."

And heavyweight Shane Liskey continued his early-season dominance. He defeated a former state qualifier in overtime in the semifinals, then pinned his opponent in the finals to finish 5-0 and win his weight class.

"He really showed a lot of heart," Miller said.

So did Hubbard, who pinned all five of his opponents en route to the tournament win.

"He pinned them all. He doesn't play around," Avon Park co-coach Ed Brown said with a laugh. "He had a little trouble in the finals, but you're wrestling the best of the best when you get to the finals. He pulled it out, though, still in the first period. He took care of business."

Avon Park finished 2-2 as a team, after losing to Okeechobee and Lakeland.

John Chittum placed third at 119, and Jeff Satine (125), Cody Schonek (215) and Raymond Arango (heavyweight) each finished fourth in their respective weight classes.

"I felt like it was a really good tournament for us," Brown said. "We really saw some improvement in our kids. They're definitely not where they need to be. But the young kids, they're coming along strong, wrestling hard and I'm encouraged. I think we have a bright future."

Sebring will wrestle Okeechobee tonight in a dual meet, while Avon Park will compete in a 16-team tournament at Tenoroc this weekend.