Devils Topple Thunder In Tiebreaker

Tiebreakers happen in sports all the time, but to go as far down the list as the referees had to at the conclusion of the Avon Park/Lake Region wrestling match to find a winner was a bit much.

The officials had to consult the rule books after the teams were deadlocked at 36 and had to go down to the eighth criteria - most first points scored - before the Red Devils were declared the winner during senior night on Friday.

"A win is a win," said AP coach Ed Brown. "We knew we were going up against a team that was stacked in the lower weight classes, which is one of our weaknesses."

The Devils had the advantage in the most first points (3-2) category over the Thunder to give them the victory.

Charles Hubbard (145 pounds) pinned Lake Region's Luis Morales early in the second period for the Devils only win on the mat.

Hubbard, who has lost only twice on the season, says that he's progressed nicely this season and is focused on the one goal of a state qualifier.

"I've faced some high profile competition against McKeel and Vanguard and I feel that I'm right where I want to be heading into the final stages of the season before the district tournament," Hubbard said. "I really practice hard and I've learned not to get down on myself if I make a mistake in a match. I try not to let it cost me and it's worked out pretty good so far."

Avon Park won five matches by forfeit against Lake Region - all coming in the 150-pound weight class and above - while only taking one forfeit at 130 pounds on the night due to an injury to Josh Sala.

But it was the lighter weight classes that gave Avon Park fits against the more experienced Lake Region squad.

"Lake Region had a lot of experience in the lower weight classes, which were mostly seniors, while our experience was in the upper weight classes," said AP coach Lee Elder. "I thought we fought hard, but we just ran into a team that was more experienced than we were."

Brown says he was happy with the way the younger kids wrestled and he knows that these are the matches that you learn from.

"You can't teach experience," said Brown. "We're not a very deep squad with two or three guys at each weight class, but we're coming together as a team.

"I think the real turning point for this squad was at the Lake Wales Invitational. We beat everyone in our district and took home the championship trophy. I think that meet was a stepping stone to state for us."

Ricky Barton (152 pounds), John Chittum (125 pounds), Jeff Santine (112 pounds) and Miguel Perkins (119 pounds) all lost by pin to Lake Region.

Avon Park was scheduled to compete in the 12-team tournament at Martin County in Stuart on Saturday that should give the Devils some much needed competition.

"That meet in Martin County is going to really show us where we stand as wrestlers because we're probably not going to face these kids again," Brown said. "It gives the kids some experience against some different wrestlers and they're exposed to different styles and moves that they may not have seen yet."

Look for results in Monday's sports section.

Avon Park is back on the mat Thursday when they travel to face archrival Sebring. The meet begins at 7 p.m.