- April 26, 2024
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Wrestling in the 152-pound weight class finals on Saturday night in the Rotary Wrestling Invitational tournament, Flagler Palm Coast’s Jackson Trivett was wrestling a familiar foe: Jeremi Arroyo, of Celebration High School.
Earlier in the season, Trivett delivered a technical fall against Arroyo in the Flagler Duals. But Arroyo learned from his past experiences and brought something different this time around.
Trivett scored an early takedown, though, to take a lead. A few moments later, Trivett hit a tilt for back points, but Arroyo lifted his hips, and Trivett almost ended up on his back. It was a nerve-racking moment for FPC.
Trivett went on to win the match, 12-5, and become the first FPC wrestler to take first at the Rotary Invitational since 2008.
With the win, Trivett completed an undefeated weekend (4-0) and improved to 26-1 this season. His season in a word: dominant.
But he said Monday that he didn’t feel like he wrestled well in the finals.
“(Arroyo) made some adjustments to my style and slowed me down a little this time,” Trivett said. “I didn’t wrestle my best.”
If that wasn’t his best, things look pretty dim for Trivett’s opponents in upcoming matches and into the postseason in February.
Still, the junior is the first Bulldog to win a weight class at Rotary in six years. That’s big.
“It meant a lot to me because I really wanted to prove to everyone what a great job coach (Tom Bartolotta) is doing with us,” Trivett said. “He’s taught me so much in the past two years, and I really wanted to make him proud and feel accomplished.”
Bartolotta’s work over the past two years with the program is evident on the mat. This year, the Bulldogs are 15-0 in dual meets. They have won every tournament they competed in except for the Rotary, which they finished fifth. (The Rotary Invitational is a staple in Florida high school wrestling and always features some of the state’s top programs.)
FPC placed eight wrestlers over the weekend tournament: Jake Kosachiner (second, 113 pounds), Alfred Shavers (third, 120), Evyn Insalaco (sixth, 126), Kaz Maia (fifth, 132), Trivett (first, 152), Justin Boyle (third, 160), Malik Acton (sixth, 182) and Jonathan Muniz (fifth, 195).
Flagler Palm Coast will compete in the 5-Star Conference tournament on Saturday, in New Smyrna Beach.
Nieves, Dennis place for Matanzas
The competition at the Rotary tournament was brutal for all schools. All weight classes were loaded to potential state qualifiers.
Matanzas finished 22nd in the tournament, with just two wrestlers making it to the consolation finals.
Pedro Nieves finished fifth for Matanzas in the 138-pound class. Clayton Dennis took fifth in the 170-pound class.
"They both did a good job wrestling back to fifth," Matanzas coach John White said. "We need to keep working hard these last three weeks to set up our postseason."
Click HERE for a PHOTO GALLERY from the action over the weekend.
