- April 16, 2024
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Coaches from every sport say it’s tough to beat an opponent three times in a season. Imagine having to do it four. Those were the odds that Flagler Palm Coast’s Kaz Maia was up against, when he took on Winter Spring’s James Nereim for the 3A state championship Saturday, March 14, in Kissimmee.
Nereim was able to hold off any scoring chances from Maia to win 3-1, halting FPC’s shot at a state title since 2007.
“Second place isn’t acceptable for me,” said a disappointed Maia. “I knew I was the better wrestler, but now I have to prove it next year. I’ve already gone back to work.”
Maia finished the season with 50 wins and three losses, but the FPC junior wasn’t concentrated on anything that happened this past season.
“I’m a lot more focused already, because of that loss and just getting to states,” he said. Maia has only been wrestling for two years.
Top finishers
Jake Trivett had to put his undefeated season against one of the nation’s best wrestlers, the now five-time champion, Fox Baldwin, who now holds the national pinfall record of 305.
During the match, Trivett’s injured his ankle, and after losing to Baldwin, he wasn’t able to wrestle in the third-place match, so took fourth. Trivett finished his wrestling career with 122 wins and just 15 losses.
Senior Alfred Shavers also placed fourth in his final attempt at a championship, and Evyn Insalaco took sixth for the Bulldogs. Only a junior, he’s looking to return to states to go out as a champion.
Freshman Michael DeAugustino, son of hall of fame coach and FPC athletic director, Stephen DeAugustino, became the second freshman in FPC history to place (fourth) and one just four freshmen in Class 3A.
"I feel I've come a long way this season, training every day with Shavers, but I need to stay humble,” he said. “It's a good thing I placed as a freshman, but now my name is out there and people will train so much harder to beat me, so I have to train harder to win to and do my best to win a state title next year.” DeAugustino’s older brother, Stephen, was a two-time state qualifier.
“The wrestlers did very well this year, and I am very proud of them,” coach Tom Bartolotta said. “FPC wrestling is back, and I look for us to improve on our fifth-place finish at state and repeat as conference, district and regional champs next year.”
BOX: Matanzas' Klopman takes fourth
Andrew Klopman was shooting for sixth best at the state finals, but he shocked himself. The Matanzas sophomore finished in fourth in the 2A 120-pound division.
“I definitely hope to be a state finalist next year, at the least, but my main goal will be to win it next year,” Klopman said. He finished the season winning just shy of 50 matches, going 47-11, including a district and regional championship.
Maverick Dennis, Chad Samples, Nathan Pooler, Troy Magnuson also made it to states but didn’t place.
“This was a great year for Matanzas,” coach John White said. “We were 26-5, district champs and conference champs, all with a young team. It was the leadership of the seniors that qualified for state (Troy, Chad & Nathan) that pushed the team to achieve what they did. Next year we will have an even better year.”
“Andrew placing as a sophomore takes some of the pressure off him,” he added. “He knows what to expect next year when he gets there, and I expect Andrew and several of the light weights to be on the award stand next year.
