FPC's DeFord sets his sights on the top step of the podium

After finishing fourth each of the past two seasons, senior Blane DeFord wants to win a state wrestling title.

By Brent Woronoff
| 12:26 a.m. February 15, 2022

Blane DeFord, left, and 11 other FPC wrestlers begin their postseason Feb. 18 in the district tournament. Photo by Jake Montgomery

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Normally, Flagler Palm Coast's Blane DeFord doesn't remember his wrestling matches after they are done. He has to watch them on film to recall the details.

But there's one match he remembers like it’s yesterday: his 5-4 loss in the 2020 Class 3A consolation finals to Parker Drake of Newsome.

“One point,” he says, two years after finishing fourth as a sophomore in the 145-pound weight class.

DeFord finished fourth at state again last year, wrestling in the 160-pound class.

Now, wrestling as a 170-pounder, the senior doesn’t want to fall into the consolation bracket again. This year he’s aiming for a state championship.

“He has a good chance,” FPC coach Zach Sanford said. “He's the best in the room.”

DeFord enters the postseason with a 31-6 record. While he says doesn't remember his matches, he’d like to forget last season.

“(Last year,) I wasn't in proper shape. I was gassing in the second period. COVID just threw everything out of whack. Socially, people weren't around a lot. I wasn't prepared to compete properly. This year, I've been working harder in the room.”

BLANE DEFORD

“I wasn't in proper shape. I was gassing in the second period,” he said. “COVID just threw everything out of whack. Socially, people weren't around a lot. I wasn't prepared to compete properly. This year, I've been working harder in the room.”

Last year’s 160-pound champ, Riverdale’s Dominic Rodriguez, has also moved up to 170 pounds. DeFord has never wrestled him, but he's kept an eye on him.

“We have an idea of how he wrestles,” Sanford said.

The Bulldogs begin the postseason with the District 2-3A tournament Friday, Feb. 18 at Gainesville Buchholz. Sanford expects to qualify all 12 of his wrestlers for region.

In addition to DeFord, Kole Hannant (120 pounds), John Hald (126), Tim King (152), Bryce Dodge (160), and Marcelo Gonzalez (182) are returning state qualifiers. Dodge placed fifth at state last year, winning four matches in the consolation bracket.

Win or lose, DeFord, who has been wrestling since he was in the second grade, said he will hang it up after the season.

“This is it for me. I want to explore different things. I've done this for a long time,” he said. “I’m going to try to get into pre-med (in college).”