Dolphin wrestlers set school record with fourth place finish at district
Eagley, Hurst wins school's first individual titles
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze will send 11 wrestlers to Saturday's Region 1-1A meet at Palm Coast.

The Gulf Breeze wrestling team made school history Saturday by placing fourth at the District 1-1A meet in Panama City.

The Dolphins finished fourth with 153 points, but missed out on second place by only seven points. Arnold won the meet (175), followed by Pensacola Christian (159) and South Walton (154.5). Hosts Bay High were fifth in the eight team meet (143).

"To come in with four seniors and nine sophomores and get two firsts, two seconds, five thirds and two fourths is just amazing," coach Matt Alt said. "It shows that hard work and dedication pays off."

Of the 13 that competed, 11 of them will make the trip to Mantanzas in Palm Coast for Saturday's Region 1-1A meet.

Alt got more than he expected Saturday - each of the wrestlers gave their ribbons back to him.

"That shows what kind of coach he is," said assistant coach Al Gliniecki.

Tanner Eagley, in the 135 pound weight class, and Jacob Hurst, in the 160 class, became the school's first wrestling district champions.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Jacob Hurst (left) and Tanner Eagley (right) won their weight classes at district, the first two in GBHS history to do so.

Eagley's final match against Arnold's Trebor Wright was the match of the tournament. Eagley scored four points in the final 10 seconds to win a 16-14 decision.

Eagley pinned Bozeman's Eaion York in the first period and Bay's Zack Smith in the second period to advance to the final.

Hurst, after receiving a first round bye, beat Bay's Christian Gillette by pin in the first round before beating Arnold's Daniel Bush 13-5 in the final.

Jacob Wilson and Josh Hurst both finished in second place.

Wilson, in the 125 lb. class, won his first two matches before losing by pin to Arnold's Tyler Morgan in the final.

Hurst, in the 140 lb. class, won his first two matches before losing to Bay's Austin Campbell 16-6.

Josh Potesta, in the 145 lb. class, and Chad Colley, in the 152 lb. class, both won in the consolation finals to take third.

Potesta, after winning his first match, lost his second by fall in the first period. He'd win his final two matches, including one over South Walton's Chris Sims by fall in the second period in the consolation final.

Colley, after losing his first match after a bye, won his last two by decision, including a 17- 7 win over Bozeman's Nathan Walsh in the consolation final.

Stephen Houser (119), Will Boykin (130), Brandon Van Camp (215) and Cody Sharp (285) all finished fourth in their weight classes to advance to regionals. George Weisnicht (112) and Jesse Parsons (189) both went 0-2 in their weight divisions.