The wrestling teams from Milton and Pace High School continue to go down different paths following their dual match on Friday night at Milton. While the Patriots continue to improve their record to 12-3 in dual matches, a young Panthers team is looking to rebuild.
Click here to veiw photos from Friday night's dual competition
“We had eight seniors graduate last year when we took Florida regionals…so we had a lot of leadership and a lot of experience that left the program ,” said Milton Coach David Bohannon. “Anytime when you have that type of leadership and ability leave there is going to be that gap. So we are just trying to close it as much as we can.”
While the Panthers are in the midst of rebuilding, the Patriots are currently on the opposite side of the spectrum.
Pace wrestlers nearly went undefeated in the 63-12 victory. Senior Tyler Bradley, who pinned his Milton opponent in the 160 weight class, said the younger players are gaining experience on the team.
“We have come a long way especially with the young guys, we have some new guys who are starting to look good and come into their own,” Bradley said. “I think we are looking good, especially towards districts.”
One of the new players was fellow senior Andrew Gilstrap, who recently moved to the area from Georgia. Gilstrap won his match in the 170 weight class by decision. Gilstrap competed with a broken finger.
“It was a challenge, but everything in life is a challenge,” he said.
Gilstrap said the wrestling injury would require surgery, which could limit his further involvement with the team.
Regardless of which wrestler is available, the Patriots will travel to compete against Crestview High School on Tuesday night.
Pace wrestling coach Dan Mabry said his team should not take their upcoming opponent lightly.
“They have some really good wrestlers and they have a team that you don’t want to overlook,” Mabry said. “We are going to get focused on them and be ready to go.”
While it was a mostly dominating performance by the Patriots, there were a few bright spots for the Panthers. Several of the matches showed Milton would not be pinned down so easily by the Patriots. Another bright spot was the performance of sophomore Hunter Hall − who at six foot five inches tall and weighing at 246 lbs − outsized many of the wrestlers on the Pace team.
“Hunter is usually one of the bigger kids that comes through,” Bohannon said. “He is an inexperience wrestler, he still has got a lot of things he’s got to work on , but (we) are very proud of him.”
Hall, who was the only Milton wrestler to win his match on Friday night, believes the team will have what it takes in order to reach the next level.
“We have new coaches that are helping us a lot,” Hall said.
In addition to being a better team in the next two years, Hall also likes the team’s chances against their upcoming opponent at Gulf Breeze High School.
“I think we will beat them, we have came close,” Hall said. “They have three heavy weights and I have beaten them all.”
Milton will face Gulf Breeze on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Wrestling: Pace continues to win, Milton continues to rebuild (PHOTOS)