Double Champions

It had been 10 years since a Jesuit High School wrestler had won a state championship when Austin Underwood ’14 accomplished the feat last year.

Now, it’s three Jesuit state titlists the past two years under coach Mike Scicchitano ’01.

Adam Lewis ’16 (145 pounds) and Nick Mosco ’17 (220) pulled off electrifying Class 2A championship victories in completely contrasting manners Saturday night (March 14) at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

For both, it was sweet redemption: Lewis and Mosco both lost in the final match last year (Lewis at 138, Mosco at 195), both by a single point, with Mosco succumbing in overtime.

This time, Mosco (33-4) won a battle of attrition in triple overtime/sudden victory, earning the one-point escape a few seconds into the third OT against senior Lavanda Warren of Naples Golden Gate for the 5-4 decision. 

For Lewis (46-4), the drama was in his dominance. In the final, he bolted into the lead and then pinned Evan Ratliff of Lennard before the end of the first period. The closest of Lewis' four matches at State was a 9-3 decision.

Brian Buser ’16 made a gallant effort to join Lewis and Mosco in the championship club. Buser (47-6) came up short by a score of 9-5 in the 170-pound final against senior Dakota Greene of Brandon, who was 76-0 this season.

R.C. Consuegra ’15 (126) won his first two matches at the State Tournament to advance to the semifinals before eventually placing fifth. Jarrett Roop ’17 (113) also qualified for State for the second straight year.

The Tigers finished fourth in the 2A team standings, as all of the top four teams in 2A hailed from the same Region (Brandon, Springstead, Lake Gibson, and Jesuit).

See a photo slideshow below from Saturday night, or click here.