Duals State Champions!
With a historic performance in winning three State Duals matches over two days in Kissimmee, Jesuit wrestling captured the Class 2A State Duals title!
The Tigers vanquished an elite gauntlet in three duals at Osceola High School to earn the crown, knocking off No. 1 Lake Gibson, No. 4 Somerset Academy, and No. 3 Charlotte in succession to win the crown!
It is the 4th team State Championship for the Tigers, following a State Duals victory in 2020 and State Tournament titles in 2022 and 2024, all under head coach Sal Basile.
It started Friday (Jan. 24) with the 1 vs. 2 showdown against Lake Gibson, and pins by Anthony Rametta '26 (285) and Brock Glover '27 (113) catapulted Jesuit to a 40-21 win.
The semifinal on Saturday morning (Jan. 25) vs. the defending Class 1A State Champ, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, featured a huge comeback. Trailing 22-9, the Tigers were sparked by Zach Leto '28's last-second triumph at 106 that launched Jesuit to 6 victories in the final 7 matches en route to a nailbiting 34-28 win. Xavier Albo '25 (144), needing a victory in the final match to secure the title, routed his opponent 13-0. In his previous match, Albo was sensational in an OT win over the No. 1-ranked 144-pound wrestler, Jaiden Oliver of Lake Gibson.
In the championship dual v. Charlotte, the Tigers rocketed out of the gate with 5 straight wins, including pins by K.J. Vazquez '27 (157), Draven McCall '25 (165), Robert Bossowski '26 (190), and Marvin Mendez '26 (215). Jesuit clinched the 59-13 win a few matches before Mason Basile '27 (150) officially closed it out with a major decision and the celebration began.
Also winning matches for the Tigers this weekend were Malachi Ortiz, Reid Yakes, John Alvarado, Jayden Bowles, and Aidan Garrity. Winning all three their matches were McCall, Vazquez, Albo, Bowles, Yakes, and Glover.
Four days after the State Duals triumph, the wrestling team was recognized by Scicchitano, and individually presented with its gold medals by Coach Basile, in front of the entire student body at Convocation in the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Jesuit.
This is the first of two opportunities for Jesuit wrestling to win a team State Championship this season. In March, the Tigers will try to defend their State Tournament crown from last season.
To view more phenomenal photos from the State Championship victory by Heather Bossowski, P '26, click here.