Prep wrestling: Immokalee, Lely each send three from 1A regional

ENGLEWOOD -- Six Collier County high school wrestlers are moving on to the state tournament following Saturday's Class 1A-Region 3 wrestling tournament at Lemon Bay High School.

Although no one was able to capture a regional title, three wrestlers from Immokalee and three from Lely qualified to compete next week in Kissimmee.

At 113 pounds, senior Roche Pierre of Immokalee was pinned by Tampa Prep's Ben Buhler at 1:29 of the match. Indians junior Gabriel Ramirez took third place at 126 pounds by defeating Tyler Brady of Lemon Bay, 13-5, and junior Nevertesonne Lahens of Immokalee lost to Jonathan Conrad of Carrollwood Day School in the 132-pound finals by a score a 6-1. 

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For Lely, senior Herlan Henriquez took third place at 152 pounds by defeating Luke Hefner of Imagine School, 2-1. Marlon Moreta was pinned by Alex Sacramento of Oasis in the third-place match at 170 pounds, and Jacob Stephensen lost to Zachary Wendle of Victory Christian in the championship match at 182 pounds.

"I thought we did great today," Lely coach Tom McVicker said.  "We brought 10, we're moving three, and in my first year as a head coach I'm very proud of my guys.  A lot of them stepped up.  We're taking two guys that this is their first chance at states and they're seniors, so that has a special place in my heart.  And we have one more state qualifier who has been there before, so I'm very happy with our performance today."

Host Lemon Bay took first place in the tournament with 155.5 points over second-place Tampa Prep with 137.  The Indians finished in fifth place with 86.5 points while the Trojans came in eighth with 70 points.