Four SHS wrestlers move on to state championships

Published 9:34 am Thursday, March 1, 2018

LIVE OAK, Fla. — The numbers are impressive for the Suwannee High School wrestling program — 14 different state champions who have combined for 23 individual state titles. 

The Bulldogs are hoping to increase those numbers as they send four wrestlers to Kissimmee for the FHSAA Class 1A State Championships on Friday and Saturday.  

Freshmen Xander Kirkland and Timothy Jolicoeur, junior Terrell Williams and senior Chase Clark qualified through a regional meet and will have the opportunity to compete for a state title.  

“All four have a really good chance at placing,” said second-year Suwannee coach Logan Register. “Xander, Chase and Terrell have been pretty steady, pretty dominant the entire year. Timothy had a little slower start, but he keeps getting better and better. That’s why I think he is going to shock a lot of people.”

Kirkland and Jolicoeur are also vying for another impressive feat — they are trying to become the first freshmen in school history to earn a state championship.  

Kirkland, who competes in the 106-pound weight class, took home the district championship and the Class 1A-Region 1 title. He won his last two matches at the regional tournament by pin.

“Xander Kirkland, all season long has shown a lot of heart,” Register said. “He wrestles very aggressive. That’s where I feel he will have the edge.”

Kirkland is focused on keeping the same routine that has led to plenty of success. He spoke about having the same attitude for the state tournament and not changing his approach. 

“Try to keep the same mindset I always have,” he said. “To look at it as a normal match because I don’t want my nerves to get the best of me.”

Kirkland will face Logan Kordner (Astronaut High School) in the first round. If Kirkland wins, there’s a possibility of a very interesting matchup in the second round with another state-ranked wrestler in Chase Gillis (52-5). 

Gillis and Kirkland faced off in December with Kirkland winning that match. 

Jolicouer, who has come on strong late, was a fourth-place finisher at regionals. He’ll be wrestling for the 126-pound title. His first-round matchup will be a tough one against Tampa Prep’s Ben Buhler. 

Clark placed third in regionals and was Suwannee’s lone senior to advance. He said he’s gained confidence by defeating some of the other state qualifiers this season. 

For Clark, that confidence is a huge factor as he prepares for his final high school wrestling matches. 

“It’s a mind game in wrestling,” Clark said. “You can have all the technique in the world, but if you think that you can’t beat that kid, you’re not going to beat that kid.”

Register also has plenty of confidence in the senior.

“Chase Clark is strong, athletic, aggressive, technical,” Register said. “All-around he’s an awesome wrestler.”

Clark will wrestle Alan Morano (29-11) in the first round.  

Williams (152 pounds), who Register called “super athletic and super tough”, took fourth at regionals. In January, Williams was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at Suwannee’s home tournament — the Billy Saylor Invitational. 

He’ll face Amadeus Concepcion (48-1) in the first round of the state tournament.