BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Jaland Carey won his weight class and was one of three Bradford Middle School wrestlers to place at the Feb. 1 North Florida Championships, which were held in Lake City.
Carey took first in the 150-pound class after earning a 16-3 win by major decision over Green Cove Springs’ Brant Rountree. Carey reached the championship match by defeating Oakleaf’s Elijah Gage by an 18-2 technical fall and then defeating Lakeside’s Piper Soto 10-3.
Julius Givings placed third in the 113 class. He started with two wins by pins, defeating Episcopal’s Asa Black (9:15) and Green Cove Springs’ Jonathan Riley (19 seconds). After a 16-11 loss to Lake Asbury’s Carter Gaither, Givings pinned Lakeside’s Cobyn Broughton in 4:58 and then defeated Emeral Coast’s Carson Haener by sudden victory.
Kaison Pierce also earned a third-place finish for the Tornadoes. Pierce began his day in the 190 class by recording a 17-2 technical fall over Florida High’s Nicholas Papesh. He then lost 4-0 to Suwannee’s Colton Shelton, but bounced back by pinning Fernandina Beach’s Beau Brazzeal in 2:38. Pierce took a 12-3 major decision over Florida High’s Papesh in the third-place match.
Bradford had four wrestlers earn two wins on the day: Avery Gardner (80 class), Demetrius Hunter (95), Nathaniel Givings (120) and Stanley Varnum (132).
Conner Faircloth (85), Colton Rowe (126) and Jacoby Pernell (285) also won matches.
