Host Oviedo's wrestling team got individual victories from Chase Gordon, Erin O'Dell and Jay Taylor en route to winning the Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman team title.

By Zach McCann ORLANDO SENTINEL

December 29, 2009

Winter Springs' Matt Nereim beats Miami Columbus' Nick Martin-Hidalgio in the 140-pound final at the Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman wrestling meet. (Phelan Ebenhack/For the Orlando Sentinel)

OVIEDO -- With competitors Spring Hill Springstead and Lakeland Lake Gibson close behind, the Oviedo wrestling team established itself as the front-runner in Class 2A at the Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman tournament Tuesday.

The Lions captured first place with 229 points, making a statement they're the team to beat. Runner-up Springstead (205 points) and Lake Gibson (third place, 180) will be the Lions' biggest threats at the 2A state meet in February.

"This team is it; we're going to win the state title,'' said Oviedo’s Chase Gordon, who captured first in the 145-pound weight class. "We had four guys in the finals, and we had some guys that should have been in the finals. And even if they weren't, they were right there.''

It was the sixth Jarzynka title in the event's eight years for the Lions. They won every year from 2002-06.

"This is a good confirmation that this program is back where it needs to be,'' Oviedo coach J.D. Robbins said. "And we're still going to get a lot better between now and February.''

In addition to Gordon, Oviedo's Erin O'Dell (160 pounds) and Jay Taylor (189 pounds) took gold. Heavyweight Doug Vollaro finished as a runner-up.

As Oviedo enjoyed the glory, another area athlete stood tall as well.

Winter Springs' Matt Nereim defeated Miami Columbus' Nick Martin-Hidalgio in the 140-pound division, marking the senior's first individual title at the Jarzynka tournament.

"It felt good to finally win here, especially since it was at Oviedo,'' Nereim said. "It's always great to win here. We have a bit of a love-hate relationship.''

Zach McCann can be reached at zmccann@orlandosentinel.com.

Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman

Team scores: 1. Oviedo 229; 2. Springstead 205; 3. Lake Gibson 180; 4. Camden County (Ga.) 177; 5. Hoover (Ala.) 152; 6. Cuyahoga Heights (Ohio) 142.5; 7. Columbus 128.5; 8. Palmetto Ridge 127.5; 9. St. Anthony's (N.Y.) 121; 10. Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) 118.5. Other area finishers: 12. Winter Springs 100; 16. Dr. Phillips 73.5; 17. Cypress Creek 47; 31. University 7

Individual winners: 103: Richie Bliss, Springstead; 112: James Morris, St. Anthony's; 119: Stephen Spradlin, Camden County; 125: Michael Bond, Hoover; 130: Nick Soto, Springstead; 135: Cody Ross, Springstead; 140: Matt Nereim, Winter Springs; 145: Chase Gordon, Oviedo; 152: Jonatan Rivera, Kennesaw Mountain; 160: Erin O'Dell, Oviedo; 171: Michael Kennedy, Hoover; 189: Jay Taylor, Oviedo; 215: Dylan Gamret, Palmetto Ridge; 285: Alex Wethy, Columbus

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