LYNN HAVEN — Savoring titles in the Panhandle Championship lasted mere moments on Saturday with anxious wrestlers eyeing medals of a different kind.
The last major tournament before district events was staged at Mosley’s Jim Redfern Gymnasium. Six area competitors won championships, Arnold leading the way with three in continuing its dominance in the lower weight classes. Saturday’s 15-team tournament, won by Choctawhatchee, was a primer for the first steps toward state berths in two weeks.
It also gave a preview of a District 1-1A clash between Arnold and Marianna. The schools have traded district crowns the past two seasons and the Bulldogs believe they are prepared to win again with a roster of 13 seniors.
One of those, Chris Warf, gained a measure of redemption as his career winds down. His pin of Bozeman’s Jonathan Kenney delivered the 138-pound championship. It was Warf’s best finish in the Panhandle Championship, surpassing a fifth-place showing as a sophomore.
“My head’s about to explode right now, to be honest. This tournament has always been my Achilles heel,” Warf said. “Last year we had one guy in the final and we had four kids in the first-place matches this year.”
Warf also recorded a win to give him a boost entering the district tournament with Kenney as an obstacle. Warf avenged an earlier loss to his Bozeman and district counterpart in improving to 27-4.
“You hope it carries into it,” Warf said of the district tournament at Wewahitchka on Feb. 1. “Now we want to get our district title back, and our region is up for grabs.”
Patterson and Arnold will have a bit to say about the district title. He defeated Pace’s Anthony Krevatas 10-3 to secure the 132-pound title. It was the Marlins’ third and final individual triumph.
Richie McClanahan and Brock Carlan also won at 120 and 126 pounds, respectively. Patterson moved to 25-9 with the victory.
He said wrestling against McClanahan and Carlan in practice has made them all honed for the postseason.
“They make me better every single day,” Patterson said. “They are the best wrestlers around.”
Patterson said this win and any collected during next week’s Bay County Championship serve as confidence boosts entering the district round, which statistically offers the best odds of advancement. The top four in each weight class move on to regionals, where a full bracket of 16 awaits.
“I’m so ready for districts,” Patterson said. “Last year I was a match away (from advancing to the regional) and I want to get to state and make a name for myself.”
The same can be said for Lang, who defeated Marianna’s Devin Combs for a repeat title at 152 pounds and has been one of the region’s top wrestlers each year. Lang also bested Combs in last year’s Panhandle Championship.
Lang has qualified for the state meet in each of the past three seasons and is in form to do so again with a 28-1 record, the lone loss coming to a defending state champ. He said winning Saturday was an important accomplishment as Mosley prepares for the road ahead as the only county team in Class 2A.
“I took this very personally because this is our tournament,” Lang said. “This was the last time I’ll wrestle here. I wanted to make it a good match.”
That said, Lang admitted his mind has been on district, regional and beyond for weeks before Saturday. It doesn’t take away from his accomplishments, he said, and added there were good tests in this tournament for the final stages.
“Everything I’m doing is prepping me for state,” Lang said. “State is the goal. State is the focus.”
Similar aims are shared by each of the 14 champions on Saturday. Bay’s Chance Layfield joined that group with an 11-3 win over Garret Jones of Arnold at 113.