Booker Heavyweight Wins Regional Championship

BRADENTON - As soon as Sarasota Booker's Kazimierz Dymek touched hands with his opponent during Saturday's Class 1A-Region 3 regional final at 289 pounds, he knew he did not have a strength advantage.

“He was short and stocky,” Dymek said of Brekley Prep's Greg Tomlin. “So I relied on tactics.”

And Dymek racked up a 10-0 lead before pinning Tomlin at 4:33.

Dymek (28-0) advanced to the state championship tournament.

So did teammate Anthony Turner (24-9) at 215 pounds. Turner defeated Admiral Farragut's Blaine Ward, 3-1, to claim third place.

The top four individuals advanced to state.

Booker coach Bill Pitts said it was the first time in school history that Booker advanced two individuals to state.

“We're getting more guys interested in wrestling,” Pitts said. “People had not been paying much attention to our program. Now they will.”

Northside Christian won the meet - qualifying it for state - with 147.5 points, followed by South Fort Myers (131), Jesuit (90.5) and Steinbrenner (87).

Booker placed 16^th.

Dymek advanced to state with a torn LCL in his right knee. The injury he sustained about two months prior to the regional wrestling tournament was following by weekly electro-stimulation treatments and other types of therapy.

Dymek said the injury hampered his bread-and-butter move, the outside sweep-and-single.

“I can't get the torque on that move anymore,” Dymek said. “So I have to adjust to the right.”

Twice in the final, Tomlin attempted to put Dymek in a head throw.

“No one puts me in a head throw,” Dymek said.

And twice, Dymek used Tomlin's weight against him and scored 2-point takedowns.

Dymek placed sixth at state last season.

“I look forward to dominating this time,” Dymek said.