The fighting continues for the Oviedo Lions, as they strip off their singlets to reveal Florida JETS outfits underneath, and battle in another season of club wrestling. 

 

They got a cold blast from the north to help usher them into the club wrestling season with a visit from a Canadian team that's been touring the state for the past week preparing for their national championships.

 

Wednesday and Thursday the two teams fought it out on the mat, learning each other's styles and helping each other prepare for championships in the near future. 

 

"We've just finished our provincial championships and culminated our season in Florida," St. John's-Kilmarnock Coach James Cako said. "Then it's off to the national championships in April."

 

"It's a great team, one we've heard a lot about," he said. "I know they're one of the best teams in Florida so it's an honor for us to wrestle with the Florida JETS." 

 

St. John's brought wrestlers who had been training half their lives for wrestling, giving the JETS a needed boost heading into one of their toughest matches of the season. 

 

"Our kids have the opportunity to start wrestling from grade three," Cako said. "They have a lot of experience."

 

The Lions are preparing for the state championships, which happen this weekend in Naples. In the meantime, they taught the Canadian team how to wrestle the American way — folkstyle — which the team doesn't practice in Canada. 

 

And the JETS taught the Canadians with the best, fielding a team flush with all-county first- and second-teamers. 

 

Twelve of the Lions high school and JETS club team wrestlers were recently nominated to the all-county first team, including up-and-coming freshman Michael "the Hebrew Hammer" Alpert in the 112-pound class. 

 

The Lions nearly swept the all-county awards, allowing only four other wrestlers onto the first-team list.

 

Ty Zarbo, who came back from a potentially career-ending back injury, went on to be one of the team's top wrestlers at the state tournament. 

 

Chase Gordon won the district championship on his way to a state appearance this year. 

 

Thrasher Porcher tore his way to a podium finish at the state championships. 

 

Josh Keebler bulked up to 145 pounds this year and still qualified for state, ending up a finalist. 

 

Brendan Bobek went from an unknown to a competitor at 152 pounds this season. 

 

Jake Schalles, a team leader and former state runner-up and an all-American, won a scholarship to the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

Erin O'Dell, who fought his way through the consolation ladder at the state meet, will return for next season an experienced junior.

 

Dustin Meloche, who at one point last season was sidelined with mononucleosis, bounced back to be an all-American at the wrestling championships in Fargo, N.D., and won both the district and regional championships this year. 

 

Many of the team's top wrestlers were seniors this year, taking their final tour on the mat. 

 

But for the younger generation, things are just warming up in club wrestling. 

 

"We're full-swing into the club season," Coach Tom Coffman said. "We're coming out in full force."