‘Still hungry’

With another state title secured, Mariner High’s Minto and Brady stay ‘focused’ and look forward to nationals

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Reaching the pinnacle of any sport is difficult especially an individual one but two local high school wrestlers have been mainstays atop their weight classes in Florida since they arrived on the scene Mariner High School's Chris Minto and Max Brady both captured FHSAA 2A State Championships last week in Kissimmee For Minto a senior the title is his third straight Brady a sophomore is now two-for-two when it comes to collecting championships as the best in his weight class in the state

Of completing the three-peat, Minto said, I feel relieved, but I'm still hungry At the end of the month, we have nationals, so I'm trying to prepare for that But overall I feel great ”

Brady said “It feels good knowing what I accomplished but it s just a stepping stone because I expected it

Minto finished the season with a remarkable 54-1 record in the 160-pound weight class while Brady went 53-1 in the 126pound division Both will test their mettle in Virginia Beach at the National Championships at the end of the month

For Minto, wrestling is in his blood His older brother Christian won three state championships at Mariner and another older brother also competed in the sport

I think I just kind of fell in love with the sports based off of (my brothers) success, and made my own goals

He said what makes him successful is:

“Coaches family teammates ”

Brady who arrived at Mariner as a freshman after his family moved to Cape Coral from Iowa, entered the sport in the first grade when a childhood friend invited him to a practice of sorts for youngsters who might want to get into the sport Funny enough his friend never even showed up

But I did, and I liked it, so I kept going, Brady said

Minto said while he wishes he could have been four-time state champion he knows Brady will carry the torch moving forward

That s his job now

Minto said

It s a task Brady takes seriously

It's a priority, pretty much, Brady said “It's a must I have to do it It's just being focused and getting the job done Once it's done I can be happy for a few days but then it s college time

Minto is ready to compete at the collegiate Division 1 level with goals to win a national title, with his future announcement coming soon

First a driven Minto and Brady will have to see how they stack up against the best the country has to offer

“After states we went back to training the

Wednesday SOFTBALL

Mariner 6, Barron Collier 6, tie: The game was called in the middle of the seventh inning Mariner (2-3-1) carried a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth when the Cougars rallied to knot the score The Tritons Katie Campbell was 1-for-2 knocking in two runs and scoring one Calleigh Buzard was 3-for-3, scoring twice, while Cheyenne Waddell Taylor Cotoni and Brooke Parramore had an RBI each

BOYS TENNIS

Oasis 6, LaBelle 1: Eric Feichthaler, John Vezzola Tyler Feichthaler and Kevin Kass won their respective singles and doubles matches

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Canterbury 3, Bishop Verot 2: A battle of 3-0 teams went in favor of Canterbury

Tuesday

BASEBALL

Ida Baker 2, Cape Coral 1: Keegan Pitstick struck out 10 batters in 4 2/3 innings and Janiel Peguero-Rodriguez struck out four more in 2 1/3 innings as Ida Baker (5-2) won despite being held to three hits and two unearned runs by Cape s pitching duo of Will Drury and Andrew Kolasinski Kolasinki struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings The Seahawks fell to (1-8) North Fort Myers 8, Mariner 3: Matthew Blasena was 2-for-4 with a double, driving in two runs and scoring two for the Red Knights (4-2) Thomas Eisiminger, day after ” Minto said “I'm definitely hungry to get a national title I have butterflies about it Brady said, I want to win (a national title) really bad I feel if I don t win, it kind of takes away from winning a state title I feel that I have to show out to prove that I'm the best not just in the state but on a national level I'm more excited than nervous ” Mariner wrestling coach Clay French said Minto and Brady are exemplary student-athletes that have shown just what hard work and dedication can result in I m very proud of them They work hard every day and set high goals for themselves and hold themselves accountable, French said “They're both really talented and tough definitely tough ” As for what sets them apart from the average high school wrestler French said

Gary Kamphouse and Dominic Rendon each added an RBI For the Tritons (0-5) Landon Johnston and Sam Guth went 2-for-4 and scored a run each Kelan Jamison had an RBI, Canterbury 4, Bishop Verot 3: Canterbury remained unbeaten on the season (6-0) edging Bishop Verot (3-5) in the second round of the Private 8 Conference tournament Jason was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for Bishop Verot Grayson Carpenter went 2-for-4 scored a run and added an RBI

SOFTBALL

Ida Baker 13, Cape Coral 0 (4 innings):

The Bulldogs Oliviah Sylwestrak struck out nine Seahawks (2-4) in four hitless innings Julianna Nieves was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored Alyssa Auger was 2-for-3 scoring three runs and driving in two Kaiden Nealeigh and Averiew Taylor added two RBI each for Baker (3-2) North Fort Myers 6, Mariner 0: Azlyn Gomes tripled and drove in three runs for the Red Knights (4-0) Kendall Wylie pitched a one-hit shutout striking out 12 Mariner slipped to 2-3 Bishop SW Florida Christian 0 (3 innings): Lilly Layne was 2-for-2 with a run scored and three RBI in the Vikings' (2-2) win Verot totaled 10 hits nine walks and nine stolen bases Pitcher Payton Breadmore struck out seven batters while allowing one walk and no hits Port Charlotte 6, Oasis 4: A three-run

Registration opens for Walk, Wiggle, Wag & 5K Run to benefit Cape Coral Animal Shelter

“They have each other to work with That's huge When practices are tough they don't let the other one slide or get off easy They hold each other accountable and it goes a long way When it comes to nationals and what French expects out of his top guys, he said, “I expect them to wrestle hard and wrestle fast Hopefully win a lot of matches and things fall in their favor I'm looking forward to seeing them be challenged a bit more push themselves and persevere through some tough situations Either way, it s back to the drawing board, back to work We ll look at it, reflect, make adjustments and move forward That's the name of the game, to keep getting better ”

Connect with Associate Sports Editor on Twitter: @haddad cj rally in the seventh inning wasn't enough as the Sharks took their first loss (3-1) Charlee Turney, Audrey Doan and Alaina Shugars had RBI for Oasis

GIRLS LACROSSE

Estero 12, Cape Coral 9: The Seahawks (5-1) had their season-opening win streak snapped

BOYS LACROSSE Bishop Verot 12, Canterbury 11: Trey Toscano scored five goals and assisted on two others to lead the Vikings (6-1) Aiden Feeney scored twice with three assists and Josh Comisar had a goal and two helpers BOYS TENNIS

Mariner 6, East Lee County 1: Kieran Kirkimilis led the Tritons with a 6-0 6-0 singles win and an 8-4 doubles victory with partner Christian Zapata Karl Schott, Noah Riascos, Damien Gleason and Robert Preston won their singles matches Estero 4 North Fort Myers 3: The Red Knights (1-5) won two singles matches and one in doubles

GIRLS TENNIS

Estero 4, North Fort Myers 3

Singles: Alexis Neumann (NFM) d Meaghan Lay 6-1 6-4 Gia Salas Grethelle (E) d Mikayla Mann 6-2 6-1 Kate Mackie (E) d Hannah Holmes 6-1, 6-4 Mana Lakes (NFM) d Sofia Passos 6-7, 5-7 (10-8) Emily McDowell (E) d Olivia Myers 6-1 6-0 Doubles : Lay/Grethelle (E) d Neumann/Mann 8-3 Holmes/Delaney Souppa (NFM) d Catherine Uceta/Sydney Ramsey 9-7

M ariner 6, East Lee County 1: Morgan Everly, Sophia Vianest Lily DiMurro Cynthia Pere z and Emma Tuescher gave the Tritons (3-4) a sweep of the singles matches Reese Vinson and Cara Everly won at second doubles