Records Tumble NCT Sets Two School Marks In Crushing The Villages, 70-12

BROOKSVILLE - Nature Coast Technical Head Coach Mike Lastra has set a different course for his team this year, concentrating on wrestling in individual tournaments instead of in dual meet matches.

Whether that will end up producing the kind of results the coach wants at the end of the year is still up for debate, but on Wednesday night in a dual meet against The Villages, the Sharks set school records for largest margin of victory and most points scored in a match as NCT beat The Villages, 70-12.

While the match was only the fourth this year for the Sharks, it was their most convincing win of the year as the Sharks won 12 of the 14 matches, with the two losses coming on forfeits.

"I've tried to do that this year and concentrate on having my kids in more individual tournaments than in dual match ones," said Lastra Wednesday night as the Sharks improved their record for the year to 2-2.

"I think we wrestled pretty well tonight and I think we're still on track to meet our goal this year," he said.

On Wednesday, the Sharks dominated the Buffaloes, whose team consisted of all freshmen except one junior.

Tyler Forand (112 pounds), Scott Cronin (119), Mark Lambert (135), C.J. Baker (140), Jimmy Huang (160), Brandon Nuby (215) and heavyweight J.J. Baker all received pins in fewer than two minutes as the Sharks cruised to an easy win.

"The Villages are in the same spot we were three years ago," said Lastra. "They have all freshmen except one and their just building their program."

With the Class 1A, District 5 Tournament just two weeks away at Crystal River, Coach Lastra said that having his team in only one of the dual match tourneys was his plan from the start of the year.

"Last year we were in a number of those kinds of tournaments, so then at the end of the year when we got to the districts, I think my kids weren't really used to the format," explained Lastra.

"So this year we stayed away from those meets and mainly wrestled in individual events," he added. "Now I'm hoping that will pay off in the districts and regionals for us because we'll be used to that, but who knows."