GREEN COVE SPRINGS - With Middleburg and Oakleaf high wrestling breaking into elite status with five wrestlers apiece heading the FHSAA state championships, a family connection on both teams will make the trip down even more intriguing.

For Middleburg, sister-brother region champions Skyla Fisher and Gavin Fisher both stormed through their post-seasons explosively to get tickets to the "Big Show" with mom Sara Fisher buying some roller skates to stay on the sidelines of her two athletes as much as possible.

"I'm going to be going crazy down there trying to keep up with the schedule, but it will be worth it," said Sara Fisher. "You don't often get to have both your kids competing for state championships on the same weekend. We had separate Saturdays for districts and regions."

Fisher, who easily dominated his way to the region title; two pins, 12-2 major decision, 1:40 pin and state ticket, cited the family competitiveness as part of the family's DNA.
"I'm just thinking about four more matches and wrestling smart," said Fisher. "It's more of a rivalry between Sky and me. We support each other."

Fisher will travel with two more region champions; 144 Wyatt Leduc and 215 Tucker Cody as well as teammates Nathan Harvey at 113 (fourth) and Grady Woodard at 120 (second).
Cody, 56-1, pinned Clay's Aaron Stacey for his region title while Woodard Leduc pinned Michael Mancuso of Gulf Breeze with just six seconds left on the clock in a flash of action. Woodard faced off against Fleming Island's Jordan Mukaddam and lost a 7-0 match.

For Oakleaf, region champion sister Kailani Barrientos will have brother Keon along for the ride to Orlando with Keon overcoming two injuries over the season to come back and win third place in his region match at 144.

"I didn't get to go last year because of a weight issue," said Barrientos. "Going with Keon is special. I did lose one, but I know I can beat the girl who beat me."

Kailani Barrientos noted she trains with 106er Connor Barnes, also a state qualifier, in the Oakleaf room.

For Keon Barrientos, the season has had its ups and downs health-wise and emotionally.

"It's an unbelievably good feeling right now," said Barrientos after finishing third even with a poke in the eye. "I tore my meniscus and this year, I sprained it bad. Halfway through the season, I sprained my knee and didn't know if I was going to make it here."

Having sister Kailani along for the ride as a region champion, Keon Barrientos has sought the wisdom and critiques of coach Mark Detoro, a third-place finisher for Clay High in his wrestling days with P.J Cobbert as a teammate.

"He knows what it takes to get there and what to do when we get there," said Barrientos. "The whole program has a better mindset."

Joining Barrientos will be sophomore sensation Sebastian Bonachea who scorched his way to a title at 126 with a fast-moving 10-4 win over Clay's Rylan Herrera while Barrientos was third at 144, Jerimiah Baker was third at 165 and Connor Barnes at 106 and Micah Thomas at 132 both finished fourth.