Timing can be everything in sports. Jorge Loy knows this all too well.
The Forest Hill wrestler sustained a concussion midway through the 2015 Florida High School Wrestling State Championships, and failed to place.
The following year, Loy sustained another concussion before the state tournament. Again, he failed to place.
“It really put me back,” Loy said of the second concussion, which occurred during a training session three weeks before the district tournament. “At states I lost my first match. I won my second match, but lost my third match. I didn’t place either year.”
That finally changed this season.
Loy, a senior who moved up to the 182-pound weight class this season after wrestling at 160 this past year, dominated the competition in 2017.
He won district, county and regional championships, posted a 52-2 overall record, and placed second at the Class 3A state meet.
“From the start of the season, Jorge has been a dominate force for our team,” Falcons coach William Weiss said. “He is a natural leader, and is one of the most coachable athletes that I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
Loy called his first injury-free state tournament experience a phenomenal one. Though he would have preferred to come home with a gold medal, he’s pleased with the way he competed against the state’s top wrestlers.
“Being in the state finals — so much was put into that,” said Loy, who trains year-round and often boxes in the offseason to stay in shape. “I couldn’t believe I was there. It didn’t really fit into my head that I was in the state finals until I was on the mat competing.”
His time there might be limited after graduation.
Loy, who plans to attend Palm Beach State College for two years and then transfer to FAU or FIU, hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
Academic demands related to that field could mean less time in the gym.
“Having to balance medicine and wrestling would be incredibly tough,” Loy said. “So maybe in college I might have to take a break from wrestling. Medicine is such a demanding field. There’s a lot of work, so balancing those things would be very difficult.”
First Team
Michael Butler, Olympic Heights, So., 106: The district and regional runner-up, he placed sixth at the Class 2A state tournament.
Kevin Hernandez, Forest Hill, So., 113: District and county champion was a state qualifier, and compiled a 55-9 record.
Eric Barnes, Jupiter Christian, So., 120: Class 1A state qualifier finished 36-11.
Pablo Asenjo, Forest Hill, Sr., 126: District and regional champion placed second at the Class 3A state meet. Finished 28-4.
Nick DeSola, American Heritage, Jr., 132: Regional runner-up placed fourth at the Class 1A state meet, and compiled a 40-10 record.
Frankie Talshahar, American Heritage, Fr., 138: The Class 1A state runner-up and regional champion, he finished 43-2.
Luke Pidgeon, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr., 145: District, county and regional champion was a Class 3A state qualifier. Finished 42-8.
Eric Lentz, West Boca Raton, Sr., 152: Fifth-place finisher at Class 2A state meet, he finished 43-3.
Chase Salvatore, Park Vista, Sr., 160: Class 3A state qualifier finished 44-14.
Sam Cannova, Somerset Canyons, Sr., 170: District and county champion placed third at the Class 1A state meet. Finished 36-5.
Alex Bordeau, West Boca Raton, Jr., 182: Class 2A state qualifier finished 40-9.
Troy Jaffy, Olympic Heights, Jr., 195: Sixth-place finisher at Class 2A state meet, he finished 42-13.
Johan Albuquerque, John I. Leonard, Sr., 220: The only Lancers’ state qualifier, he placed fifth at the Class 3A meet. Finished 40-6.
Jordan Earle, Forest Hill, Jr., 285: District, county and regional champion placed fifth at the Class 3A state meet. Finished 53-3.
Second Team
106: Chris Difiore, Wellington, Fr.
113: Robinson Cid, Wellington, Sr.
120: Sean Campbell, Park Vista, Sr.
126: Jared Abramson, Wellington, Jr.
132: Tyler Difiore, Wellington, Sr.
138: Nick Peglow, Olympic Heights, Sr.
145: Anthony Strada, Palm Beach Central, Sr.
152: Eric Reid, Wellington, Sr.
160: Nicholas Schmidt, Jupiter, Sr.
170: Eric Saber, Wellington, Jr.
182: Jon Roseme, Olympic Heights, Sr.
195: Eric Jones, Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
220: Kyven Higgins, Jupiter Christian, Jr.
285: J.J. Brown, Park Vista, Sr.
Honorable Mention
American Heritage: Dylan Morse, Vincenzo Napolitana, Mikey Talshahar; Atlantic: Don’Dre Swint, Damian Swint; Boca Raton: Manuel Paules, Matthew Schonger; Cardinal Newman: Nate Grant; Jupiter: Jordi Perez, David Colton, Gannon Gardner; Jupiter Christian: Prince Hall, Austin Tuttle; Olympic Heights: Chance Scott, Marcus Rivera, Ethan Davis, Fabian Jaramillo; Palm Beach Central: Hunter Llano; Park Vista: Matthew Spero; Santaluces: Michael Medio, Alex Blitzer, Lesly Pierre; Seminole Ridge: Hilton Luciano, Mitchell Clark; Spanish River: Michael Goldstein; St. Andrew’s: John Morin; Suncoast: Anthony Limauro; Wellington: Robert Saldarriaga, Jacob Treanor, Cameryn Townsend.
Coach of the Year
William Weiss, Forest Hill: He led the Falcons to third-place finishes at the county and regional championships, and an eighth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament. Three Falcons wrestlers earned state tournament medals — the most in school history.
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