Mustangs pin hopes on depth

+Key Contributors 

Junior Jake Seaman, 106, 22-10

Junior Hunter Reed, 120, 32-0

Senior Dylan Cameron, 132, 30-3

Senior Tim Dwyer, 138, 21-5

Senior Luis Tremblay-Vidal, 170, 24-10

Junior Logan Bounds, 182, 25-13

Senior Nate Lancaster, 195, 28-8

Sophomore Chase Sharp, 220, 17-6

+By the Numbers 

0 — Matches junior Hunter Reed has lost so far this season. 

4 — Lakewood Ranch wrestlers (Hunter Reed, Dylan Cameron, Tim Dwyer and Logan Bounds) who are ranked in the top 15 in the state for their respective Class 3A weight classes according to scout.com. 

155 — Career wins senior Dylan Cameron has to his credit. He needs four more wins to  tie the school record for career wins. The record is 159 wins set by Evan Dipsiner. 

11 — Lakewood Ranch wrestlers who traveled to Louisiana for the Deep South Bayou Duals Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. The Mustangs wrestled a total of nine-matches over the two-day tournament, which featured teams from Louisiana, Georgia and Oklahoma. 

Mustang Duals 

Date: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16

Location: Lakewood Ranch High, 5500 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. 

Participating Teams: Lakewood Ranch, Braden River, Booker, Tampa Jesuit, Boca Ciega, Evangelical Christian, Sebring and Rockledge 

Admission: $6

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Hunter Reed doesn't pay much attention to the big picture. 

The Lakewood Ranch High junior wrestler takes care of his own business on the mat and that allows him to control his destiny. 

“I don’t really focus on the team score,” Reed said. “I just try to go out and wrestle the best match that I can, and if I do that, then the team score will take care of itself.” 

That approach has helped him become a two-time, state medalist and the Mustangs' most consistent wrestler. After he finished second at 106 pounds his freshman season, he moved up to 113 pounds last season and placed third. This season, Reed moved up to 120 pounds and is off to a 32-0 start. 

Winning has become commonplace for Reed, who already has more than 130 wins to his credit. If all goes to plan, he is hoping to wrestle another 25 matches before the season ends. 

And for the first time, Reed and his teammates, seniors Dylan Cameron (132) and Tim Dwyer (138), aren’t the only ones contributing to Lakewood Ranch’s success. 

The big picture is worth a look.

“We’re more competitive as a team,” Reed said. 

Cameron agreed. 

“The team is doing a lot better than originally expected,” Cameron said. “Everyone is playing his part, and we’re getting team points from the upper weights that we didn’t get before.” 

Lakewood Ranch has eight wrestlers, ranging from 106 pounds to 220 pounds, who are winning and exceeding their coaches' expectations. Luis Tremblay-Vidal (170), Logan Bounds (182), Nate Lancaster (195) and  Chase Sharp (220) are  a combined 94-37 heading into Lakewood Ranch’s final seven tournaments of the regular season. 

Tremblay-Vidal and Lancaster, both seniors, have been in the program for four years, but this is the first season the two have asserted themselves. 

“I’m enjoying this season a lot more,” Tremblay-Vidal said. “I’m more dedicated and I want to get better. And why not? Why lower yourself to just being OK? I’m just trying to go wherever I can go.” 

Lakewood Ranch has had at least one state qualifier every year since 2009 with Reed and Cameron being the most recent. Fourteen Lakewood Ranch wrestlers have made it to the state tournament with four earning individual medals, including two last season in Reed (third) and Cameron (fourth). 

“We’ve been on a nice roll,” coach Pat Ancil said. “Our strength always has been our lower weight classes, but this year we are spreading the wealth. 

“There’s been an increase in the intensity level, which has made it more competitive in the room,” Ancil said. “For the seniors, specifically, the energy button has been hit. I think they realize this is their last hurrah. This is it.”

Lakewood Ranch has risen to a No. 20 ranking in the state in Class 3A, according to scout.com. In the second half of the season, the Mustangs must continue to focus as the state tournament draws near.

“Right now, most of us are physically up for it, but we all need to be better with the mental aspect,” Reed said. “Training is hard. You have to be focused and willing to push your teammates as well.” 

“Wrestling is a grueling sport between cutting weight and the physical pain,” Cameron said. “It takes a lot of time and hard work. It’s definitely a mental sport.” 

“But that’s what you find fun about the sport," Reed said. "All of the pain and hard work that you’re going through.”