LAKELAND — King High junior Jacob Wasserman has a long-standing rivalry with Armwood's Donoven Hough.
Hough defeated Wasserman the last three times they wrestled. In Class 2A's 106-pound final Saturday at the state finals, Wasserman hoped things would be different.
They nearly were.
Hough (49-3) scored a takedown to go up 2-0. Then Wasserman escaped a hold and closed the score to 2-1. However, Hough held on, and Wasserman (35-4) accepted the silver medal.
Temple Terrace Patch caught up with Wasserman after the big match.
Patch: How do you calm your nerves before an important match like that?
Wasserman: I pace back and forth. I listen to music, hard rock or rap.
Patch: Which groups/artists do you listen to?
Wasserman: Eminem or Rise Against.
Patch: What's going through your head just before the whistle?
Wasserman: I'm focusing specifically on the match itself; how it's gonna go. I guess I kind of play it out in my head.
Patch: How tough was this 106-pound bracket?
Wasserman: Pretty tough. I had to wrestle two top-ranked guys just to get here.
Did you attend the state wrestling finals in Lakeland? Upload your photos to this story or post a comment to congratulate our local wrestlers.
