Kissimmee, Fla. — The Villages High School is home to another state champion.
Johnathan Clohecy, a senior on the Buffalo wrestling team, captured the Class 1A state title Saturday night inside Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, capping the most dominant season in program history with arguably his most impressive win to date.
Clohecy relentlessly attacked South Walton's Gibson Moore in the 175-pound title match at the FHSAA Wrestling State Championships, earning a 17-1 victory by technical fall to finish the season with a perfect 56-0 record. He becomes the first wrestler in program history to finish a season undefeated.
"I'm just at a loss for words right now," Clohecy said moments after having the gold medal placed around his neck. "The feeling is great and all the hard work I've put in, it definitely came through for me. It all paid off in this moment, right here and right now."
The senior captain is the third state champ in VHS wrestling history — joining brothers Colton and Taylor Jackson in 2013 — while he becomes the seventh individual state champion in school history.
"We're so proud of him and it's great to see a young man achieve what he set out to do," said VHS first-year head coach Joe Cummings. "Winning a state title is a dream of any wrestler that starts this sport. To see the path he took, all the work he's put in, to see that come to fruition and get to the top of this podium — we're so proud of him."
After roaring into the state final with a pair of pins and a major decision in his previous three matches in Kissimmee, Clohecy secured the first takedown just :32 seconds into Saturday's finale. He fought off an early takedown attempt from Moore, who entered with a 35-2 record this season, before quickly resetting himself and shooting through Moore's legs for the first three points of the match.
"I feel like I'm a pretty good scrambler myself," Clohecy said. "When he got in deep, I knew if I just scrambled around a little, I'd get to my scoring position. I knew that if I scored off his shot, that's huge — that'll get to him mentally — and I think it did."
Clohecy took Moore to his back for four near-fall points midway through the first, carrying a 7-0 lead into the second period.
Moore tallied his first and only point of the night with an escape more than a minute into the second frame, before Clohecy again struck for a three-point takedown late in the period for a 10-1 advantage.
It was much of the same in the third period, as Clohecy put the fitting final touches on yet another dominating performance. He added another aggressive takedown just :16 seconds into the final period, before wrapping up the technical fall with 1:29 left on the clock with four more near-fall points.
"He earned it because he wrestled his tail off and was extremely dominant," Cummings said. "He trained the right way, he's a high-character guy, and he's done it all the right way. It's just been such a blessing to have him in our program."
The dominant victory was a continuation of an entire season's worth of powerful performances from Clohecy, who stacked up wins and bonus points for the Buffalo each time he stepped on the mat. He finishes the season with 38 pins, 11 technical falls, three major decisions and four wins via forfeit.
"This is real big because (Clohecy) has been really involved with and spent so much time with our youth program," Cummings said. "We've got a handful of young wrestlers in the stands tonight and they're watching this, they're seeing how he's handled things, and they're seeing him at the top of the podium. That opens their doors and expands their dreams."
It's the first and only season in a Buffalo singlet for Clohecy, who transferred to The Villages over the summer from his hometown of Fulton, New York. In the Empire State, Clohecy twice finished on the podium, taking fourth and fifth, but it wasn't until Saturday night in Kissimmee that his ultimate dream was realized.
"It's taken a lot of hard work and dedication," Clohecy said. "I was a three-sport athlete and I quit the others my sophomore year to focus solely on wrestling. I gave up friendships and I traveled all summer long training. That's why this moment and this medal, it just means everything to me."
2025 FHSAA STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Individual Results
First Round: Johnathan Clohecy (VHS) def. Angel Gonzalez (Jefferson), fall :29
Quarterfinals: Johnathan Clohecy (VHS) def. Darian Vargas (Mater Lakes), fall :31
Semifinals: Johnathan Clohecy (VHS) def. Xavier Barnhart (St. John Neumann), 13-3 MD
Finals: Johnathan Clohecy (VHS) def. Gibson Moore (South Walton), 17-1 TF (4:31)
Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment via email at cody.hills@tvcs.org.
