Still recovering from a bout with the stomach flu, Ridgeview's undefeated sophomore heavyweight John Dixon had to play a lot of  defense in Saturday night's Region 1-2A championship final to stay that way, but in the end the 35-0 Panther will go to states next week still undefeated and most likely still ranked No. 1 in the state. 

Fleming Island's Chris Taylor works for a pin against Forrest's Michael Masline.

Dixon and Fleming Island's Adam Taylor (189) will carry regional championships into next week's 2A state tournament in Lakeland, in which 14 Clay County wrestlers will take part. Taylor was one of seven Golden Eagles to qualify. Dixon will lead five Panthers to the event. Two Middleburg Broncos will join them. (Clay and Orange Park competed in the Region 1-1A and Region 3-3A regionals, respectively. Check Sunday's Florida Times-Union for results.)

"I'm still a little weak from it," Dixon said of the flu. "But I didn't have any doubts that I could win it. I just needed to push through it."

Dixon had beaten Choctawhatchee's Kyle Purcell by one point in last year's regionals, so this year's 3-2 win seemed logical. But not to Dixon.

"It was all my fault," he said. "I know I won, but it shouldn't have been that close."

States will start Thursday, and Dixon is hoping to regain all his strength by that time.

In the team race, Fleming island finished second to Gainesville, 151.50 to 138.50. Ridgeview finished fourth at 114.

Golden Eagles joining Taylor at states will be second-place finisher Chris Fox (103); third-place finishers Derek Horine (125) and Grant Taylor (160), and fourth-place finishers Mark Cornett (112), Corey Perry (140), and Chris Taylor (171).

After Dixon, the rest of the Panther lineup for Lakeland will be second-place finishers Josh Pitts (125) and Richard Mannwarren; third-place finisher Giovany Ocasio (130) and fourth-place finisher Derek Johnson (152).

Middleburg qualifier Larry Carnes finished second at 152 by a close 7-6 decision, while heavyweight J.J. Steichen place fourth.