TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Looking Back: February

ADVERTISEMENT

By EDDIE DANIELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - It took Michael Calafiore 364 days to rectify a major heartache.

On Feb. 17, Calafiore collected a 7-0 decision against Wilson Metelius of Miami Monsignor Pace to become the first state wrestling champion for Gulf since Jimmy Johnson in 1996. Before that, it was Coach Travis DeWalt in 1990.

The previous season, Calafiore reached the finals of the Class 1A 119-pound weight class only to fall to Naples Palmetto Ridge wrestler Elias Rey. That loss fueled Calafiore throughout the 2006-07 season.

As Calafiore prepared for February's finals match, Rey was competing for the 125-pound title on the same mat Calafiore would use next.

During that match, Calafiore furiously paced along the floor of the Lakeland Center.

"I was looking at Rey to get me angry, to build my hatred to win the match," Calafiore said.

The pacing and Rey's eventual loss combined to allow the former Gulf wrestler to claim his first state championship.

After the official raised one of Calafiore's arms, acknowledging his victory, Calafiore lifted both arms in the air in jubilation. Standing in the center of the green mat, the tears began to stream.

"This is what I've been dreaming of doing since the ninth grade, to win state," Calafiore said, nearly out of breath. "To go out there and finally do it ..."

Calafiore, now a freshman wrestling for Loras College in Iowa, was one of 17 Pasco County wrestlers who made the trek to Lakeland for the 2007 FHSAA Wrestling Finals. He left The Lakeland Center as the county's lone champion.

On May 22, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution honoring Calafiore for his accomplishment.

"I wanted to do it for Coach DeWalt. He always wanted a state champion," Calafiore said. "Three runner-ups and no champs, so I wanted to win it for him."

Beets Gets 500th Victory

It took 29 years and stints at three high schools for Ridgewood coach Larry Beets to reach career win No. 500.

That night, Feb. 23, former Ram and current Detroit Tiger Mike Rabelo threw out the first pitch, while former Ridgewood principal Wendell Krinn, current principal Randy Koenigsfeld (a former Ridgewood assistant and father of that night's winning pitcher, Ben Koenigsfeld), Athletic Director Gary Anders and former East Lake baseball coach Lee Byers joined the crowd to watch the milestone.

In that 800-plus-game span, including a 2004 state finals appearance, baseball has yet to lose its luster.

"I love to come out and play," he said. "I love to come to practice. Sometimes the games are boring because you can't stop the game to work on something you did wrong. In practice, you can stop and work on it. It's all about teaching and getting the kids to believe in themselves.

"As I tell the kids, 'there is snow on the rooftop, but there is fire in the furnace.'"

Queen Of The Arc

Gulf's Jordan Schulman became the Florida High School Athletic Association's Queen of the Hill 3-point champion in February after sinking eight 3-point baskets in the tiebreaker of the competition at The Lakeland Center. Of those eight shots, seven were consecutive, to beat Talia Bianco of Lakeland Sonrise Christian. Overall, Schulman cashed in on 15 total 3-pointers.

Schulman, who was presented with a plaque during halftime of the Class 6A state championship game, couldn't conceal the buildup of nerves following the competition as her body shook.

"I'm just overwhelmed right now, and I'm just really happy," said Schulman, who was helped by her father, Gulf assistant Paul Schulman. "My dad was behind me telling me to take my time and follow through and all that stuff. I told him to tell me how much time I had and everything."

ABOUT THIS SERIES

As 2007 comes to an end, The Pasco Tribune sports staff takes a look back at people and events that made the news. The series will run daily, except Christmas Day, through Dec. 31.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT