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Bulls Answer Early Call

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

The Bloomingdale High wrestling team went to the East Lake Invitational last weekend looking to post a top-three finish in the team standings.

Mission accomplished.

Eight Bloomingdale wrestlers placed in the top six as the Bulls finished second behind Naples Palmetto Ridge. Three Bulls made it to the finals in their respective weight class, with seniors Chris Figari (160) and Carlos Montero (145) winning individual titles and senior Mike Gazda (171) finishing as a runner-up.

"We knew it was going to be a tough challenge," Bloomingdale coach Donny Peek said. "The good thing was most of the guys wrestled above their seeds."

With an experienced, senior-heavy lineup, Peek is hoping this performance is one the Bulls can build on as they strive for bigger goals this season.

"We're hoping to finish in the top five at state this year," Peek said. "We've got a lot of guys that just missed out on state last year that are hoping to not only make it there this year but contributing as well by scoring some big-time points."

ON THE RIGHT PATH: Though Hillsborough County didn't produce an individual champion at the 13th annual Cougar Invitational at Durant last weekend, there were some county wrestlers who put together solid performances that could set the tone for the rest of the season.

"Doing well in an early-season tournament against this kind of competition reaffirms that you're on the right path," Riverview coach Wili Sargable said.

Sargable believes that will especially hold true for Riverview senior Rafael Rivera, a transfer from Spoto who was the 189-pound runner-up at last season's Hillsborough County Championships. Rivera finished third at 189 pounds, posting wins over Homestead South Dade's Travus Webster, a state qualifier last season, and Gainesville's Matt Van Scoy, who placed fifth at last season's Class 2A state tournament.

"He didn't qualify for state or win any big tournaments last year, so for him to get in here and take third and beat some ranked kids was great for him," Sargable said.

Durant coach Dennis Kitko expressed similar sentiments for his 112-pounder, Alex Hamm, a state qualifier last season who made a run to the final and finished as runner-up.

"Alex needed this," Kitko said. "He did not wrestle well last week, and he knows it. Just to get in there and battle with one of the best guys in the state at his weight class South Dade's Quintavian McPhearson, and he stayed right with him. That was big for him."

MENTALLY STRONG: Jesuit coach Mike Scicchitano has noticed a big difference in senior Austin Boudreau, one that has certainly paid dividends through the first few weeks.

"He goes into every match knowing he can win now," Scicchitano said. "Being as mental as this sport is, that's a huge thing."

This weekend, Boudreau finished fifth at 119 pounds at the Cougar Invitational. That performance came on the heels of a 119-pound championship run at the Berkeley Prep Invitational, which helped the Tigers win the tournament team title.

ON A ROLL: Tampa Bay Christian eighth-grader Kevin Norstrem continued his hot start by winning the 112-pound individual title last weekend at the Ed Kilpatrick Classic at Citrus High.

It was the third individual title in three tournaments for Norstrem, who also won titles at the Berkeley Prep Invitational and the Ocala Forest Invitational.

Fellow Rams eighth-graders Victor Fugate (103) and Travis Berridge (125) also did well, placing second and third, respectively.

ON TAP: Brandon will host the Graves Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The 10-team tournament will feature Alabama's Vestavia Hills High, Utah's Unitah High, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Lakeland Jenkins, Kathleen and county squads Wharton, Chamberlain, Gaither and Newsome in addition to the host Eagles, who were ranked No. 22 in the latest Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40 poll.

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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