TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Wrestling Notebook: Eagles Eager To Win

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

It has become routine for Brandon High wrestlers to check the window outside Coach Russ Cozart's office each day. On it, they find bulletins regarding the team, usually something about a change in their daily routine.

A few weeks after school started, there was one particular note taped to the window that has resonated in the Eagles' minds since it was posted. It read, "Brandon at South Dade, 12/19-12/20" with an asterisk next to it, followed by a brief message from Cozart that said, "Just thought I would let you guys know."

Needless to say, it was cause for excitement. What it meant was that the Eagles would get a shot at redemption against the team that ended their national-record winning streak at 459 last season in the finals of the Jim Graves Duals at Brandon.

"Ever since then," senior Eric Grajales said, "it's been on our minds."

The shot at redemption finally will come this weekend, when the Eagles travel to Homestead for the District 16 Duals. Brandon is ready for the opportunity and the challenge that awaits.

"This is big for us. This is very big," Cozart said. "It's got a lot of great elements to it. We're psyched up. We're ready to go. We want to get the monkey off our back from last year. We're fired up. We're going there to win."

GOOD KNIGHTS: Robinson finished third last weekend at the 27th Brooksville Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando.

Zach Boyer (135), Michael Hawthorne (152) and Michael Benitez (285) each won individual titles to help the Knights score 173.5 points, which was behind only tournament champion Springstead (252.5) and runner-up Lake Gibson (227.5).

Jesuit finished fourth in the 10-team tournament. David Gonzalez (125) won an individual title for the Tigers, while Austin Boudreau (112) was a runner-up.

RAIDERS PREVAIL: Plant City was victorious as tournament hosts last weekend at the Plant City Invitational, posting a 54-30 victory over Mulberry in the championship match to win the eight-team dual tournament.

Josh Creamer (112), Colby Clark (171) and Eddie Rosenbaum (285) each went 4-0 for the Raiders.

TWO AT ONE: Tampa Bay Christian's Victor Fugate (103) and Kevin Norstrem (112) each won individual titles to help the Rams finish 11th last weekend at the Jerry Mita Invitational at Pinellas Park. Naples Lely won the tournament.

East Bay and Sickles were the only other Hillsborough County squads in the 23-team field. The Indians, paced by fifth-pace finishes from Jonathan McEaney (103) and Brett Hamm (285), finished 13th. The Gryphons, who got a third-place finish from Josh Fulford (135) and a fourth-place finish from Cory Sullivan (103), finished 16th.

DUALING IT OUT: Durant took third and Alonso fifth at last weekend's Winter Springs Rotary Duals.

The Cougars' Alex Hamm (112) went 4-0 with four pins, while the Ravens' Josh Moore (135) and Kendall Ivy (189) each went 5-0 with four pins. Durant won the head-to-head meeting between the teams, edging Alonso, 38-37.

Bloomingdale also competed in a dual-meet tournament last weekend, finishing fourth at the Kowboy Kup Duals in Kissimmee. The Bulls went 5-2 at the tournament.

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

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT