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Return Trip Has More At Stake

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By EDDIE DANIELS edaniels@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 20, 2009

KISSIMMEE - Coaching has been broken down to a science of sorts.

One part teacher, another part motivator, one part counselor and a hefty dose of psychologist.

There's a tool some coaches use to motivate their wrestlers. Of those who qualify are required to attend the tournament. But those who don't, their season is done. Unless, of course, the coach takes members of the team who did not qualify.

Chalk that one up to the psychologist.

Last season, River Ridge's Landon Vannata and Sean Hitchcock did not qualify for the state tournament at the Lakeland Center, but Royal Knights coach Russ Schenk brought them along.

They watched teammates Anthony Biondo (112 pounds) and Tyler Fleming (119) place sixth and fourth, respectively.

"Just being there, being in that environment, watching all those people wrestle, the best guys in the state, it just made me want to be there so bad," Vannata said. "And not a spectator this time. I wanted to be there and I want to win it. It would be just a great accomplishment.

"I can't even go to practice if I can't wrestle. So sitting there at states just having to watch the whole time, it was just like, 'I want to be out there so bad right now.' But it was a good learning experience, too. I got to watch a lot of guys wrestle, see their technique, break down different styles, so it made me learn a lot."

Ironically, Biondo and Fleming were drill partners in practice.

When wrestling begins today at the Lakeland Center for the 2009 FHSAA Wrestling Championships, Hitchcock and Vannata will be there again - as participants. Another dose of irony is the fact the two are also drill partners.

"It all starts with Coach Schenk," Hitchcock said. "In the wrestling room, last year we had two qualify. The two who qualified were drill partners. He brought us to states - we didn't qualify - but we were the only two he brought with him because he expected us to qualify the following year. And we're drill partners.

"We beat up on each other."
Pasco County will be represented by 16 wrestlers in the two-day tournament, hoping to return with the best of souvenirs - a gold medal.

Gulf leads the way with six qualifiers, while Sunlake has three. Wiregrass Ranch qualified its first wrestler to the state tournament in Eric Madden, and Pasco's J.P. Gamez becomes the program's first freshman qualifier.
Hitchcock talked about the state tournament with ease and nary a nerve in his voice. It had absolutely nothing to do with being distracted by the bag of chips he dug into.

"I went last year to watch. Coach Schenk took me along, so I know what it's all about when I go this year," he said. "It just feels, for me, that the pressure's off.

"So when I get to states, I can just wrestle."

Being pressure-free is Hitchcock's main priority.

"I tend to, when the pressure's on, not wrestle that great," Hitchcock said. "I win, but it's just a sloppy, high-scoring match. But when the pressure's not on, I usually wrestle my best."

As far as Hitchcock and Vannata are concerned, the view will be much better from the mat than the stands.

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214.

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