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Brandon High Wrestlers Lock Down State Title

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2009

LAKELAND - The Brandon High wrestling team has already mathematically secured the program's 20th state title – and ninth Class 2A title in a row – with the final matches of the FHSAA state wrestling tournament still to come tonight at The Lakeland Center.

Brandon entered this afternoon's third and fifth-place matches with 228.5 total team points, well clear of second-place Bradenton Manatee (107.5 points) and third-place Springstead (102 points), which each have only six wrestlers alive in the tournament. Neither team can pass Brandon's point total even if the Eagles fail to win another match.

Fourteen local wrestlers will go for individual state titles tonight, including eight Brandon wrestlers. Hillsborough County is guaranteed at least one state champion, as Armwood's James Gray and Brandon's Ryan Renkey will meet in the Class 2A 112-pound final.

Also in the 2A championship finals, which are scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m., for Brandon are Rossi Bruno (119 pounds), Clark Glass (130), Eric Grajales (135), Kevin Timothy (140), Joe Cozart (145), Kyle Koziel (160) and Mike Ettore (189). Grajales, the Eagles' senior standout and undefeated in a Brandon uniform, is trying to cap a remarkable prep career by becoming the eighth wrestler in state history to win four individual crowns in his high school career.

The other locals in the championship finals include: In Class 1A, Tampa Bay Christian's Kevin Norstrem (112 pounds), Northside Christian's Dillon Dennis (140) and Gulf's Ladarious Jackson (152); in Class 2A, Dunedin's Antonio Talley (171); and in Class 3A, Bloomingdale's Chris Figari (160).

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