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5 Wrestlers Have Shot At Perfection

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2009

LAKELAND - Five area wrestlers entered the state wrestling tournament sporting unblemished records, and all five will have a chance today to cap perfect seasons.

Brandon senior Eric Grajales and freshman Tyler Liberatore, Bloomingdale senior Chris Figari, Sunlake senior Jarrett Baker and Northside Christian senior Dillon Dennis went 2-0 on Day 1 at The Lakeland Center, giving them a spot in this morning's semifinals and leaving them two wins shy of ending the season as state champions.

Grajales, a 135-pounder who is 63-0 on the season, and Liberatore (58-0), a 125-pounder, previously have won state titles. Grajales is vying to become the eighth wrestler in state history to win four individual crowns during his high school career. Liberatore, meanwhile, won a state title last season as an eighth-grader at Tampa Prep.

The other three are trying to earn their first individual crowns, with a little added bonus in each case.

Both Baker (40-0), a 189-pounder, and Dennis (37-0), a 140-pounder, are vying to become their programs' first title winner.

Figari (52-0), who has set program records this season for victories in a single season and for a career, is trying to cap the best season in Bloomingdale program history and become the Bulls' first state champion since Ryan Nye in 2005.

ON THE VERGE: It has been more than three decades since Robinson produced its only state champion (David Mitchell in 1974), but senior Zach Boyer has a chance to end that drought today.

Boyer, the Knights' standout 135-pounder, posted two convincing wins Friday to earn a semifinal berth. He will face Wakulla's Scott Varner with a spot in the title match on the line.

"He's worked hard the past four years, and especially this year, to reach his goal of being a state champion," assistant coach Shawn Taylor said. "I think he's got a very good chance."

Robinson was dealt a blow before the tournament began Friday morning as senior 152-pounder Mike Hawthorne was disqualified for leaving the weigh-in room before officially weighing in. Taylor said Hawthorne was instructed by an official to discard a piece of gum and was disqualified for leaving the area to find a trash can. Robinson coaches protested the decision to state officials, to no avail.

IN THE RUNNING: Neither Alonso nor Riverview has produced an individual state champion, but each program still has one senior in the running to earn that distinction.

Alonso 189-pounder Kendall Ivy and Riverview 135-pounder Herman Hernandez each won their first two matches Friday to reach the semifinals.

Adam Adkins

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