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Gulf's Jackson Battles Nerves

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 21, 2009

LAKELAND - To classify Ladarious Jackson as a tad nervous Friday and Saturday during the state wrestling tournament would be like calling Jessica Alba kind of cute.

Jackson tempered his emotions off the mat, but when he stepped on it, he had no idea what to expect from his foes. But it was the way he handled that nervousness that spoke volumes of his ability on the mat. The Gulf sophomore, in just his second season, knocked off his first three opponents, including defending champ Dudley Welch, who entered 41-0.

Jackson (50-5) lost in the 152-pound final to Green Cove Springs Clay's Kyle Mills and won't soon forget the atmosphere inside The Lakeland Center.

"I was never used to this kind of environment, all these people screaming," Jackson said. "It's a different ballgame. ... They're just going, going, going, all day long. I was excited, but every time I went to the mat I was real nervous."

Of the six wrestlers Gulf brought to the tournament, three - all sophomores - placed. In addition to Jackson's second-place finish, Anthony Ayers (119) was fifth and R.J. O'Connor (112) was sixth.

ALL MENTAL: Alonso 189-pounder Kendall Ivy had to have an immediate change of heart. While wrestling in the tournament's opening match against Ryan Conley of Davie Western, Ivy wasn't so sure about his chances to place.

"My first match, the kid was really strong and in the middle of the first period I was like, 'I'm finishing about sixth this tournament,'" Ivy said, laughing. "So coming in third feels great."

His third-place finish put him in the upper echelon of Alonso wrestlers as it is the highest finish for any Raven.

Chris Allen (twice) and Kendall Ivy's brother, Curt, once held the best finish for the school at fifth.

"It was an excellent performance," Alonso coach John Moore said. "He did what we asked him to do."

PACKING 'EM IN: The two-day finals drew 11,027 fans, breaking the record of 10,258 set in 2007. This was the first year since 2000 the tournament has been a two-day affair.

SHARKS ARE BITING: Riverview coach Wili Sargable never had three of his wrestlers place at the state tournament - until Saturday.

Herman Hernandez (135) was third, Ryan Hight (130) fourth and Rafael Rivera (189) fifth. Those performances gave Riverview 40 points for an 11th-place finish. That's the best finish in program history. Hernandez's finish is also the best for a Riverview wrestler.

For Sargable, the job Hight, Hernandez and Rivera did this weekend should send a clear message to his underclassmen - or anyone wrestling for the Sharks.

"These worked the entire offseason," Sargable said. "Year-round wrestling and it all came to fruition here. To come in with three guys and all of them place, wow. When it was definitive earlier, we just were like, can you believe? We're 3-for-3."

Eddie Daniels

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