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Eagles Bolster Resume

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By ADAM ADKINS

aadkins@tampatrib.com

Published: January 13, 2009

The Brandon High wrestling team likely enhanced its national reputation this past weekend.

The Eagles won the 2009 Cheesehead Invitational in Kaukauna, Wis., topping a 20-team field that included two nationally ranked programs. The Eagles amassed 686 points and bettered, among others, Illinois' Montini Catholic and Wisconsin's Wausau West, which are ranked No. 14 and No. 22, respectively, in the latest Amateur Wrestling News Prep 40. Brandon is No. 20 in the poll.

The Eagles had eight wrestlers reach championship matches. Ryan Renkey (112 pounds), Rossi Bruno (119), Tyler Liberatore (125), Eric Grajales (135) and Joe Cozart (145) won their weight class, while Clark Glass (130), Kevin Timothy (140) and Zaq Berridge (171) were runner-ups.

Three other Eagles placed in the top six, with Kyle Koziel (160) taking third and Wally Figaro (152) and Rob Hoelzer (285) taking fifth.

It was the second consecutive out-of-state tournament victory for the Eagles. During the Christmas break, Brandon dominated the fourth annual Heart of Dixie Classic in Vestavia Hills, Ala. Renkey, Bruno, Liberatore, Glass, Grajales, Timothy, Cozart and Berridge were individual champions.

Tigers Roar

Jesuit finished second at the 19th annual Springstead Invitational. The Tigers amassed 151 points to finish behind host Springstead, which won with 255.5 points.

Jesuit's Austin Boudreau (112) was an individual champion, joining Jefferson heavyweight Julio Velez as Hillsborough County's only first-place finishers at the event. David Gonzalez (125) and Anthony Cimino (130) were individual runner-ups for the Tigers, while Andrew Alizzi (135) placed third and Mike Lamoureux (215) took fourth.
Armwood posted the next-best finish among county teams, tying for 13th place. The Hawks placed three wrestlers in the top four of their respective weight class; Tim Witte (171) took third and Sam Parry (103) and James Gray (119) took fourth.

Witte, Parry and Gray also had good showings for the Hawks at the KSA Duals during the Christmas break. Gray went 7-0 at that event, while Parry and Witte joined Jeremy Yencer with 5-2 marks.

Kelly Challenge

Bloomingdale took fourth and Riverview fifth at the Coach Kelly Memorial Hurricane Team Challenge at Bradenton Manatee. The Bulls went 3-1 and Riverview 2-2 at the dual-meet tournament.

Sammy Conner, Bryce Lawson, Chris Figari, Mike Gazda, and Chase Douglas each went undefeated at the event for the Bulls. Bloomingdale has 19 dual-meet victories this season and needs one to set a program record for victories in a season, according to Coach Donny Peek, who recently earned his 100th career dual-meet victory.

Ryan Hight and Herman Hernandez went 4-0 at the event for the Sharks, who also had strong showings from Lamarkus Dennis, Rafael Rivera and Ryan Gascon.

Milestone

Alonso senior Josh Moore picked up his 100th career victory during the Christmas break at the Baron Duals at St. Pete Catholic. Moore, who along with Wes Spinner (140) and Kendall Ivy (215), went undefeated at the event for the Ravens, who finished second to Gulf.

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

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