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Cozart commits to Iowa State

By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune
and NICHOLAS MURRAY | The Tampa Tribune
and BILL WARD | TBO.com

Published: October 13, 2009

Hillsborough County's top high school senior wrestler, Joe Cozart, made a verbal commitment to Iowa State, his father, longtime Brandon wrestling coach Russ Cozart, said Monday.

Cozart, who was recently ranked as the nation's third-best senior 152-pounder by Wrestling USA Magazine, also had been considering Arizona State, North Carolina State and The Citadel.

Cozart has won individual Class 2A state titles each of the past three seasons. As a freshman, Cozart went 46-2 overall and won the 125-pound crown. As a sophomore, he went 58-0 and won the 140-pound crown. Last season, Cozart went 65-1 and won the 145-pound crown. Cozart also helped Brandon win team state titles each season.

Cozart, a three-time Tribune All-Hillsborough County first-team selection, is one of several local wrestlers slated to compete in the prestigious Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C., later this month.

GIRLS TRACK: Former Wharton football and track star Dwight Ellick, who went on to play for Notre Dame and in the NFL, was named girls track coach at Freedom, Patriots athletic director Eli Thomas confirmed.

Ellick, already an assistant football coach at Freedom, takes over the track squad from Chris McComb, who stepped down at the conclusion of the season when his unit of the Marine Corps reserves was called to active duty. Freedom had nine girls qualify for the Class 3A state championships this year. Ellick is a mathematics teacher at Freedom.

During his senior year at Wharton in 2001, Ellick was the Class 4A state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He won the 100 in 10.60 seconds and the 200 in 21.35, which remain school records at Wharton. As a result, Ellick was the Tampa Tribune male track and field Athlete of the Year and winner of the Bill Shields Award, given annually to Hillsborough County's top track athlete of either gender.

Ellick went on to play defensive back for Notre Dame and signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. He went on to play for the Washington Redskins and, finally, with the Buccaneers in 2006.

GIRLS SOCCER: Wharton announced the teams and schedule for the 2009 Lady Wildcat Invitational tournament, to be held during the opening week of the season, which begins Nov. 2.

Host Wharton will face Durant in the opening round of the knockout tournament, with Alonso and Newsome facing off earlier in the day. In the bottom half of the draw, Sickles will open against Clearwater Central Catholic and Freedom will play Plant.

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