Thursday's Prep news and notes

Thursday's Prep news and notes

Brandon wrestlers excel in prestigious North Dakota event

Brandon wrestlers Kevin Norstrem, Rossi Bruno, Tyler Liberatore and Joe Cozart earned All-America honors in Greco-Roman wrestling by placing in the top eight in their respective weight classes at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior National Championships, which are being held in Fargo, N.D.

Norstrem, an incoming freshman who starred last season at Tampa Bay Christian, was the highest finisher, placing third in the Cadet division at 119 pounds. He went 9-1 overall in the tournament, his only loss coming against eventual national champion Kavon Jones of Nebraska.

Bruno, Liberatore and Cozart each placed in the Junior division. Bruno, a rising sophomore, took fourth at 119 after going 8-2 in the tournament. Liberatore, a rising sophomore, and Cozart, a rising senior, each placed fifth after going 7-2 - Liberatore at 130 and Cozart at 152.

"This is the Super Bowl of high school wrestling in the styles of Greco-Roman and freestyle," longtime Brandon coach Russ Cozart said. "The weight classes are huge - 70, 80, 90 guys in a weight class and the best guys from all over the United States. That being said, our guys did an outstanding job."

The freestyle portion of the tournament began Wednesday in the Cadet division and will begin today in the Junior division.

Baseball

Cambridge Christian, which finished as the Class 1A state runner-up for the second consecutive season in 2009, had five players named to the 1A all-state baseball team released Tuesday.

Infielder Trent Tagliarini was a first-team pick. Pitchers Matt Fishman and Derek Self, catcher Andrew Widell and infielder Peter Miller were second-team selections.

Tampa Prep infielder Joey Bobo and outfielder John Arnold were 2A second-team selections. Tampa Catholic had three players selected to the 3A team: Outfielder Ryan Henry was a second-team pick, and catcher Shane Rowland and pitcher Ryan Klosicki were honorable mention.

To view the complete all-state teams for classes 1A, 2A and 3A, go to TBO.com, Keyword: Prep Report. The 4A, 5A and 6A all-state teams are scheduled to be released Friday.

"Leto infielder/pitcher P.J. Leto, Spoto outfielder/pitcher Jacob Pettit and Brooks-DeBartolo pitcher/first baseman Javier Reynoso are participating this week in the second USA Breakthrough Series, an event created in collaboration with Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that features some of the top high school talent from urban areas.

Eighty of the nation's top high school rising juniors and seniors were invited to the four-day event, which helps create exposure for high school players in urban areas. The event began Monday at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.

Football

Robinson will hold its varsity and junior varsity parents information meeting Aug..6 at 6:30 p.m. in the football classroom in the physical education area.
For more information, contact Knights coach Mike DePue at (813) 205-7398.