Riverview Enjoying Resurgent Season

Riverview's wrestling program is enjoying a resurgence this season with the return of Coach Wili Sargable.

The Sharks posted a 4-1 mark Saturday at a six-way dual at Durant, improving their record to 7-1, which is more than triple last season's win total (two). Sargable, a former state champion at East Bay, took over the Riverview program in 1999 but took a one-year leave of absence from the program last season.

Riverview got big contributions across the board in victories over Plant, Wharton, Robinson and Newsome. Heavyweight Ryan Gascon, David Martin (189 pounds), Ivan Halaufia (152), Herman Hernandez (130) and Frank Estrada (119) each finished with 4-1 records, while Tylor Ferry (125) went 5-0, according to Riverview assistant Terry Edwards.

Riverview hosts a six-way dual Saturday with Brandon, Hillsborough, Freedom, Wharton and Sickles.

BAD CRITERIA: For the second time this season, a Newsome-Riverview dual couldn't be decided in regulation. And for the second time this season, Newsome was on the wrong end of the rule book.

Saturday's dual at Durant, tied at 39 after all 14 matches, had to be decided by criteria, and the edge went to the Sharks. Newsome coach Eric West said the same thing happened in a preseason dual with Riverview, with the Wolves losing on the same criteria (first points scored). West said the first one "was like a kick in the pants." After the second, he could only shake his head.

Still, the Wolves have enjoyed a pretty good start to the season, running their record to 10-4 after a 3-2 showing Saturday. Heavyweight Connor O'Neil has been the biggest bright spot, but Mike Colonna (140) and Garrett Fuglaar (171) also have stood out in the early going, West said.

"Everybody's been pulling their weight. I really can't complain," West said.

The only thing for West to complain about is the back injury to standout 135-pounder Dan Wood, which has had the 2007 state qualifier sidelined about three weeks. West is hopeful Wood will return to the mat after the Christmas break.

TOUGH TIMES: Saturday was tough for the Robinson Knights, as Coach Tommy Montero had to deal with more injuries, a wrestler lost to disqualification and four losses - one more than the team had endured all season to that point.

One of those losses was to South Tampa rival Plant, and it was aided by heavyweight Michael Benitez's disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct. That scenario came after the Knights lost 145-pounder Adam Ryan to an arm injury earlier in the day.

But the worst occurrence came in Robinson's final match of the day, when 125-pounder Joe Geerholt, a three-time region qualifier, suffered a concussion in a match with Durant's Christian Reed, prompting Montero to respond, "We're fallin' like flies."

Geerholt, who was responsive and had use of all his extremities, was taken off on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for precautionary measures. Montero said he's hopeful Geerholt can return after the Christmas break.

Montero also expects Knights 189-pounder Ellis St. John, who missed his second consecutive week after suffering a separated shoulder, to return after the New Year.

MILESTONE PUT ON HOLD: Austin Figari's bid to become Bloomingdale's all-time victories leader was prolonged a bit as the Bulls senior fell in the 130-pound title match at the 14th annual Jerry Mita Invitational on Saturday.

Figari, who went 3-1 at the tournament, has 129 career wins, one shy of Ryan Nye's program mark. Figari will go for the mark Saturday in a six-way dual tournament at East Bay.

Figari's younger brother, Chris, was one of only two Hillsborough County wrestlers to win a title, taking first at 140 pounds. Tampa Bay Christian's Rossi Bruno (103) was the other.

Three other county wrestlers joined Austin Figari as a runner-up: King heavyweight Alex Hernandez, East Bay 160-pounder Chris Collins and Tampa Bay Christian 112-pounder Clark Glass.

Bloomingdale, which placed fifth, was the only county team to finish in the top 10 at the 23-team tournament.