Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 15, 2002
ALONSO RAVENS
COACH: John Moore
LAST YEAR: 4-8
RETURNING: Lazaro Valladares, Cameron Esmkhani, Eric Mitchell, Frank Toro, Phillip Pearson, Gus Lugo.
OUTLOOK: Entering their second season, the Ravens are capable of doubling last year's win total.
COACH SAYS: "With about half our kids back from last year, we should be competitive with most middle-range schools this season. We have a motto this year: Dedication, Desire, Details and Discipline. The kids are working hard and looking for a successful year."
COACH: Jeff Duncan
LAST YEAR: 17-4
RETURNING: Brian Banjany, Ryan Meehan, Rudy Mayoz, John Thomas, Robert Persuad, Lowell Topham and Ricardo Topham.
OUTLOOK: The Chiefs return nearly all their best wrestlers and have some younger ones moving into what should be a mature, experienced team on the mats. Chamberlain is toughest in the lower weights, but well-balanced all the way through the lineup. Should do well all the way to state.
COACH SAYS: "I expect these guys to do as well as last season and better. These guys are capable of winning districts and doing great at both regionals and state. We will start slow, though, because several of our bigger wrestlers are still playing football."
COACH: Dwight Middleton
LAST YEAR: This is the Patriots first season.
RETURNING: Nobody OUTLOOK: The inaugural season usually means a lot of losses, and Freedom is probably no exception. But Middleton is experienced, having helped successfully rebuild the Kings' program. He should help the Patriots put a few wins on the record this season.
COACH SAYS: "I hope to have close to 25 athletes on the mats by the time we start competition. First job is to teach basics and divide varsity from junior varsity. Ryan Schells is our only experienced wrestler. He wrestled as an upperweight at Temple Heights and Gaither before starting his junior year with us."
COACH: Tim Boylan
LAST YEAR: 8-5
RETURNING: Joel Tatangelo, Joel Medgebow, Steve Blickensderfer, Ryan Olding, Austin Blitch and Sean Reber.
OUTLOOK: The Cowboys will put a team on the mats dominated by seniors with plenty of experience. They should be able to run with the best in the county all the way to regionals. Whether they go on with a successful state team depends on how they come together.
COACH SAYS: "Our guys have the potential to be very successful this season. Except for Sickles and Chamberlain, our regular season schedule doesn't seem very challenging, but we will be in the East Lake and Brandon Ippolito tournament, and they will help us get ready for the state run."
COACH: Donald Hills
LAST YEAR: 2-10
RETURNING: Jeff Marshall, Anicia Rhodes, Jonathan Girwarnath, Josh Reyes, Allen Denson, Andrew Lopez, Joseph Chappell, Adam Altuzrray, Ryan Parsons, Greg Stallworth and Justin Mitchell.
OUTLOOK: In his second year of coaching, Hills has built a base to include 11 returning starters. The Dragons are strongest from 119 to 152, and that could be enough to place high in tournaments this season. Look for a winning season by Jefferson, and maybe even a couple of state qualifiers.
COACH SAYS: "We have a good group of kids on the mats with some experience. We are working on the discipline, desire and hard work needed to succeed in this sport, and the kids seem willing to put forth the effort. We hope to have a good start and even better finish."
COACH: Matt Sparrowhawk
LAST YEAR: 2-11
RETURNING: Roland Loynaz, Ryan Perez and Josh Chitwood.
OUTLOOK: Sparrowhawk, in his first year as the Falcons coach, is a big believer in conditioning. Leto has had some powerhouse teams in the past and he wants to restore the tradition. Leto should improve on last year's record.
COACH SAYS: "I want to help get them all into top condition and teach them how to enjoy their sport of choice. We will work hard together to at least improve last year's record and be ready to compete well in postseason."
COACH: Terry Brockland
LAST YEAR: Eighth in state, fourth in region and third in district.
RETURNING: 11 seniors are back, but state champ Jagen Gabbadon, state runner-up Stan Liberatore, state qualifier Dan Penabade and district champ Omar Mobadin are primary leaders.
OUTLOOK: With 11 seniors, the Gryphons are one of the top teams in the state and have the experience to place in the top three in districts, regionals and the state meet. This could be their best season ever.
COACH SAYS: "This is the best group of wrestlers I have had the honor to coach. If they don't hold back, they should do much better at state. We certainly have the horses to get the job done."
COACH: David Mitchell
LAST YEAR: Third in their division in the Western Conference.
RETURNING: LeRoy Green and Larry Edwards.
OUTLOOK: The Wildcats are in a rebuilding season, and if some of the successful athletes from the school's football team help fill the upperweight roster, the squad could do well. Otherwise, the young Wildcats may not be competitive until the end of the regular season.
COACH SAYS: "We really are young this season, but hopefully they could come together by the end of January as we prepare for postseason."