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Preps

Top seeds Countryside, Brandon should meet

Like the Eagles, the Cougars are strong in the middle of their lineup.

By TERRY JONES
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 10, 2003

BRANDON -- For the first time in his 23 years as Brandon's wrestling coach, the county schedule permitted Russ Cozart to open gym doors and say to the rest of the state, "If you want a shot at "The Streak,' then come and get it."

The Streak, of course, is Brandon's national-record, 29-year-old, 360-consecutive dual-match victory string, and Cozart's statewide invitation to challenge it culminates today and Saturday at the Eagles' Nest in a dual-meet format.

The idea for the Jim Graves "Challenge The Streak" tournament began in the spring when the county dropped its Western Conference tournament, giving Cozart an open date. As soon as he got permission, he sent out 150 invitations to the state's top programs.

Some of those teams said they had scheduling conflicts, others said they didn't want to challenge Brandon at Brandon, and others ...

Well, enough of the ones who did not come, let's break down the field that accepted.

Starting at the top are No. 1 and No. 2 seeds Brandon and Countryside, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Class 2A by Floridakids.net. Barring upsets of catastrophic proportions, expect those two to be in Saturday's final at 7:30 p.m.

"Countryside is the best kept wrestling secret in Florida," Cozart said. "They are great."

Particularly from 112 to 160 pounds.

"The Cougars have seven wrestlers capable of beating anyone in their weight in the state, including us," Cozart said. "Both our teams have to win three matches Friday and Saturday to make it to the finals, but if we both make it, the streak will truly be on the line.

"I have seen them wrestle, and they are tough, skilled and well-coached."

Assuming Brandon and Countryside meet in the final, the match will be the most serious threat to The Streak in years. The real mat war will be in the middle where both teams are exceptionally strong.

The Cougars have a pair of returning state champions plus some All-Americans from national freestyle and Greco-Roman competition.

Brandon also has a pair of state champions in the middle and several All-Americans.

"We are strongest in the middle and if we are to have a chance, we have to win there," Countryside coach Dave Frayer said. "We would have to have our best lineup and we may not have that right now. It is going to be extremely tough to win. Brandon has the best team in Florida and one of the best in the country."

Said Cozart: "We will have to do well in the middle. Those matches will have 14 of the best wrestlers in Florida against each other. It wouldn't surprise me if no more than a total of seven points separated the seven matches. It won't be a chess match on our part, though. Our lineup is set."

Also highly capable dual teams in order of tournament ranking are Venice, Flagler Palm Coast, Stuart Martin County and Sickles.

Beginning at 5 p.m. tonight, 14 teams will wrestle their 14 wrestlers just like a dual match, but on six separate mats simultaneously. One team will get a bye in the first round.

It's single elimination from there to reach the winners bracket final, which, again, is likely to feature Countryside and Brandon in front of a packed, raucous house.

Since Brandon's last loss in a dual meet at the end of the 1972-73 season, few teams have come within six points of the Eagles:

Jan. 25, 1974: Brandon 24, Manatee 24

Feb. 2, 1974: Brandon 27, Charlotte 24

Jan. 16, 1975: Brandon 29, Manatee 23

Jan. 10, 1980: Brandon 28, East Bay 27

Nov. 30, 1982: Brandon 29, Chamberlain 27

Dec. 10, 1988: Brandon 31, Chamberlain 28

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