Brotherly love stalled his ambition, but this year Sickles' top wrestler has his eye on the state meet.
By TERRY JONES
Published December 28, 2003
CITRUS PARK - Last year, Alex Penabade refused to challenge for a starting spot with perhaps the most successful wrestling team to date at Sickles High School.
The reason? The person he would have to beat for the spot was his older brother, Daniel.
"I have a lot of love and respect for my brother, and I didn't want to take a chance of eliminating him from the state tournament in his senior year," the younger Penabade said.
"Although I was not part of the qualifying state team last year, I was part of the team and have been since my freshman year. I started wrestling that year because my brother was on the team."
Now a senior, the 17-year-old Citrus Park resident is the captain and top wrestler for the Gryphons this season. The 135-pound Penabade is 18-0 and is one of the top wrestlers in Hillsborough County.
He has recorded 16 pins and one technical fall in his victories. A technical fall is a decision by a margin of 15 points or more.
Included in his victories are individual championships in both the recent Cougar Invitational and the Kiwanis Christmas tournaments.
As a freshman, Penabade set a pair of records with 17 wins and 10 pins. Those records are still on the books for freshmen at Sickles.
In his sophomore season, he went 27-5. With the graduation of 11 seniors from the squad last year, he is one of only two seniors on the team this season.
"Alex is a smart wrestler with a lot of energy," Gryphons head wrestling coach Terry Brockland said. "He doesn't allow his opponents a second to back up and rest, not even for a moment. He is in constant pursuit. When one move doesn't work, he goes right to another. Because he moves so smoothly, he doesn't seem to be working hard, but he is."
Because he moves so smoothly in his matches and has scored so many pins, he gives the appearance he isn't being challenged. That's not always the case.
"I have had some tough competitors, but the only time I really felt challenged was in the finals of the Kiwanis tournament," he said. "He was very strong, but I was able to catch him in a move for a pin in the third period."
But Penabade wants to be challenged. He wants to face competitors with more experience and skills than he has. During the holiday school break, he'll compete in the Sunshine Open in Lakeland.
"There will be some of the best wrestlers in the state and maybe a few from out of state in the open," he said. "It is a good place for me to measure my possibilities at the state tournament.
"It is also a good place to determine where I need the most work. We have a number of big matches after the break, including a dual with Brandon, plus the county tournament, districts and regionals."
Like most quality programs, Sickles will not sit at home during the break. The Gryphons will practice every day, except for Christmas and New Year's days.
For the balance of the season, Penabade has some specific goals for himself and for his team. He wants to qualify for the state meet in Class 2A for 135 pounds.
"Our team is young, but I would like to see five or even six of us break out of the regional tournament and qualify for states," he said. "Then I would like for us to place in the top 15 or even better as a team."
