Brandon junior David Craig "didn't win a single match for two years" as a youth but made remarkable progress since.
By TERRY JONES, Times Correspondent
Published February 7, 2005
BRANDON - No matter where David Craig positions himself in a gymnasium, eventually nearly all eyes glance his way or focuses on him. When he competes, everyone watches his every move.
The Brandon junior is about 6 feet 2 and 171 pounds and is being courted by many colleges around the United States.
For two years he has been ranked No.1 in the nation in his weight class and has won state championships the past two years. He has won at least two dozen national titles.
Though he has done well since starting youth competition at about age 5, he didn't get national recognition until he was a seventh grader at Temple Heights Christian.
"I didn't start competing until I was about 6 and I was terrible," Craig said. "I didn't win a single match for two years. It was really bad, but I was having fun with my friends Rocky Cozart, Ryan and Sean Joyce, Cesar Grajales, Tommy and Eddie Hutchinson and several others. They always beat me, but at the same time encouraged and helped me to progress."
Russ Cozart, Brandon's coach and founder and coach for the Brandon Wrestling Club, said Craig was like most youngsters back then, very energetic and active even though he wasn't impressive at first.
"He first became impressive to me when he placed third in a national tournament at about 9 or 10 years of age," Cozart said. "Like his friends who have put the Brandon team into national recognition, he is first of all committed to his sport and his team. He never misses practice and when I tell him something he pays attention and does what I ask. That is all any coach needs."
Craig simply acts with confidence. While taking honors courses, he carries a 3.8 GPA and has a desire to attend Harvard University.
But before college he still has the balance of this year and his senior year to finish at Brandon.
And as valuable as he is to Brandon and even Florida high school wrestling, that is not the biggest worry for him.
"Right now the most important thing on my mind is not wrecking my eight-cylinder Silverado pickup truck my dad gave me recently," he said. "Next important thing is to keep my girlfriend and my mom happy."
He had to be prodded to discuss the importance of wrestling and the team.
"Of course wrestling is important to me and especially this time of the year as we are getting ready to start the state (meet) run (in districts) Saturday," he said. "I am just one member of the team and I am so proud to be part of such a great group of athletes and friends. We will do our best to repeat as state champions. I am only one. Cesar, Rocky, Sean, Franklin, Marco and all the others will work hard too.."
Cozart is pleased with the progress of Craig and his team. The little kids he started coaching in the club have transformed into highly successful and respected high school wrestlers.
"If you think about it, this is what some would call a miracle," Cozart said. "For the past three weeks, Brandon has been ranked as the No.2 high school team in the nation. They reached that ranking last year also. It is hard to believe a Florida team could ever achieve that level. It is kids like David, Cesar, Rocky, Sean and Ryan, the Hutchinsons, Franklin (Gomez), Marco (Toledo), Rashard (Goff) and Keith (Simmons) and so many others who have achieved the impossible."
