Pirates push back Gators

By DEREK LaRIVIERE
Published November 27, 2005

DADE CITY - The mentor defeated the student Saturday at the Dr. McBath Tough Team Tournament.

Land

O'Lakes and host Pasco met in the finals of the annual tournament, which had an underlying back story. Coach Brent Coleman is in his first season as the Gators' leader after serving as an assistant under Pasco coach Mark DeAugustino last year.

"It's like a Bowden facing a Bowden," said DeAugustino, comparing his relationship with Coleman to that of Florida State football coach Bobby and son Tommy, the Clemson coach. "Brent's almost like my son."

Because of a scheduling conflict, only four schools competed. The tournament originally was slated with six area schools entered, but a lighting problem in Pasco High's gymnasium last weekend caused the event to be postponed.

The move was enough to force Gulf and Mitchell to drop out, leaving the field with four teams - Central, Nature Coast Tech, Land O'Lakes and Pasco. With the turmoil finally past, Pasco (3-0) edged Land O'Lakes on its way to the overall team title.

Land O'Lakes (2-1) strolled through early matches against Central and Nature Coast, but the Gators came up short against a more experienced Pasco program, losing the final match 43-38.

The Pirates walked away with six of 14 individual medals. Two-time state qualifier John Clarke led the way with his individual title in the 189-pound weight class.

The Gators did not win the team crown, but individual winner Brian Rushing (130) defeated Pasco's Jacob Hinkle, a state qualifier last season, and earned the tournament's most outstanding wrestler trophy. Land O'Lakes also had six individual medalists to match Pasco in that department.

Inexperience hurt Central (1-2) and Nature Coast (1-3), two rebuilding programs. The Bears and Sharks each earned one individual title. Central's Nathan Brazeau took the medal at 171, and Nature Coast's Tony Grossi did the same at 135.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:19:10]