A nice going-away present

Northeast gives its outgoing coach his first City Championships title.

By DOUG KATES
Published January 8, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Coach Bill Dudley and his Northeast Vikings both did something they have never done before.

Dudley, who is in his 33rd and final year of coaching, stood on the top tier of the award podium Saturday night after his team won the 11th annual St. Petersburg City Championship. He was asked by parents to stand on the podium, hold the trophy and pose for pictures.

Dudley said he had never stood on the top tier before. "Only to change a clock," he joked.

The Vikings scored 209.5 points to beat Dixie Hollins (163.5) for the team title. This was the first team title for Northeast after six second-place finishes. Dixie Hollins and St. Petersburg High have five championships each.

The evening was special to Dudley because he created the tournament and has been proud to see it continue each year. Before the finals, he told fans he was stepping down from coaching, but not from running the tournament. He said it meant too much to him.

"This is my baby," he said. "I wanted this for so long. I'm not giving it up."

The Vikings had eight in the finals. At 112, Tyler Andrejack captured the first Northeast title with a first-period pin. More champions followed: Josh Aaron at 125, Robert Hunt at 130, A.J. Yingling at 145, Bob Bedard at 171 and Dylan Mundella at 275.

Dixie Hollins had five in the finals. At 119 pounds, Jacob Lawhead trailed Northeast's Nick Dimitrov 5-1 in the second period. Lawhead scored a takedown and quickly turned it into a pin.

"I just knew I had to come back," Lawhead said. "I just had to come back and pin him. He was gunning for me."

Lawhead was named the tournament's most valuable wrestler. He was 3-0 with three pins.

Also celebrating individual titles for Dixie Hollins were Travis Williams at 135 pounds and Dustin Zitzmann at 215.

Dixie Hollins coach Nick Spataro said his Rebels were hoping for first place as a team, but Northeast "had too much."

Dixie Hollins will look forward to a rematch at districts. "Hopefully we can get them there where it really counts," Spataro said.

St. Petersburg Catholic entered the finals in fifth place, but passed Gibbs and St. Petersburg to finish in third. Andrew Kolonick (152), Wes Miller (160) and Scott McRoberts (189) all won individual titles for the Barons. Other titles were won by Demetrius Madry (103) and Eric Siegel (140), both of St. Petersburg High.

SPC's Jack Strausser won a special award for the most pins in the least amount of time. He had three in 3 minutes, 36 seconds.

[Last modified January 8, 2006, 00:45:14]