By TERRY JONES, Times Correspondent
Published January 8, 2006
In its second championship match with Brandon in as many years in the Graves Challenge the Streak Tournament, Cardinal Gibbons edged a little closer in its quest to defeat the Eagles.
Last year, Gibbons won three individual matches. This year it won five, but the Eagles extended their streak of consecutive dual-match wins to 422, beating the defending Class A champ 43-22.
"Coach (Frank) Pettineo has a very good program and he says he is coming back to this tournament until he wins it," Brandon coach Russ Cozart said. "They will lose only one wrestler this year and we will lose five. They are getting closer." Brandon graduated seven starters from last year's state championship team. The Eagles started three freshmen Saturday, and two of them - Eric Grajales (103) and Kevin Timothy (119) - won matches.
Grajales is 21-0 this season. He has 20 pins and has not been scored on. Zaq Berridge (140), another freshman, lost a close 5-2 decision to defending state champion George Bancroft.
Jim Graves, Brandon's first wrestling coach who guided the Eagles to their first 75 wins of the streak, was present. "The tournament seems to be growing," Graves said. "I am glad it is not a memorial Graves tournament yet."
Lakeland Lake Gibson captured the third-place trophy with a 49-24 win over Jensen Beach. In the other consolation match, Jesuit placed fifth with a 47-18 win over Venice.
Cardinal Gibbons paved its road to the finals with wins over Chamberlain (64-6), East Lake (64-6) and Lake Gibson (42-31).
On its way to the finals, Brandon beat Wesley Chapel 80-0, Ft. Lauderdale Douglas 59-18 and Jensen Beach 66-16.
