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Hurricanes' prankster knows when to get serious

By DAWN REISS
Published February 10, 2006

INVERNESS - Citrus senior Tommy Newman is always good for a laugh.

The self-proclaimed jokester admits to instigating a few pranks in the name of a good time.

"I get Dallas Evans, our heavyweight, to pick on our lightweight (Craig Barker) so they get mad at each other and start wrestling," said Newman, who wrestles at 191 pounds. "Then I trip Dallas so the lightweight can win."

But it doesn't stop there.

"I like hiding other people's stuff," Newman said, "like their clothes when they are changing."

He also admits to messing with other teams' bags. "I take their stuff out of their bags and put it with our bags until they start asking for it," Newman said.

He said it hasn't caused problems so far.

"We're usually cool," Newman said. "Once we're not on the mat, wrestlers usually hang together."

It's not all fun and games for Newman, whose goal is to take care of unfinished business. Last season, Newman, 6 feet 3, went 23-15 and fell one match shy of qualifying for state at 189, losing to Crystal River senior Richard Drawdy.

Newman knew this season would be his last chance. So he focused in. He wrestled with USA Wrestling Club in the summer. He started at nose guard for the football team, and once wrestling season started in October, he trained twice a day, after school and in the evening. He also borrowed a mat from 2004 Citrus graduate Lee Carey and practiced with him. Saturday, he finished third at the district meet to improve to 27-6 and qualify for today's region meet. "Even though he's not considered one of the front-runners, he's doing everything he can to get to state," Citrus coach Rob Hermann said.

Newman said he's better for it.

"In seventh grade, I was a trouble maker," Newman said. "I was always acting up, sleeping in class, not turning my homework in. I haven't gotten in trouble since I started wrestling."

Newman's father, Rick, said his son has turned it around completely. "It's all that is on his mind," Rick Newman said. "He's knows this is his last chance."

Dawn Reiss can be reached at 352 860-7303 or dreiss@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 10, 2006, 01:11:18]