Craig caps perfect career

Senior finishes 182-0, while five other Brandon teammates take state crowns.

By TERRY JONES
Published February 19, 2006

LAKELAND - After wrapping up its sixth consecutive team state championship Friday night, Brandon needed only to determine the number of individual state champions it would place in the 2006 record book.

The state record for any team in a year is six, which the Eagles repeated for the third time in the past four years Saturday. Brandon won its 17th state championship with 233.5 points.

"Every year is different and I don't compare them because the mix is always different," Brandon coach Russ Cozart said. "My kids this year have done everything and given me everything I have asked. I am a very lucky coach. There is nothing like my kids being successful to make me see and show them hard work pays off."

The Eagles qualified 12 wrestlers for the state tournament and 11 placed.

David Craig (171) was the team leader for Brandon. He won his fourth consecutive state championship when his opponent was forced to drop out in the second period with a dislocated shoulder. Craig finished his four-year career for Brandon 182-0.

He is ranked the No. 1 171-pounder in the country by WIN Magazine and USA Wrestling. After he won, young wrestlers in the crowd gathered around him for autographs, but he talked about the team.

"Because we lost seven of our 14 starters from last year, many people talked about this being the year we would lose our streak and thought we would not win state," Craig said. "Coach Cozart told us that would be up to us and no one else. Our guys wrestled above their level all year."

Other successful finishes were turned in by Bloomingdale's Ryan Nye (135) and Durant's Adam Doback (145), both seniors. Nye won the first state championship for Bulls coach Donny Peek and Doback the first championship for Durant coach Dennis Kitko.

"Tonight I celebrate by eating," Nye said. "I may gain 25 pounds in the next 24 hours. All kidding aside, I hope I was able to do something to help Coach Peek to continue improving his program."

"My finals match was the toughest of the tournament," said Doback, who scored a 9-4 decision. "(My opponent) was so strong and quick, I knew he could throw me at any time. I am happy for my team and Coach Kitko. He is going to build a great program at Durant."

Eagles freshman sensation Eric Grajales (103) started the Brandon charge. He extended his personal record to 47-0 by pinning Schuyler Swanton from Springstead in one minute, 23 seconds.

Grajales' dad, Cesar Sr., was a member of the first state title team for Cozart in 1982 and his older brother Cesar Jr. was part of four Brandon championship teams. The youngest Grajales now is part of his family tradition.

"Brandon wrestling has been part of my life since I was a toddler," Grajales said. "I have finally accomplished one of my greatest dreams. (Today) my dad and I fly to the University of Pennsylvania to see my brother wrestle. That is better than Disney World."

Seniors James Brown (125) and Alex Araoz (130) won the next two individual belts for the Eagles. Brown won with a 15-0 technical fall in the third period and Araoz pinned his opponent in three minutes, nine seconds.

"I am really proud of our guys," Araoz said." All 12 scored some points and 11 placed. We came in with a plan to win and we did. Some people thought we would be down, but everybody came through all year."

A pair of juniors, Sean Joyce (145) and Tommy Timothy (160), also won individual championships for the Eagles. It was the third title for Joyce, but both finished second last year. Joyce won his first title as an eighth-grader at Temple Heights.

"A lot of people said this would be a rebuilding year for us and we would lose a dual match and not win the state championship," Joyce said. "Coach Cozart said whatever we did was up to us and no one else. Our team captains kept us encouraged and everybody worked hard to finish as another great Brandon team."

Joey Cozart of Temple Heights finished second at 112 in Class A and Mike White of Chamberlain was runnerup at 140 in Class 2A. Junior Kyle Keller (112) placed second for Brandon.

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:10:11]