Brandon nears 18th team title

With six wrestlers in the finals, the Eagles have a commanding lead over Manatee.

By TERRY JONES
Published February 17, 2007

LAKELAND - Some of the best matches of this season's state tournament were in the semifinals Friday. For all Hillsborough County teams, it was costly.

Of the 51 wrestlers from the county who qualified, only 11 have the opportunity to win an individual state championship. Many others are in the wrestlbacks and eligible for placing among the top six.

Brandon managed to get only six of its 10 semifinalists through. The Eagles closed the night with 179.5 points.

Bradenton Manatee's strong round brought the Hurricanes into second with 121 points and two in the finals.

Clark Glass, Tampa Baptist's seventh-grade 103-pounder, scored a 6-3 semifinal win to earn a berth in the finals. He was delighted with his first state tournament.

"This is like being in a USA Wrestling national tournament," the multiple national champ said. "The finals will be big, but I will pray, stay focused and do all the things I have learned in practice."

Other Hillsborough winners included 135-pound Rubin Perez of Armwood, 152-pound Patrick Spano of Chamberlain and 171-pound Matt Lynn and 285-pound Paul Lazaro of Jesuit.

Brandon's Sean Joyce (145) will be going for his fourth individual title.

Keith Koziel (152), Tommy Timothy (160), Eric Grajales (112), Kevin Timothy (130) and Joey Cozart (125) are the Eagles' other finalists.

Koziel has been to the finals four times since the eighth grade, but has watched the championship elude him.

"I am so hungry for that title," he said. "It is the ultimate achievement for high school wrestling."

Summing up the day, Brandno coach Russ Cozart said, "We had some good matches, and the tournament isn't over yet.

"We won some tough matches and some came up a little short."

[Last modified February 16, 2007, 23:42:51]