Preps

Hillsborough wrestlers are coming of age

By TERRY JONES, Times Correspondent
Published November 12, 2007

BRANDON

Take a long, hard look at the better wrestlers in Hillsborough County this season. They are young.

Clark Glass, 15, won the Class A 103-pound state championship last season as a seventh grader. He is back at Tampa Bay Christian with three buddies who are capable of combining their skills for a top-10 Class A team finish.

Eighth-graders Rossi Bruno (103), 14, Kyle Koziel (135), 14, and junior David Alonso (125), 16, all train with the Brandon Wrestling Club. Bruno has earned more than 20 national championships in youth wrestling. So has Glass, and Koziel has about a half dozen.

"This is only the second year of wrestling for David, but he is amazing the way he continues to improve," Rams coach Darrell Tabor said. "Clark and Bruno are contenders for state championships this year and Koziel is capable of winning or at least placing high in the state. David is capable of qualifying for states and scoring some points for us. I like our chances of making our presence known in tournaments this season."

Tabor says his three middle-schoolers have a mutual challenge, normally not faced by older wrestlers in the high school ranks.

"Even though they have similar weights to older opponents, 14- and 15-year-olds have less mature muscle structure," he said. "An 18- or 19-year-old is stronger at the same weight. Our kids will have to use their superior skills and experience to overcome strength. They must wrestle smarter."

The Rams don't wrestle dual matches because they don't have enough wrestlers. Koziel and Alonso have the rougher paths to travel in their quests for berths at the state tournament.

"I just can't move Kyle," Alonso said. "He is just too strong and too big. I'm getting better every day though. All three teach me. They make me feel like part of the team, and I will work hard to help the team win."

Three storylines

1. Can Brandon continue its 32-year dual meet win streak of 439?

Yes, but it will be tough. The Eagles graduated two state champions and several other talents. But they still have state champions Eric Grajales and Joey Cozart, plus state runnerup Kevin Timothy, state placers Zaq Berridge and Phil Uno, plus Nick Hutchinson, Terry Dawson and several surprises. But Manatee, the last team to beat the Eagles, has been working hard for this season and can win. South Dade has potentially the best team in Florida, and Palmetto Ridge is capable.

2. What are the most competitive private schools?

Mike Joyce is helping Jesuit as a friend of the school so the Tigers will be competitive. Tyler Liberatore is wrestling for Tampa Prep, so those teammates around his weight (112) will get better just working out with him. Tampa Bay Christian is tough.

3. Will coach Willie Sargable returning make a difference in Hillsborough County wrestling?

Sargable made Riverview a competitive program before taking a break for a couple of years. With him back, the Sharks should be competitive by districts and challenging by next season.

Top teams

1. Brandon: In the county, still the best. In the state? South Dade, Naples Palmetto Ridge and Manatee have the potential to beat Brandon. They all meet in the Graves Challenge on Jan. 4-5 in the Eagles Nest. Seats will be at a premium.

2. Bloomingdale and Durant, tie: Bulls coach Donnie Peek has a strong stable. Cougars coach Dennis Kitko doesn't have the word "lose" in his vocabulary, so even though he is reloading, these teams will be nose-to-nose all the way to regionals.

4. Robinson: Coach Tom Montero has a savvy staff of assistants and some tough kids. They need a few more skills to be a state challenger, but they are working on that.

5. Alonso and Armwood, tie: Ravens coach John More and Hawks coach Robert Langford both have a group of returnees to fill lineups in competitive programs and enough move-ins and new wrestlers capable of making a difference.

Darkhorses: Wharton, Jesuit, Riverview, Plant City, Sickles and Newsome.

Top three tournaments

Nov. 30-Dec. 1, Cougar Invitational at Durant: Good early measuring stick. Tough teams and several individual state champions. Local teams include Durant, Wharton, Plant, Sickles, Jesuit, Hillsborough, Chamberlain, King, Jefferson, Plant City, Riverview. State powerhouses: Naples Riverdale, Miami Braddock, Suwanee, Manatee, Osceola.

Jan. 4-5, Graves Challenge at Brandon: With the Eagles' loss of its almost invincible middle weights to graduation and youngsters counted on to maintain the 32-year streak, it is definitely in danger. Included in the attack will be Palmetto Ridge, Miami South Dade, Springstead and Manatee.

Jan. 18-19, Ippolito Memorial at Brandon: A final big-bracket tournament before districts. Jesuit, Manatee, Springstead, Osceola, Flagler Palm Coast and others usually compete in a final warmup to the big dance in Lakeland.

[Last modified November 12, 2007, 00:21:24]