Wrestling: Brandon cruises; Manatee up next

 Brandon, Manatee, Palmetto Ridge and South Dade all dominated Friday, grabbing semifinal berths in the Jim Graves "Beat the Streak" tournament.

By TERRY JONES
Published January 5, 2008

BRANDON - As expected, Brandon, Manatee, Palmetto Ridge and South Dade all dominated Friday, grabbing semifinal berths in the Jim Graves "Beat the Streak" tournament.

Today at noon, Brandon faces Manatee, and Palmetto Ridge and South Dade will square off.

Manatee beat Chamberlain 69-12 and Springstead 52-18 Friday; Brandon beat Sickles 80-0 and Miami Douglas 65-7; South Dade defeated Venice 62-12 and Camden County, Ga., 57-9; and Naples Palmetto Ridge toppled Plant City 79-0 and Durant 54-9.

Former Brandon coach Jim Graves marveled at the quality of the teams in the tournament named after him.

"I am proud of our start, I am proud of what I did, I am proud of my kids, but Russ Cozart made this program," Graves said.

"...In 28 years he has won every dual match he has coached for Brandon. But he works hard all year long. Nobody else works as hard as him and nobody else is as successful."

All three teams in the semifinals are legitimate threats to stop Brandon's record winning streak, which was 456 consecutive dual-match victories coming in.

Manatee gets the first shot.Richie Cunningham, the Hurricanes' 215- or 285-pounder, has won most of matches with Brandon over the past year or so.

"I have been thinking about Brandon since I was a freshman," he said. "They have always been the best. Now I want to be part of the team to whup them in their own place, in their gym."

Rocky Cozart, home from Michigan State for the Christmas break and a three-time champ while he wrestled for the Eagles, commented on the streak.

"Some day a team will break it, especially with the openness of the Graves," he said. "Each wrestler can only be responsible for his own match, but I am glad I was not on the team that lost it.

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 22:37:04]