No loss of sportsmanship

Brandon High handles the end of its record win streak with dignity.

By JOEY KNIGHT, Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

BRANDON - The natural assumption was, Russ Cozart would be rusty. His congratulatory handshake to the triumphant foe would be a little awkward or ill-timed. His head might sustain a few kinks when holding it up amid defeat.

After all, the guy hadn't been forced to work on this part of coaching in, oh, the past three decades.

But when it came time to handle a loss, in Saturday night's finals of the Jim Graves "Beat the Streak" Tournament, Cozart had the class and dignity thing down pat.

When the end of the longest win streak in all of high school sports had been assured, with a match still to go in the Eagles' 32-28 loss to Homestead South Dade, Cozart walked over to opposing coach Victor Balmeceda and shook his hand.

Then he shook the hands of the South Dade assistants and wrestlers. Then he gave his son Joey, who still had to wrestle one final meaningless match, this edict.

"He just said, 'Go out there, do it for the team, and show everybody that we can go out there and keep winning no matter what the circumstances are,' " said Joey, his voice cracking.

To be sure, the streak is over after 459 consecutive dual-match victories and nearly 34 years.

But grace carries on.

"(Russ Cozart) is a class act," Balmeceda said. "Everybody emulates what he is. My goal is, if I'm half the coach that he is in my future, then I'm going to be a great man."

This isn't to say Cozart's kids exited the gym Saturday night with shoulders erect, chins jutted and thoughts cast toward Monday's practice schedule.

Emotions were worn on singlets. A program forged of blood and sweat finally saw tears.

"It's unthinkable," 160-pound junior Zaq Berridge said. "You just don't know what to think about it."

Throughout their careers, the streak had been these kids' mojo, their motive, the proverbial python around their collective neck that spooked opponents.

Now, unfair as it seems, the python's grip will suffocate them at times. For the rest of their lives, the 2007-08 Eagles, a green bunch whose roster had been gutted by graduation, will have to deal with those who flippantly point out they were the team that allowed the streak to end.

"I'm sure when we get back Monday to school there will be some guys that give us some stuff," Joey Cozart said. "But I'm sure we'll all stick together as a team and be proud of what we've accomplished over the years."

And if they keep razzing you fellas, just offer this retort: show us another team that's 459-1.

"We created this tournament to get beat. If I wanted to keep going, I would've never had this tournament," Russ Cozart said.

"No one wanted to be on the team that got beat. But hey, let's face it, this is a world record. It's not the end of the world. I always told people that when the streak got through it would be a time for celebration."

Not to mention pride. Perhaps the most telling moment of Saturday's landmark match was also its most overlooked: Joey Cozart, with nothing tangible to wrestle for, pinning South Dade 140-pounder Elyse Fontaine in the first period of the night's final match.

"I was dying on the inside," Joey said, "but I couldn't show it."

Instead, he showed the essence of his dad, and the program he helped construct. Which is to say, he showed a streak of pride.

The greatest streak of all.

[Last modified January 6, 2008, 00:33:29]