Overshadowed streaks

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published January 8, 2008

For the first time since at least the disco era, we can rightfully utter this statement today: Brandon's wrestling team no longer has the area's longest win streak.

Fact is, a lot of local teams and individuals have been piecing together some astounding runs of their own while being completely overshadowed by the Eagles' 31/2 decades of utter dominance.

Thing is, not all have been of the impressive variety. There have been streaks of formidability and futility, nobility and notoriety.

So now that the Eagles' string of 459 consecutive dual-match victories has come to a dignified end, it's time to pay attention - and in some cases, homage - to some of these other prominent area streaks. 

The persistence of Pop Cuesta

The dean of area baseball coaches, Cuesta soon will embark on his 36th consecutive season as Jefferson High's skipper. We're not certain of this, but Cuesta may own the longest tenure at one school of any active local coach in any sport. Considering the job's feeble pay and the fickle nature of Little League parents, who ultimately evolve into high school baseball parents, we say this streak warrants almost as much reverence as the Brandon wrestling team's.

Denied for nearly a half-century

This streak has been challenged many times but, much to the chagrin of Pinellas prep football fans, never snapped. Since organized high school football playoffs began in Florida in 1963, no team from Pinellas has won a state title. That's 45 consecutive football seasons and counting. Largo is the last team to nearly end the skid, reaching the Class 5A state semifinals in December.

Going deep ... into November

Pinellas County's failure to capture a state football title isn't due to a lack of postseason entrants. The Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders have reached the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons. Armwood can't even make that claim. Nor can Plant, Land O'Lakes, Chamberlain, Jefferson or Largo. 

Perpetual Tornado watch

Under venerable 500-game winner Tom Shaneyfelt, Clearwater's girls basketball team has won at least one playoff game every year since 1995. We see that streak extending to 14 consecutive seasons later this winter.

A literal run of success

Jesuit, under two coaches, has finished in the top 10 of the state boys cross country meet for 12 consecutive seasons. The first 11 came under the watch of ex-coach Mike Boza, but new coach Greg Maurin - a longtime Boza assistant - led Jesuit to a third-place finish at the Class 2A meet in November.

Red (-faced) Bull

The most confounding streak on this list comes via Bloomingdale High. Never in their 21 seasons have the Bulls enjoyed a winning football season, and we couldn't tell you why if our paycheck depended on it. The school has enjoyed great success in other sports, and it is located in a congested part of east Hillsborough County that's hardly bereft of talent. Adding insult to futility, other nearby schools built after Bloomingdale (Newsome, Durant) have had winning seasons. Coach Jason Stokes recently was hired to try to snap this two-decade stretch of mediocrity, which, if for no other reason than the law of averages, must end some time.

Families, it appears, can forge streaks as effectively as teams. Every year since 2000, a Weatherford brother has played extensively at quarterback for Land O'Lakes. Drew started four years (2000-03) before Joe stepped in, earning the starting role early in 2004 and holding onto it until his departure two years later. This year, Stevie - the last of six football-playing Gators - threw for around 600 yards while sharing time with senior Ely Payne. Barring injury or other unforeseen factors, Stevie shapes up as Land O'Lakes' starter the next three years.

Its national-record dual-match win streak may be history, but the Brandon wrestling team's other streak - seven consecutive state titles - remains alive, with No. 8 a strong possibility next month.

Joey Knight can be reached at (813) 226-3350 or jknight@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 8, 2008, 01:34:28]