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Wrestling: Brandon moves forward
With their streak of 459 dual-match victories over, the Eagles keep their eyes on a state title.
By JOE SMITH
Published January 8, 2008
BRANDON - A few hours after "The Streak" was snapped, Brandon wrestling coach Russ Cozart stepped into his son's room and let out a sigh nearly three decades in the making.
"I'm happy it ended," Cozart told Joey, an Eagles sophomore captain, "so I can get this off my shoulders. Now, we can move forward."
"The Streak" has become "The Record" - 459 consecutive dual-match victories, a national record.
Back at Brandon on Monday, it appeared to be business as usual. Wrestlers swept the floor and mopped the mats. Some expressed relief. Others reflected.
"We were born into the streak - it isn't even like a record to us, it's a part of our lives," Joey Cozart said. "It wore on my dad a lot, he was ready for it to go. But to me, it's like a family member died."
For young people, when such a long-standing streak is broken, it "can be like a grieving process," according to sports psychologist Shane Murphy, a professor at Western Connecticut State University who wrote the book The Achievement Zone, detailing Olympian Al Oerter's streak of four straight gold medals.
Joey Cozart said the new goal is extending their state record seven consecutive state titles. And instead of hosting a Beat the Streak Tournament next year, they'll likely travel to a national dual, free of the bull's-eye once always on their back.
On Sunday, the Eagles acted like kids again, playing poker and video games, cracking jokes before they cracked the whip Monday.
"The program is not going to be down," Joey said. "Not for another 20 years."
By then, there may be another streak.
Fast facts Record-setting winning streaks
459: Brandon (FL) High School wrestling
159: Passaic (NJ)High School basketball
151: De La Salle (CA)High School football
103: Univ. of North Carolina women's soccer
88: UCLA men's basketball
47: University of Oklahoma football
33: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
31: Argentina, international soccer
21: New England Patriots, NFL
21: Chicago Cubs, MLB
17: Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL
[Last modified January 8, 2008, 01:27:14]
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by ABM
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01/08/08 03:35 PM
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In your Record-Setting winning streaks, you neglected to include the Cheshire, CT High School Girls Swim Team. As of today, they have won 235 consecutive dual meets in a row, lasting 21 years. They were even featured on ESPN's Sports Center.
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by John
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01/08/08 03:23 PM
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I remember several years ago that there were 4 other high school wrestling teams with more than a 100 straight wins, one being Peru High school in New York.Can't remember the others
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News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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