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

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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