Wrestling: Rise to the top

After an impressive postseason, Central's Vince Ramirez made a name for himself.

By Derek J. LaRiviere
Published January 16, 2008

Two years ago, the Central wrestling program didn't even exist, and Vince Ramirez had never stepped foot on a mat.

Since then, many things have changed. The Bears program, disbanded midway through the 2005-06 season after some off-mat turmoil, has been resurrected by former Central wrestler Roy Reyes.

And Ramirez has flourished.

Barely conspicuous last season, Ramirez currently is ranked second at 130 pounds in Class 2A - behind Brandon state champ and potential Olympian Eric Grajales - by the coaches who vote in the scout.com Florida wrestling poll.

"It's nice to see how other people start to look at you when get a reputation," Ramirez said, "but anything can happen once you are out on the mat."

As a freshman last season, Ramirez wasn't the flashiest guy on the team. Wrestling at 135 pounds, he sat back while seniors Gilbert Perez (145) and Miguel Molina (140) received most of the praise in the Bears' first season back from hiatus.

"Vince was a virtual unknown for most of his freshman year," Reyes said, "but he was beating some tough kids even then."

Quietly, he was improving faster than anyone could have predicted, and when the postseason rolled aroundwas ready to prove himself.

Ramirez made it farther than any Central wrestler, nearly qualifying for the state tournament out of one of Florida's toughest regions (2A-2), and finished 29-7.

Carrying passion, desire and commitment into the offseason, Ramirez watched his stock rise further when he placed third in his weight class at the National High School Coaches Association Freshman National Wrestling Championships.

In the process, he became the first All-American in program history.

"(Ramirez) was tough as a freshman because of how tenacious he is," Reyes said. "But his biggest strength is the mental aspect of the sport."

So far, Ramirez's sophomore season hasn't gone as planned. He has been hindered by a pulled left shoulder muscle, sustained at the Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando in early December and aggravated at the Zac Jarzynka Memorial Ironman Tournament in Oviedo later that month.

Because of the injury, he was unable to compete in the Springstead Invitational this past weekend, and has concerns about his health and preparation for the postseason.

"I am really going to have to focus on improving my endurance coming off of this (injury)," Ramirez said. "You can never get enough conditioning in."

[Last modified January 15, 2008, 21:33:57]