Wrestling: Tournament crown comes easily to Eagles

Brandon shuts down its competition, winning the title by more than 100 points.

By TERRY JONES, Times Correspondent
Published January 20, 2008

BRANDON - Brandon returned to its winning ways Saturday with dominating performances and a victory in the 24th annual Ippolito Memorial wrestling tournament.

The Eagles scored 351.5 points to easily defeat second-place Manatee (230). Springstead finished third with 182.5 points, St. Cloud was fourth at 181.5, and Alonso took fifth at 128.5.

Brandon crowned six individual champions and three runnersup at the 30-team tournament, and all 14 starters placed in the top six.

Zaq Berridge won the medal for the most pins in the least amount of time, scoring five falls in five matches in 10 minutes, 33 seconds.

Springstead senior Schuyler Swanton, 2007 state champion in 103 pounds, was selected wrestler of the tournament. He wrestles at 112 pounds.

Nick Hutchinson scored the quickest pin in the finals in 22 seconds.

""We looked very solid throughout the tournament," Brandon coach Russ Cozart said. "The tournament this year had excellent competition with some top individuals. There should be a number of state champions coming out of this year's tournament."

Hutchinson, a junior 125-pounder for the Eagles, was especially pleased with his title match.

""This is my first tournament championship this season," he said. ""My opponent was very good, and I wanted to show everybody I could beat a quality opponent.

"I want to go all the way to state this season."

Other Brandon champions included Sean Padgett (103), Eric Grajales (130), Kevin Timothy (135), Joey Cozart (140) and Berridge (160).

Bloomingdale junior Chris Figari won a 2-1 decision over Brandon's Wally Figaro at 145, and Middleton senior Ricardo Albaladejo scored a pin over Alonso's Jack Nueman to complete the list of individual champions.

[Last modified January 19, 2008, 23:34:17]