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Senior duo leads Berkeley through its tough schedule

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 24, 2001

TAMPA -- During their first four years, Ian Andes and Elliott Dorsch were quiet. This year, the Berkeley Prep seniors are leaders.

Dorsch qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore, but a shoulder injury kept him out last season.

Andes hopes to qualify for state for the first time this season after coming up one win short last season.

Because Andes (11-7) wrestles at 127 and Dorsch (12-8) at 132, they are practice partners, and they push each other hard.

"A coach could not ask for better team captains than Elliott and Ian," Bucs coach Mike Pulleo said. "They are leaders in the wrestling room and around campus. Because they help so much with the younger kids, they are like having a pair of assistant coaches on the mats."

Pulleo says his philosophy is to work his wrestlers hard and get them the toughest matches possible during the regular season.

In its tournament, Berkeley faced Englewood Lemon Bay, Springstead and Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, three of the top five Class A teams. The Bucs lost the three matches, but Dorsch and Andes won.

Pulleo believes it is better to lose and learn early than to enter districts and regionals with hollow impressive records only to get blown out.

"We like the philosophy of coach Pulleo," Dorsch said. "That doesn't mean we like to be beaten. It simply means we like to walk away from a loss wiser for our next match. Our coach wants us to begin to peak at districts and be ready for the last tournament. In any event, tough matches make us better wrestlers, and we appreciate that."

Andes not only wants to get to state, he also has team goals.

"We worked hard to win the district championship last season, and we want to repeat," he said. "Jesuit will be tough again, and there are some great individuals with Tampa Catholic and Temple Heights. So it will be close again. Then I would like to see several teammates make it to the state tournament. We are very young, so anything done this season should improve in years ahead."

Dorsch and Andes are the only seniors for Berkeley, and there is only one junior.

"They are valuable to this team, and I hope they end up with great senior seasons," Pulleo said. "I know they will go on to successful college careers, even if they don't wrestle."

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