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Rookie leads rally as Pirates get win

By WAYNE GRUMET

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 25, 2001

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Pasco coach Mark DeAugustino had a surprise waiting for Zephyrhills on Wednesday. Before their meet, DeAugustino said his 140-pounder, Devon Bryant, was ready for a breakthrough.

Bryant had not fared well this season against Zephyrhills' 140-pounder, Patrick O'Conner. O'Conner pinned Bryant the first time they met and won a decision the next.

Bryant took the mat with his Pirates trailing 24-6, and he battled O'Connor to an 8-8 tie into the third period. Suddenly, Bryant took O'Connor down and got a surprise pin.

Bryant's pin turned out to be the difference in Pasco's 42-33 win. The Pirates now have won two of their three meetings with Zephyrhills this season.

"This is Devon's first year, and he's just starting to learn how to wrestle," DeAugustino said. "In the past couple of weeks, he's starting to put a couple of moves together. He's going to be tough if he keeps his head together."

After forfeiting at 103 pounds, Zephyrhills earned three consecutive pins. Nick Spine (119) scored his fall in 1:14 while Ryan Hall (125) and Douglas Burden (130) got theirs in 12 and 20 seconds, respectively.

Bryant's win sparked a Pirate resurgence. Brad Alford (145), Alvaro Moreno (152) and Matt Herron (160) collected pins to take a 30-24 lead.

The clincher came courtesy of 189-pounder Tye Reedy, who didn't show up until the middle of the 140-pound match. Reedy was told he had a forfeit before the match, so he left to run 3 miles.

When he returned, he found out Zephyrhills coach Kevin Epifanio had moved 171-pounder Martin Calhoun up a class to keep Reedy from moving up to face Zephyrhills' 215-pounder, Charlie Helm.

Reedy didn't seem winded, pinning Calhoun in 42 seconds. "I just ran 3 miles; no big deal," Reedy said. "It was nice. I'm a senior, and this was my last time wrestling Zephyrhills."

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