Frayer eyeing Big 12, NCAA mat titles, Olympics

By DAVE THEALL

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 27, 2000

A college wrestler who has Olympic aspirations first must compete for the Big 12 Conference and NCAA titles.

Jared Frayer, a three-time state champion at Countryside High, is ranked seventh in the nation at 149 pounds for the University of Oklahoma.

In Monday's 33-3 victory over Missouri, Frayer decisioned Jeff Urban 5-3 to improve his record to 21-7. He moves on to the Big 12 championships this weekend at Lincoln, Neb. Last year as a redshirt freshman, he finished second and earned a berth at the NCAA championships. There, he was eliminated by fourth-seeded and eventual All-American Troy Marr of Minnesota.

The highlight of this season so far for Frayer was being named Big 12 Conference Wrestler of the Week after winning four matches with two pins, including a win over favored Mike Zadick of Iowa.

Oklahoma head coach Jack Spates said the honor was well-deserved.

"That was an outstanding win over Zadick, who had just beaten the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the country," Spates said. "That was a great performance. We anticipate even better things to come from Jared."

Frayer, who wrestled for his father, David, at Countryside High, compiled a 140-3 high school record, including a state-record 112 consecutive wins. He was undefeated his sophomore, junior and senior years. In 1997, he won the Junior National Wrestling Championships at 132 pounds. He also lettered three years in swimming and diving for the Cougars, and graduated with a 3.2 grade-point average.

How far Frayer goes at this year's NCAA championships may hinge on a rival from Oklahoma State. In three meetings with the Cowboys' third-ranked Reggie Wright, Frayer has lost 13-5, 6-2 and 4-1.

MORE WRESTLING: Matt Markham (Seminole High), who compiled a career record of 52-59 at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., has resigned as a volunteer coach at his alma mater and joined the Marine Corps. He's a second lieutenant. Markham graduated with a bachelor of science degree in justice systems in December 1999.

BASKETBALL: At Pasco-Hernando Community College, Daryl Williams (Clearwater) was named to the Suncoast Conference first team and player of the year. He has led the Conquistadors to a 26-2 record, the best winning percentage in the school's history.

For winning the conference title, the nation's 10th-ranked junior college team moves on to the state tourney March 1-4 in Marianna.

Playing the No. 2 guard position at 6 feet 5, Williams led the team in scoring with a 17.7 average and 19.6 in conference play. He hit 44.5 percent from the field and 68.5 from the free-throw line. He averaged 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2 steals per game.

"Daryl was also our best defender," said head coach Bobby Bowman. "More importantly, he's an all-around player. He improved in all areas here this season, including as a student and in maturity. He's being heavily recruited by both major Division I and Division II four-year programs."

Williams also has been named to the all-Florida junior college first team, which earns him a place on the Florida Community College All-Star Team that will play this summer.

Crystal Worlds (Boca Ciega) contributed nine points in Florida A&M's 70-66 win over North Carolina A&T Monday night.

Teammate Akita Heatly (also from Bogie) has missed the last three games with a broken finger. The 5-10 point guard was the MEAC Conference rookie of the year last season. She hopes to return to the lineup for the conference tournament, which gets under way on March 6 in Richmond, Va. The Rattlers won it last year to earn a berth in the Division I NCAA tournament.

A third former Pirate who excelled for coach Harry Elifson, Angie Williams, is starring at Barry University. She was the Sunshine State Conference player of the year last season and was named to the Division II All-America fourth team.

In South Carolina's 82-61 upset victory over Alabama last week, small forward David Ross (Boca Ciega) was 3-for-5 from three-point range for nine points.

SWIMMING/DIVING: At Florida, team captain Carolyn Vaughn (St. Petersburg High) competed in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform diving events for the third-place Gators in last weekend's Southeastern Conference championships at Auburn. She has qualified for the NCAA Diving Zones at Auburn from March 8-12.

BASEBALL: Josh Meurer (Largo '95/Erksine College) will report to spring training with the Texas Rangers at Port Charlotte on March 9. Last summer he played professionally for the Canton (Ohio) Crocodiles. He has been serving as the assistant coach at Kentucky Wesleyan this season.

At Central Florida, leftfielder/first baseman Matt Bowser (Tarpon Springs) hit his team-leading fourth homer of the season in Sunday's 9-1 win over Tennessee Tech. He has 15 RBI for the 18th-ranked Golden Knights (8-4), and is batting .237 with a .605 slugging percentage.

Teammate Dan Stillman (East Lake/Pasco-Hernando CC), a 6-5 right-handed pitcher, has had one start and one relief appearance this season. His record is 0-2.

TRACK: Shannon Burcham (Clearwater), a senior middle-distance runner at Florida, is scheduled to compete at the SEC indoor championships this weekend at Arkansas. Her best time for the 3,000-meter event is 10 minutes, 26 seconds. Her 5K time (18:32) is second-best for the Gators.

Brianne Harrington (Northside Christian) began her outdoor season at Central Florida last Saturday in the Disney Winter Races at Disney's sports complex. A senior who won nine individual state high school titles in track and cross country, Harrington placed fifth in the 1,500 in 4:56.

Central Florida's No. 1 and 2 cross country men, Sean McCabe (East Lake) and Lou Snelling (Seminole), will make their spring track debut in the Jacksonville University Opener on March 4.

FOOTBALL: Quarterback Oscar Davenport (Osecola/North Carolina) has signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

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