Just a few dollars more

Earning an invitation to a national tourney was a tough task. Paying for it is even harder.

By JAMAL THALJI

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2000

Invitations to the 11th annual Senior National High School Championships are rare and exclusive honors. Unfortunately, they also can be expensive ones.

Several of Pasco County's best are learning that the hard way.

Pasco County is sending five wrestlers -- the largest contingent in county history -- to the prestigious tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Representing Hudson is Class A 103-pound state champion Pat Rieli; representing Land O'Lakes are Class 2A state champions Jimmy Gaulden in the 160-pound class and Adam Nuru at 275; and representing Ridgewood are Class 2A 119-pound state champion Joe Mendoza and 152-pound third-place winner Russell Giresi.

It's not enough to be invited. Somebody's got to pay for it.

Coaches estimate it will take between $1,000 to $1,500 per wrestler and coach to pay for travel, lodging, food and expenses.

Since the end of the state tournament in February, those wrestlers and coaches have been feverishly working to raise funds to cover those expenses.

"Whatever's not raised, we'll have to pay for," Land O'Lakes coach Ed Goodpaster said. "That includes plane tickets and accommodations, meals, and we have to rent a car. ... Let's just say I'll be making a loan to myself."

But go they will. Missing the national competition is not an option for wrestlers looking to impress college coaches and continue their careers at the next level.

"Every college coach in the nation is going to be there," Goodpaster said. "Small colleges don't have a lot of money to offer in scholarships. But if the kids could pick up college scholarships and grants from these coaches, that makes a big difference there. For their college futures, it's a very big deal. And the great thing is, Land O'Lakes has never had a boy go on and wrestle in college like that."

The tourney is open to any high school senior in 46 states who was a state finalist. The exceptions are wrestlers from California, Indiana, New Jersey and New York, where any senior who placed in the top four of their tourneys may compete.

According to the tournament's sponsor, the National High School Coaches Association, nearly 800 wrestlers from 47 states competed last year. This year, organizers expect more than 800 to attend, which would make it the biggest field in the event's history.

"It can mean a lot to a high school wrestler as far as college goes," Ridgewood coach Vincent Lowe said. "Because you've got between 100 and 150 college coaches who show up at this tournament, with the idea that they are watching what they consider to be the best in the nation."

The wrestlers have been seeking help from family members, friends, school booster clubs and potential sponsors.

"(Rieli) has been searching high and low," Hudson coach Dana Bentley said. "It takes patience, though, because nationals happens so quickly after state.

"People want to see results, too, so they may not give until the athlete gets back."

-- To donate to the Hudson contingent, contact coach Dana Bentley at (727) 724-4200; to donate to the Land O'Lakes contingent, contact coach Ed Goodpaster at (813) 794-2574; to donate to the Ridgewood contingent, contact coach Vincent Lowe at (727) 774-3815.

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