Cougars Below Par, But Take Title
Published: Dec 11, 2007
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Dennis Kitko saw the good and the bad from his Durant wrestling team this weekend in Orlando. Luckily, though, Kitko didn't see a loss.
Though his Cougars squad may not have performed quite up to standards, the group still managed to post an unbeaten record to claim the ninth annual Winter Springs Rotary Duals title.
Durant finished 5-0-1 in the two-day event, but the overall performance was a bit deceiving, at least to Kitko.
"It was definitely under our expectations. We wrestled really good our first dual meet, and I thought, 'Here we go.' I was excited. But our last five matches were not very good," Kitko said. "We didn't wrestle horrible. But as a team, all 14 guys weren't wrestling up to their potential each match, and that's when you can get in trouble. That's what was bad. I'll try to give them a little rest and try to get the motivation back; fire them up a bit."
Kitko said 112-pounder Tykie Mastorides, 145-pounder Yamil Crespo and 160-pounder Tyler Shepherd all turned in solid performances, but that the best showing came from third-string heavyweight Mitchell Coan, who posted a 5-1 record.
"He weighs like 200 pounds and he just wrestled his heart out," Kitko said. "It was a great job he did."
Alonso also competed in the tournament and posted a 3-3 mark, which included close losses to Lake Brantley and Durant.
FILLING A VOID: Bloomingdale took fifth at the Kowboy Kup Duals in Kissimmee over the weekend, posting a 6-2 record. The Bulls, whose losses were to tournament champ Kissimmee Osceola and East Lake (fourth place), defeated Orlando Olympia in the fifth-place match.
Seniors Keith Mooney and Austin Figari each posted 8-0 records, while the Bulls' new 103-pounder, freshman Sean Smith, went 7-1. Smith recently stepped into the void left by senior George Conner, an individual state qualifier last season who Coach Donny Peek said had to retire from the sport a few weeks ago because of medical problems.
RAIDERS DUALS: Robinson ended up a bit short-handed but still managed to finish third at the Raiders Duals in Plant City this weekend.
The Knights, who finished 3-2, went into the tournament without senior 189-pounder Ellis St. John, who suffered a Grade 1 separated shoulder earlier in the week during practice for the Hillsborough County All-Star football game. Then, Tommy Montero's squad suffered a few more injuries, including one to heavyweight Michael Benitez, during the course of the tournament, a somewhat common theme that developed in the gym.
"The trainer that was there from USF, she was busy. It was like a M.A.S.H. unit in there," Montero said. "There were people banged up everywhere. Ice bags on shoulders, heads, you name it. I'd never seen anything like it in a tournament of that size."
Montero had three wrestlers - Matt Willis (119), Eric Williams (140) and Mike Hawthorne (152) - go undefeated, while Chris Rollins (112) also had a solid showing.
Two Polk County teams finished first and second - Auburndale and George Jenkins, respectively - while East Bay took fourth.
BRANDON TAKES SUNSHINE: Brandon took first at the NHSCA Sunshine Invitational, edging runner-up Vestavia Hills (Ala.) by 98 points. Eight Eagles wrestlers posted 8-0 marks in winning their weight class, including 140-pound sophomore Joey Cozart, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Other Eagles who were undefeated were Sean Padgett (103 pounds), Terry Dawson (112), Eric Grajales (130), Wally Figaro (145), Zaq Berridge (160), David Austin (171) and Phil Uno (215).
The only other county wrestler to post an undefeated mark was Newsome heavyweight Connor O'Neil.
QUICK HITS: Tampa Prep took second at the Terrapins Duals, posting a 3-1 record. The team's lone loss was to champion Kathleen, 39-37. … Jesuit senior 189-pounder Chris Kavouklis took second at the 26th annual Kiwanis Invitational in Brooksville.
Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.
