On the Mat: Preseason All-Suncoast Team

Cody Ross came up short of the state title by one match. Heeeeee's baaaack. (Courtesy of Spring Hill Wrestling) 

Many will look at the Examiner Preseason All-Suncoast first team and say, “What’s with Brandon (Class 3A) and Springstead (Class 2A)?” Those two programs are the cream of the crop and are head and shoulders above the rest in the area. Gulf also puts a solid program on the mat in Class A. All three programs should make solid runs at state with hopes of a title. It’s going to be a great season…

PRESEASON ALL-SUNCOAST TEAM

First Team
103 – Richie Bliss, 11, Springstead
          Bliss came out of nowhere in his sophomore season to topple Lake Gibson’s Brandon Jorge and win the Class 2A state title at 103 pounds. He had lost to Jorge multiple times earlier in the season. Still, some publications have Jorge ahead of Bliss. That should plenty to motivate the talented lightweight.
112 – Terry Dawson, 11, Brandon
           Brandon’s move to Class 3A should spell problems for Dawson, but he is still the best 112-pounder on the Suncoast. With both Earl Hall from South Dade and Mark Gulesian from Miami-Columbus returning this season, he will have difficulty cracking the championship final.
119 – Kevin Norstrem, 9, Brandon
          While wrestling at Tampa Baptist last season as an eighth grader, Norstrem won his first state title in Class A at 112 pounds. Like many that have come before him, he is on his way to a long, successful career for the Eagles in the next four years. American’s Armani Harris should be the freshman’s toughest competition this season.
125 – Rossi Bruno, 10, Brandon
           Walking the same trail that many Brandon wrestlers have blazed before him, Bruno was successful as a middle school wrestler at Tampa Bay Christian before transferring to Brandon for his freshman year. This is why it wasn’t surprising when Bruno won his second state title last season in Class 2A.
130 – Tyler Liberatore, 10, Brandon
           Like Bruno, Liberatore won a title at Tampa Prep in 2008 at 112 pounds before placing third at 125 pounds last season as a freshman for Brandon. The sophomore is hoping to improve on that performance this season with a thinner field at Class 3A. Miami Sunset’s Franklin Espinoza should be Liberatore’s biggest threat.
135 – Cody Ross, 10, Springstead
          After setting a school record for wins by a freshman, Ross came up just short of becoming the first freshman in Springstead history to win a state championship. He fell valiantly to Brandon’s Bruno, but with Brandon’s move to Class 3A, the All-American has an open door to the state title if he taps his unlimited potential.
140 – Colton Zimmerman, 12, Springstead
          Last season, this senior qualified for state for the first time in his prep career, but a plethora of graduates has opened a door for Zimmerman to compete for a place at state if he stays focused. Working in the same wrestling room with the likes of Springstead’s Ross and Soto should help the cause.
145 – Clark Glass, 10, Brandon
          Glass placed fourth in Class A at 119 pounds as an eighth grader at Tampa Bay Christian, but he broke through last season as a Brandon freshman for his first state title. There will be more where that one came from before his career is over. Osceola’s Gabe Bird will be his biggest challenge after placing third in Class 3A last season.
152 – Joey Cozart, 12, Brandon
          With the graduation of Eric Grajales last season, Cozart is now the most decorated wrestler on the Brandon roster, no small honor. The Eagle senior has won state titles the past three seasons, and in his eighth grade season placed second in Class A at 112 pounds, losing only to Riverdale’s Scotti Sentes, one of the best we’ve seen.
160 – Kyle Koziel, 10, Brandon
          Koziel lost a one-point heartbreaker to St. Cloud’s Frank Cousins in the finals last season, but with Brandon’s move to Class 3A, he will avoid his nemesis. However, among those slated to square off with the Eagle sophomore is Manatee’s Isaac Riley, who has been among the state elite as well.
171 – Wally Figaro, 11, Brandon 
          After placing third at 152 pounds last season and at 145 pounds the year before, Figaro has high hopes for 2009. The problem is that Osceola’s Levi Clemons returns for his senior campaign to defend his crown at 171 pounds, a major roadblock to Figaro’s goals for the season.
189 – Mike Ettore, 11, Brandon
          Ettore showed some real determination last season by toppling Springstead’s Scott Wern for the state title after losing to Wern in the regional final earlier in the 2008 postseason. His hard work was definitely noticeable after never before placing at the state tournament, and making those strides after moving up from 152 pounds.
215 – Zach Baldwin, 12, Brandon
          Baldwin transferred in from Arkansas after placing second at their state championships last season. If he’s going to make a similar impact in Florida, he’ll have no shortage of competition with American’s Luis Pimentel and George Jenkins’s Stephen Newman both returning after placing last season.
285 – Henry Chirino, 12, Brandon
          Here’s another transfer for the premiere wrestling program in the state. Chirino placed fourth in Class 3A for American the past two seasons. He is the only returning state placer in his weight class, further bolstering Brandon’s chances of wrapping up yet another team title. 

Second Team
103 – Tyler Forand, 11, Nature Coast
112 – J.P. Gamez, 10, Pasco
119 – Anthony Ayers, 11, Gulf
125 – Virgil Toms, 11, Springstead
130 – Nick Soto, 11, Springstead
135 – Anthony Cimino, 12, Jesuit
140 – Travis Berridge, 9, Brandon
145 – T.J. Davis, 12, Durant
152 – Ladarious Jackson, 11, Gulf
160 – Wes Jarrell, 12, Tampa Prep
171 – Jacob Ritter, 12, Gulf
189 – Andrew Herr, 12, Springstead
215 – Kenny Cox, 12, Springstead
285 – John Dreggors, 10, Springstead

Honorable Mention
103 – James Flint, 8, Tampa Bay Christian & Sammy Connor, 11, Bloomingdale
112 – Jarod Carpenter, 12, Gulf
119 – Nick Hynes, 12, Zephyrhills & Sean Redman, 10, Springstead
125 – R.J. O’Connor, 11, Gulf & Scott Cronin, 12, Nature Coast
130 – Josh Isom, 12, Gulf & Robert Smith, 12, Pasco
135 – Ty Jones, 12, Brandon & Brennan Stack, 12, Land O’Lakes
140 – Luke Peterson, 12, Sunlake & Josh Fulford, 12, Steinbrenner
145 – Daniel Pritz, 12, Hernando & Marcus Hicks, 12, Pasco
152 – Zach Pritz, 10, Hernando & Shawn Landgraff, 11, Springstead
160 – Chris Padilla, 11, Robinson & Thomas Ellerbee, 12, Springstead
171 – Titus Horner, 12, Durant & Casey Quinn, 10, Springstead
189 – None
215 – Mike Lamoureux, 12, Jesuit & D.J. Woods, 12, Robinson
285 – Andre Coleman, 12, Middleton & Wes Gift, 12, Tampa Prep

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