Fox and Pete Baldwin (No. 11 @ 145) became the sixth brother duo to ever win titles during the same season at the FHSAA State Wrestling Finals in Lakeland.

Less than an hour later, Eric and Robert O’Neill became the seventh pair.

Eric, a 140-pound junior at Winter Springs, defeated South Miami’s Orlando Cardelle 3-2 in a match that went four periods into overtime.

“I knew I was in better shape, so I just kept going,” Eric said. “I knew my extra work would pay off.”

Robert’s 189-pound title came a little easier in the final. The senior rolled over North Port’s Carlos Martinez 18-5 to take his title.

For Complete Article by Orlando Sentinel

No. 3 Brandon High School wrestling team comes home from Lakeland tonight, Feb. 19, with its 11th consecutive state title — and 22nd state crown overall.

Seven wrestlers earned individual state titles, which is a Brandon High record, a milestone first reached in 2004. That’s the year Brandon scored 271 points, just two more than they did tonight.

“Seven’s the record, we tied the record,” said assistant coach Bob Hendrickson, who played for Cozart as a high schooler and has coached with him for 22 years.

Bringing home state titles: James Flint, Kevin Norstrem (No. 7 @ 125), Rossi Bruno (No. 6 @ 130),  Tyler Liberatore (No. 4 @ 135), Clark Glass (No. 12 @ 152), Wally Figaro (No. 7 @ 160) and Kyle Koziel.

For Complete Story by Linda Chion Kenney, Brandon Patch

No. 3 Brandon High School wrestling team comes home from Lakeland tonight, Feb. 19, with its 11th consecutive state title — and 22nd state crown overall.

Seven wrestlers earned individual state titles, which is a Brandon High record, a milestone first reached in 2004. That’s the year Brandon scored 271 points, just two more than they did tonight.

“Seven’s the record, we tied the record,” said assistant coach Bob Hendrickson, who played for Cozart as a high schooler and has coached with him for 22 years.

Bringing home state titles: James Flint, Kevin Norstrem (No. 7 @ 125), Rossi Bruno (No. 6 @ 130),  Tyler Liberatore (No. 4 @ 135), Clark Glass (No. 12 @ 152), Wally Figaro (No. 7 @ 160) and Kyle Koziel.

For Complete Story by Linda Chion Kenney, Brandon Patch

No. 3 Brandon High School wrestling team comes home from Lakeland tonight, Feb. 19, with its 11th consecutive state title — and 22nd state crown overall.

Seven wrestlers earned individual state titles, which is a Brandon High record, a milestone first reached in 2004. That’s the year Brandon scored 271 points, just two more than they did tonight.

“Seven’s the record, we tied the record,” said assistant coach Bob Hendrickson, who played for Cozart as a high schooler and has coached with him for 22 years.

Bringing home state titles: James Flint, Kevin Norstrem (No. 7 @ 125), Rossi Bruno (No. 6 @ 130),  Tyler Liberatore (No. 4 @ 135), Clark Glass (No. 12 @ 152), Wally Figaro (No. 7 @ 160) and Kyle Koziel.

For Complete Story by Linda Chion Kenney, Brandon Patch

For Florida State Tournament Results & Brackets

No. 3 Brandon High School wrestling team comes home from Lakeland tonight, Feb. 19, with its 11th consecutive state title — and 22nd state crown overall.

Seven wrestlers earned individual state titles, which is a Brandon High record, a milestone first reached in 2004. That’s the year Brandon scored 271 points, just two more than they did tonight.

“Seven’s the record, we tied the record,” said assistant coach Bob Hendrickson, who played for Cozart as a high schooler and has coached with him for 22 years.

Bringing home state titles: James Flint, Kevin Norstrem (No. 7 @ 125), Rossi Bruno (No. 6 @ 130),  Tyler Liberatore (No. 4 @ 135), Clark Glass (No. 12 @ 152), Wally Figaro (No. 7 @ 160) and Kyle Koziel.

For Complete Story by Linda Chion Kenney, Brandon Patch

No. 3 Brandon High School wrestling team comes home from Lakeland tonight, Feb. 19, with its 11th consecutive state title — and 22nd state crown overall.

Seven wrestlers earned individual state titles, which is a Brandon High record, a milestone first reached in 2004. That’s the year Brandon scored 271 points, just two more than they did tonight.

“Seven’s the record, we tied the record,” said assistant coach Bob Hendrickson, who played for Cozart as a high schooler and has coached with him for 22 years.

Bringing home state titles: James Flint, Kevin Norstrem (No. 7 @ 125), Rossi Bruno (No. 6 @ 130),  Tyler Liberatore (No. 4 @ 135), Clark Glass (No. 12 @ 152), Wally Figaro (No. 7 @ 160) and Kyle Koziel.

For Complete Story by Linda Chion Kenney, Brandon Patch

Richie Bliss (No.7 @ 103) reached a rare milestone with back-to-back pins to be the first Hernando County grappler in 37 years to not only collect 100-plus wins, but collect 100 pins.

On Friday, Bliss opened the meet with a 2:51 flattening over Pace junior Jacod Siyufy.

In the second match, Bliss built a 14-0 lead before folding Mater Academy freshman Yancarlos Guerra in 3:22.

“It’s pretty big to set a new record,” smiled the 18-year-old Bliss after extending his current win streak to 18 in a row. “I felt like I needed to a break sweat. Winning today makes tomorrow a little easier. Right now, I’m feeling pretty good.”

Bliss (43-1 overall, 31 pins), the two-time defending state champion, faces Melbourne sophomore Joe Miucco (35-1 overall) a win away from reaching his third straight state final.

For Complete Article by Tony Castro, Hernando Today

Perennial state contender Brandon (FL) (No. 3 in the Nation) is gearing up for what could be a 20th state crown, but first things first.  Having already won county and district championships in recent weeks, the Eagles claimed the Class 3A, Region 2 title Saturday.

That gave the Eagles 22 straight region championships and 30 overall.  Brandon finished with 318 points, well ahead of host Kissimmee Osceola’s 172.5.

Palm Harbor University’s Aaron Hartman defeated Brandon’s two-time state champion Rossi Bruno in the 130-pound semifinals. Bruno won his consolation final to advance.

Brandon (FL) had nine champions — Devan Berrian (103 pounds), James Flint (112), Victor Fugate (119), Kevin Norstrem (125), Tyler Liveratore (135), Clark Glass (152), Wally Figaro (160), Kyle Koziel (171) and Mike Ettore (189).

Complete Story by Steve Lee of TampaBay.com

There is a recreational wrestling program for children.  Oviedo wrestler Doug Vollaro (No. 10 @ HWT) joined one when he was 5 years old.

“It was very good for him,” Mary said.  “One thing led to the next, and he stuck with it.  He’s doing pretty well now.”

Vollaro, now 16, is one of the top wrestlers in the state in his weight class on one of the best teams in the state.

He’s lost only two matches in the past two seasons and he made a 4.3 grade point average last semester.

“Good heavyweights are hard to get on collegiate wrestling teams,” Oviedo coach Tom Coffman said.  A lot of kids Doug’s size play football.

“I played football my freshman year,” Vollaro said. “It was all right, but I was more focused at wrestling because that’s just what I’m better at. That’s where my heart is at.”

Vollaro pays some attention to the attention he’s getting from different colleges, but he’s taking it with stride.

“He’ll be one of those ones who has to pick where he wants to go because he’s highly sought after,” Coffman said.  “He wants to go somewhere to focus on academics too.”

Continue Reading Article By Jessica Gillespie at SeminoleChronicle.com

J.D. Robbins, head coach of Oviedo‘s (FL) five-time state champion wrestling program, is suspended with pay pending investigations by Seminole County Public Schools and the Florida High School Athletic Association.

Robbins, a former USA Wrestling National Coach of the Year, was placed on administrative leave by SCPS last Friday. A statement from the school district read: “Information has come to the attention of Superintendent [Bill] Vogel which has caused concern and raised reasonable suspicion of improprieties and possible ethics violations.”

The coach missed last week’s Class 2A, District 5 tournament victory and is not expected to be with the team when Oviedo wrestlers compete for state tournament berths in the Region 2 tournament in Sebring on Friday and Saturday.

Oviedo is ranked No. 1 in the Sentinel Super Six and No. 2 on the Scout.com wrestling message-board 2A state rankings behind Spring Hill Springstead.

Tom Coffman, who has shared Oviedo’s head coaching responsibilities with Robbins since 2001, is the acting head coach.

For Complete Story by Buddy Collings at the Orlando Sentinel