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Highlands Today

Red Devils Begin Rebuilding After A Solid Sophomore Year

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park coach Ed Brown runs through take-down drills with his Red Devil squad during a recent wrestling practice.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: November 16, 2007

AVON PARK — Coaches Lee Elder and Ed Brown are dipping deep into the well of athletes in Avon Park to find the right mix to put on the mat this season of Red Devil wrestling.

Undeniable success was reaped during the program's sophomore season, as Avon Park fostered three state qualifiers and have a crop of young, talented wrestlers.

"We're in a bit of a rebuilding mode this year," Elder said. "With so many new kids, our success will depend on how quick they learn this sport. We experienced so much success as a program last season in only our second year, last season should be a blueprint for what it takes for a successful wrestling program."

The Red Devils finished runner-up at the Class 1A-District 8 meet in Haines City and were third out of 32 teams at regionals, signaling a state champion or district titles could be right around the corner.
To turn that corner, AP has two Red Devils with state experience coming back for more in juniors Kemosi Hatten and James Bland.

Hatten and Bland reached the state plateau in only their second season of competition and with natural improvement and experience, the state tourney should be in their future again.

Bland won his second straight district crown, going 34-4 last season and earning a regional title to his list of accomplishments, while Hatten, who will be wrestling at 171 pounds this season, finished with a 33-11 record, won his first district title and was runner-up at the Region 2 meet at the 151-pound division.

This season, both wrestlers will be looked upon to offer leadership and demonstrate work ethic to a young team that features nine new members to the squad.

Junior Isuel Guzman (215), Josh Sala (130), Omar Torres (160) have already picked up wins in the preseason tournament last weekend, while freshman Greg Gentry and senior Miguel Ortiz are already making their mark.

Ortiz, who finished 15th at the state diving tournament last month, has the size and speed to earn success in wrestling.

The constant struggle to recruit the new batch of Red Devil wrestlers has come with its ups and downs for the coaches, but last year's success has turned many an athlete to consider coming out for the team.

"True athletes desire the one-on-one competition," Brown said. "It's always a struggle to recruit a full team of wrestlers, since many of them don't get exposed to this sport until they reach high school.
"Coach Elder is a huge asset to this program being at the middle school. He teaches discipline in his physical education class and helps promote the program. We just have a need to expose these kids to the beauty of our sport as early as possible."

Every sport has to go through a rebuilding period, but the Avon Park wrestling squad has the tools to weather the storm this season. But tools are only a part of the equation for success and Brown knows that the intangibles can make or break a season.

"We can give these kids the tools to be successful," Brown said. "I can show them all the techniques and physically prepare them for a match, but what I can't give them is experience. That is something that only time no the mat can give them.
"Experience is a wonderful teacher."

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