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Highlands Today

Red Devil Grapplers Shine At First Meet

Brian Gjurgevich, Highlands Today

Avon Park senior Isuel Guzman had a strong showing at the Citrus High School wrestling tournament on Saturday.

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By MARK PINSON Highlands Today

Published: December 9, 2008

AVON PARK - Going up against top-notch competition in the first wrestling meet of the season is a tough way to start.

For the Avon Park grapplers, it was a chance to shine.

The Red Devils, led by Kemosi Hatten and James Bland's weight-class wins, finished seventh out of 17 teams at Saturday's Citrus High School wrestling meet.

"I'm really proud of the kids because we took only eight wrestlers and brought home two gold medals, one silver and one bronze against very tough competition," said Avon Park co-coach Ed Brown. "We only took our veteran wrestlers because there was at least one state qualifier in each weight class.

"It was a good meet and a real good measuring stick for the guys to see what they need to work on as the season progresses."

Hatten, a senior, won four matches in finishing first in the 160-pound weight class, while Bland, who is also a senior, won four matches, including one by pin, en route to the 171-pound weight class title.

"Kemosi had a great meet," said Brown. "He was physical, wrestled smart and was in control in every match. "James has been working hard and it showed in his matches.

"We have battled some injuries already this season, but we have a good group of kids and we're holding our own."

Red Devil senior Jace Grimmett earned a silver medal with a runner-up finish in the heavyweight division and sophomore Omar Torres took home a bronze medal for his third-place finish in the 189-pound weight class.

"The competition was excellent and our guys wrestled really well," said Avon Park co-coach Lee Elder. "We need our guys to be pushed and realize that there are other guys out there just as good as them who are working just as hard.

"This meet was a good barometer for us because we'll see a lot of these same guys at district and regionals when it really counts."

Avon Park is back in action with a meet in Okeechobee on Saturday.

"Even though we won some weight classes at the Citrus tournament it doesn't mean we can rest," said Elder. "We have a state full of quality wrestlers that are all working hard to improve.

"For our first meet, I'm real pleased with our effort, but we have to get in better condition and get used to the pounding we're going to take."

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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