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Red Devils Outpoint Sebring In Dual Meet

AP, BLUE STREAKS GEAR UP FOR TOURNAMENT SEASON

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park’s Troy Knight goes for the takedown against Sebring’s Andrew Crump during Tuesday’s dual meet at APHS.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: January 24, 2008

AVON PARK — "It's tough when you don't have the numbers," SHS coach Denny Hays said after his Blue Streaks made a good showing against arch-rival Avon Park in Tuesday's dual meet, but wrestling is a numbers game.

The Red Devils had the higher number on this night with a 46-28 team win over Sebring, but the Blue Streaks can walk away knowing they have quality and not necessarily quantity this season.

"We've been wrestling really well lately," Hays said. "We had a chance in a couple of matches tonight, but we just didn't have the numbers."

Due to the lack of numbers, Sebring was forced to forfeit five matches, giving the Red Devils 30 points on the night.

Blue Streak senior Shaanan Spiegel got things rolling for Sebring, pinning Avon Park's Charles Hubbard on his way toward his last chance at a state title.

"Shaanan is extremely focused on what he wants to achieve," Hays said. "We've got a tournament in Jupiter this weekend and that'll be good competition for him in getting prepared for the tournaments."
Avon Park coach Ed Brown deemed that Spiegel's style of wrestling is called "the funk."

"On the mat, he has developed a very non-traditional style of wrestling," Brown said. "It's very effective and works for him, but very unconventional."

Sebring got wins when Evan Hunter pinned Jack Bland and Dustin Drummond outpointed Josh Sala. Drummond made several beautiful reverses during his match and showed good technique in the win.

Avon Park's James Bland, one of several Red Devil state hopefuls, dispatched of Jim Polatty by pin and has shed the holiday weight that caused some fatigue at December's Speigel Tournament.

One of the surprises this season for the Red Devils has been heavyweight Jace Grimmett, who has a record of 35-4 after going 3-3 last season. Grimmett, who won by forfeit against Sebring, has owed his improvement to continued film study and listening to his teammates.

"I've received a lot of help from my teammates and coaches this year," Grimmett said. "Reviewing tape of my matches has helped so I can see my mistakes and try to correct them."

Grimmett won a gold medal at the recent Spiegel Tournament — a possible turning point in his maturation process.

"The Spiegel tournament really got my confidence up," Grimmett said. "When I came into the season, my goal was to get good enough to advance to regionals. Now, realistically, I'd like to keep on working and have a good showing at state."

As a team, the Red Devils are wrestling at a high level and the younger wrestlers have matured faster than expected.

"This team is even better than I expected them to be at the beginning of the season," James Bland said. "The young kids are doing what we teach them and everything is starting to come together."

"I guess you could say that we're peaking at the right time," Brown said. "The kids are getting really focused. They even insisted on two practices [on Monday]. They're excited and we're excited for them."

For the Blue Streaks, this season will be about numbers, but with a young group on the mat, Hays has the makings of a good team for years to come. But the frustration from forfeits and lack of wrestlers is a feeling that Brown is all too familiar with.

"I understand and can sympathize with [Coach Hays]," Brown said. "I've been in his shoes and sometimes it can get frustrating not having the numbers. But they've got a good nucleus of wrestlers and I know he's got them on the right course.

"Sebring and Avon Park will be a major rivalry on the mat again real soon."

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