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Highlands Today

Devils Sizzle Streaks

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 24, 2009

SEBRING - Like many Super Bowls, the hype for Thursday's Avon Park/Sebring wrestling dual meet may have outshined the actual match.
Avon Park earned four forfeits and won all six matches by pins, as the Devils defeated the youthful Streaks 60-18 in a tune-up for today's Spiegel Memorial Tournament.
Avon Park coach Lee Elder was pleased with his team's results, even if there wasn't much to see for the fans in attendance.

"The last time we wrestled in the Blue Streak gym two years ago, we lost by one point," Elder said. "I like these type of wins."

The expected match-up between Avon Park's John Chittum and Sebring's Dustin Drummond at 125 pounds never materialized after Drummond failed to make the weight and took a forfeit at 130 pounds for the Streaks.

"I have a real hard time cutting the weight to make 125 pounds," Drummond said. "It saps my energy and it's getting harder to do."

Drummond says he may just stick with 130 pounds for the remainder of the season.

Sebring head coach Josh Miller was faced with a multitude of holes that he couldn't fill and had to determine the best course of action for his team.

"I believe that I'd rather have matches than forfeits," Miller said. "So the boys that were here and ready were going to get on the mat. I had to bump some people up in weight just to get them some matches, due to Avon Park's own holes in their weight classes.

"But overall, I think this is just another learning experience for this young team."

Miller was already dealing with a team depleted due to weight issues and injuries, and during Tuesday's practice he was dealt another blow when junior Alex Kennedy (152) dislocated his right elbow during drills, knocking him out for the season.
Avon Park senior Kermosi Hatten (171) had the most dominant performance of the night, as he took down and pinned Sebring's Colt Hitt in just 26 seconds. Hatten's lightning quick move to Hitt's legs was all the advantage the AP senior needed, as he rolled and used his strength to end the match.

Avon Park's James Bland (160) followed suit with a pin of Sebring's Jimmy Pollaty and heavyweight Jace Grimmett improved his overall record to 26-2 with a pin of Sebring's Shane Liskey.

Grimmett's match wasn't without drama, as Liskey surprised the Red Devil senior with a quick takedown, but Grimmett quickly recovered and got the pin.

"I was a little sluggish tonight because I've been sick this week," Grimmett said. "Liskey has really improved from last year. Since my last loss at the Polk County Duals, I've treated every match the same and with the same intensity.

"I've learned that anyone can be beat at anytime and you can't take anyone lightly."

Grimmett is the defending champion in the heavyweight division at the Spiegel Tournament and look forwards to defending his title today.

"It's great to wrestle against the kind of quality opponents that the Spiegel attracts. This is just one more warm-up on the way toward districts."
Avon Park coach Ed Brown praised both Grimmett and Bland on their performances and their intense focus this season.

"Jace may laugh and joke before he goes into a match, but he's all business once he steps into the circle," Brown said. "James is another wrestler that doesn't play with anyone. He's had some weight issues recently, but you wouldn't know it by his performance."

Brown believes his team is in prime position for several wrestlers to earn titles at the Spiegel, although he doesn't want to jinx himself.

"I don't like to count my chickens before their hatched," said Brown. "There are going to be a lot of tough teams at the Spiegel and you can't go into there too confident.

"I mean anything can happen on the mat."

Avon Park's Isuel Guzman (215) and brother Jesse Guzman (140) both won by pin, while Charles Hubbard (145) was taken to the third period by a much-improved Michael Pollaty before earning the pin.
SPIEGEL MEMORIAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

at Sebring High School

TODAY at 10 a.m.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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