Russ Cozart Brandon 2A Team State Champs : Speakers & Interviews

I wrestle in Florida, but im not going to lie Florida seems like nothing compaired to Ohio, New Jersey, and Iowa's wrestling. I went to camps and other tournys in those states, damn those kids are really really good.

Floridians Dominate Tournament

Daily Bulletin – Ontario, CA 12/31/05
Jeff Gluck, Staff Writer
UPLAND - They were the New York Yankees in singlets, the team everyone came to see but loved to boo.
Each time a wrestler from the Brandon (Fla.) squad was put on his back, the crowd at Upland's Black Watch Tournament exploded in cheers.
Unfortunately for the other 52 teams which showed up for the tournament, that didn't happen very often.
Brandon, which hasn't lost a dual meet in 32 years, earned a victory on its California vacation by placing 12 of their 13 wrestlers in the top six. The Eagles, coached by Upland graduate Russ Cozart, won five weight classes and and placed second or third in five others.
By the end of the second day, the fans were eager to see anyone in a maroon uniform lose.
"We're used to that," Cozart said. "We get the same thing in Florida. It comes with the price of being good ... we seem to build a natural rivalry wherever we go."
Though the Brandon Show drew the most attention, several local teams had solid performances.
Hesperia finished second with 170 points (Brandon scored 352.5) and Los Osos was sixth with 120.
"We told these guys coming in, if we could finish as the top California team, that would be a great achievement," Hesperia coach David Stidham said. "It would really put our school on the map and get us going in the right direction."
Three area wrestlers won their weight classes: San Dimas' Angel Garcia (112 pounds), Los Osos' Dylan Sweet (160) and Hesperia's Ryan Hoover (275).
"This means a lot," said Sweet, who moved up from 140 pounds to 160 when he gained weight over the summer. "I didn't know how (changing weight classes) would go, but I did well and stuck with it."
Garcia beat Victor Valley's Jarrett Zubiate 9-6, but the match was tied briefly in the third period.
"I was nervous going in because he's a tough wrestler," Garcia said. "When I gave up points and it was tied, I was really scared then."
In a different year, more area wrestlers might have joined the winning trio. But three local wrestlers were stopped by Eagles in the championship matches.
Diamond Ranch's Ruben Pereida lost the 171-pound match to David Craig, who is rated as the No. 1 wrestler in the country. Craig had a lethal combination of unreal speed, technique and strength, earning him comparisons to Cael Sanderson, the Olympic gold medalist and four-time NCAA champion.
"It shows me where I gotta be, what I've gotta work toward," Pereida said.
Losing to the best wrestler in the country wasn't something Pereida was hanging his head over. After all, he made it to the second period before being pinned - the only one of Craig's opponents to do so in the tournament.
"It wasn't too bad, I guess," Pereida said. "I almost scored a takedown on him, too."
Damien's Frank Lucero (145 pounds) and Los Osos' Bobby Ziello (130) also made the finals before losing to Brandon wrestlers.
"For us, to see the kind of level you can achieve is quite inspiring," said Upland coach Bob Irwin, whose team finished 14th. "(Craig) is absolutely as slick as they get

As i recall Brandon was in Cali for a tny a few years ago and won going away. PA is best state...for now.

to all u idiots, ohio is by far the toughest state for wrestling. Cali and Florida are both weak

you are stupid brandon didnt hide in florida they crushed everyone at the cheesehead tournament and by the way the teams at that tournament are way better than your crappy club

Love to see Brandon HS get some confidence and man up take the trip to California and let the clovis boys hand them an old fashioned butt whooping in a tourney I would love to see them come to the Doc B or the Zinkin next year in 2009 season.Brandon wrestling stop hiding in Florida in your weak state come on out to Clovis we got your wrestling right here, lets see what you are made of. "Clovis Wrestling"

i disagree Florida is a badass wrestling state even tho we dont all wrestle year round were usually working on our tan but a large deal of FL wrestlers are working there butts off

Ok, I know Fl is not the strongest state for wrestling, probably Pa, Nj and Oh, but could one of you fl haters explain why this team owns so many records at fargo? Do the studs from the tough states sit out this tny?

this coach shouldnt be proud of his streak. He wont wrestle any good team likes Eds or Moeller along with Grahm

Congrats! to Coach Russ Cozart, and his staff and the 2009 2A FHSAA State Champions Brandon High School Wrestling Team. Good luck next year at 3A. Keep the championships coming Russ.

this man is a dumba**