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Orlando Sentinel Seminole County Wrestling Preview 11-24-2005 |
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Oviedo expecting to rule mats again The Lions are a national power but they are not the area's only high-quality team. Andrew Carter | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted November 24, 2005 He won four state championships and never lost a match for Oviedo, but Jason Robbins is gone. So is Justin Fraga, who won a state title. And Allen Dillon, who was a state runner-up. But check out those returning for Oviedo, the two-time defending Class 3A state champions: David Green, the 189-pound state champ; Jesse Robbins, who won a national championship at 160 pounds; Kenny Lester, the defending heavyweight state champion. And several others who have waited behind the departed seniors for their chance. "What people look at is we lost Jason and Justin," Oviedo Coach Tom Coffman said. "But there's going to be some guys, I believe, that step into those holes. I think we compare favorably to the last two teams we've had." In the state meet two years ago, the Lions set the state meet record for most points scored. Then they broke it last season in business-like, efficient fashion. "I never even hear them talk about winning the state championship," the coach said. Coffman's wrestlers don't need to remind themselves of the accolades. Followers of the sport in Central Florida do that enough already. Not that there aren't other area teams worthy of conversation. Winter Springs, Olympia and St. Cloud each return key components of teams that placed among the top seven in the state last season. Edgewater returns six individuals who qualified for the state tournament, and Timber Creek brings back four state qualifiers. Winter Springs' Brandon Hatchett joins Oviedo's Green and Lester as a returning state champ. All the returning talent has some believing this season can be as competitive and memorable as any in area history. "We've seen [the talent level] change within the last four years," said St. Cloud Coach Vic Lorenzano, who is in his 11th year with the school. "It went on the rise and it has been steady ever since." Lorenzano's team, which finished third in the 3A state tournament last season, will compete in the 2A this year. But the Bulldogs still will compete against a challenging schedule that features plenty of the state's best 3A teams. Few teams in the country, are going to be challenged more than Oviedo. Ranked No. 12 nationally by W.I.N. Magazine, the Lions are hosting the Zac Jarzynka Ironman Tournament on Dec. 28. Then they travel to Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 6 for the Lone Star Duals. Both of those tournaments are regarded as two of the best in the country. And those aren't even expected to be Oviedo's toughest test. That should come on Dec. 9 at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman Invitational in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. "Some people are billing it as the toughest wrestling competition in the history of high school wrestling," Coffman said. "It's just a brutal, brutal tournament. A tournament where you see state champions getting beat in the first round." By the time the Florida state finals come on Feb. 18, Oviedo will be well-tested. Considering all the returning wrestlers, most other area teams should be, too. Andrew Carter can be reached at acarterb@orlandosentinel.com. |
