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Orlando Sentinel Article "Wrestler of the year" 03-15-07 |
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Oviedo's Hatchett is wrestler of year 3 straight state titles help him wrap up award as Central Florida's best. While most of the finalists at the FHSAA wrestling state tournament nervously waited to be introduced to The Lakeland Center crowd, Brandon Hatchett, Central Florida's wrestler of the year, was laughing and joking with those around him. The deliberate behavior was meant to get into the head of his opponent in the 160-pound final, South Miami's Michael Harris. Harris never made eye contact with Hatchett before the match, and the Oviedo senior made quick work of Harris once they got on the mat, pinning him in the second period to claim his third consecutive state title. "I act like I am having a good time and I don't have a care in the world," Hatchett said of his pre-match mind games. "I guess I am cocky, but I have no doubt I'll win." Hatchett has good reason for thinking that way: he hasn't lost to a wrestler from the state of Florida since his sophomore year. "Brandon believes he will win and he knows he's the best guy on the mat," Osceola assistant coach Rick Tribit said. Tribit was Hatchett's coach at Winter Springs before Hatchett moved to Oviedo for his senior season. Hatchett's confidence has been around since the first time he stepped into the wrestling room at Winter Springs before his freshman year. Hatchett had never wrestled before and was hoping to use the sport to prepare him for football season. A quick learner, Hatchett built a reputation for being able to perform a move after just one explanation from his coaches. He can also watch someone perform a move, and then go out and perform it himself with no further instruction. "He is an absolute joy for a coach to work with because he picks stuff up so quickly," Oviedo Coach J.D. Robbins said. "He makes the coach look better." By the end of his freshman year, Hatchett had qualified for the state tournament, setting the stage for his three successive titles. Despite the individual accolades, Hatchett said he does miss his first love, football. "Wrestling is all hard work and we don't get the glory that a football team does," Hatchett said. "There are no pep rallies for wrestling teams." Hatchett will continue his wrestling career at Lehigh next season, where he will find a little more fanfare for a wrestling program held in high esteem. The Mountain Hawks have finished in the top 10 in the NCAA Tournament five straight years and seven of the past eight, but it wasn't just that tradition that led Hatchett to eastern Pennsylvania. "Academically, it is almost Ivy League and I wanted to look beyond wrestling," Hatchett said. The scholarship also was a way for Hatchett to pay back his biggest fan, his mother, Sandra Hatchett. "She has put so much money and time into my wrestling career, I am glad I can repay her this way," Hatchett said. Before heading off to Lehigh, Hatchett will try to claim one last high school honor, a national championship this summer in Fargo, N.D. "I am not nervous about the future," Hatchett said. "I have accomplished everything here and I am ready to take that next step." You can guarantee, he'll be laughing and joking along the way. ALL CENTRAL FLORIDA WRESTLING FIRST TEAM The Orlando Sentinel's All-Central Florida teams are selected by members of the Sentinel staff, with input from area coaches. CENTRAL FLORIDA WRESTLER OF YEAR Brandon Hatchett 160 pounds Year: Senior School: Oviedo The buzz: Three-time state champ will wrestle at Lehigh next year. 103 pounds Pete Baldwin Year: 8th grade School: Life Academy The buzz: Baldwin has won more than 100 career varsity matches. 112 pounds Joe Locksmith Year: Freshman School: Dr. Phillips The buzz: The region champ finished fourth at the state tourney. 119 pounds Andrew Sifakis Year: Junior School: Lake Mary The buzz: Sifakis is the Class 3A runner-up. 125 pounds Justin Tortora Year: Senior School: Oviedo The buzz: He took third in Class 3A. 130 pounds Andrew Larson Year: Senior School: Olympia The buzz: He rebounded from a quarterfinal loss at state to finish third. 135 pounds John Christiansen Year: Junior School: Oviedo The buzz: He finished in sixth place in Class 3A. 140 pounds Alex Eggers Year: Sophomore School: Osceola The buzz: Eggers was the Class 3A state champion. 145 pounds Tyler Davis Year: Senior School: Oviedo The buzz: He finished his four-year varsity career with an individual title. 152 pounds Jake Schalles Year: Junior School: Oviedo The buzz: The district and region champ finished second in Class 3A. 171 pounds Jesse Robbins Year: Senior School: Oviedo The buzz: The three-time national champion is heading to Arizona State. 189 pounds Brandon Tressler Year: Junior School: University The buzz: He is the Class 3A runner-up for the second straight year. 215 pounds Joe DeLisle Year: Senior School: Olympia The buzz: The state champ will play football at Quincy (Ill.). 285 pounds Bobby Isola Jr. Year: Senior School: Bishop Moore The buzz: Isola lost only one match in the past two seasons. ALL CENTRAL FLORIDA 2ND TEAM 103 pounds Ryan Leatherman Year: Freshman School: Oviedo 112 pounds Joe Fiore Year: Senior School: Deltona 119 pounds Jacob Mohr Year: Senior School: Osceola 125 pounds Danny Pastrana Year: Junior School: Edgewater 130 pounds Gabriel Bird Year: Freshman School: Osceola 135 pounds Tim Eggers Year: Junior School: Osceola 140 pounds Ian Ghauri Year: Senior School: Timber Creek 145 pounds Daniel Byron Year: Senior School: Osceola 152 pounds Mitch Taulbee Year: Junior School: Pierson Taylor 160 pounds Matt Gillespie Year: Junior School: Deltona 171 pounds Nate Monk Year: Senior School: DeLand 189 pounds Mark Koski Year: Senior School: DeLand 215 pounds Nic Chase Year: Senior School. Oviedo 285 pounds Dylan Steele Year: Senior School: Edgewater Brant Parsons can be reached at bparsons@orlandosentinel.com. |
