Feb. 27, 2009

By Isaac Babcock

The Voice

 Chase Gordon wasn't even on the podium at last year's wrestling state championship, but this year he won it all. And he may owe it all to an old champion's shoes. 

 Wrapped in all the glamour of duct tape, with holes poking out the bottom, and just a little bit better for the wear, there was something very special about Seve Hewitt's old white wrestling shoes. The former Oviedo wrestler had strapped them on when they were still new, and slammed his final opponent into the mat and won the state title in 2004. 

 "I already knew those shoes had already won a state title," Gordon said. "It gave me confidence. If Steve could win with them, I could." 

 Saturday night Gordon knew that feeling all too well as he unlaced those same shoes on the mat just before he had a gold medal draped over his neck. 

 It hadn't been easy, as he battled back against perhaps the most deeply stacked weight class in the whole tournament. 

 "All the guys were seniors, then he had to plow through a guy that beat him at the Tournament of Champions, and then beat the returning state champion to win," Coach Tom Coffman said. "He told me, 'I don't know how I'm gonna win, but I'm gonna find a way to win.'" 

 Just before he left the ring he picked up a cell phone and called his friend. Hewitt had helped Gordon practice all season as Gordon waited for his moment to shine. For Gordon, the payoff was priceless.

 Over the course of five matches he had helped redeem a Lions team struggling to hold itself in the top five in the state when for four straight years they were the best. Gordon would be Oviedo's only champion Saturday night, leading two teammates to the podium, and helping propel his team to a fourth-place overall finish. 

 A fourth-place showing may be the worst the Lions have done since 2003, but that's still just fine with Coffman, who said his team is poised for a strong 2009-10 season. That's because almost all of the Lions are coming back. 

 For Gordon, there's no sense wasting the moment, as he basks in all the glory of a long-sought championship win, just before strapping his shoes on for the start of another year-round season.

 Next year, things could be even better for the Lions, as they return the majority of their team, including all who made it to the podium this year. 

 "It's looking really good next year," Coffman said. "We're going to have a good nucleus coming back — some of them are going to be coming back two more years. They have the potential, but on paper it's one thing; doing it is another."