The Brandon wrestlers pick up their 15th state championship and add to their long list of state records.
By SCOTT PURKS
Published March 5, 2004
[Times photo: Chris Zuppa]
Brandon High School wrestler Sean Joyce, center, poses for pictures after winning the state chanmpionship at 112 pounds.
Brandon's wrestling machine - opponents might say nightmare - swept through the Lakeland Center last week for the Florida High School state championships, and for the 15th time the Eagles walked away with a state championship.
It was another in a long list of state records set by the Eagles, who still may be more famous for their 30-year-old, national record, 395 dual-match winning streak.
Here's another look at the Eagles' state tournament records:
Total points for a team champion: 261, beating runnerup Countryside by 103.5 and breaking the previous record of 246.5, set last season by Brandon.
Tied the state record of six individual champions from one team (set last season by Brandon): Sean Joyce at 112 pounds, Cesar Grajales (125), Rocky Cozart (160), David Craig (171), Rashard Goff (215) and Keith Simmons (heavyweight). Grajales, Craig, Cozart and Goff were repeat winners.
Won its fourth consecutive state title. Brandon won three in a row from 1991-93. Flagler Palm Coast won three straight from 1993-95, and Homestead South Dade has turned the trick twice, from 1995-97 and 1999-01.
After qualifying all 14 of its wrestlers for the tournament, the Eagles had a state record 12 place in the top six.
The 15th state team title is eight more the next closest schools - Miami Southridge and South Dade, which have seven each.
