Gulf captures district

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on Feb. 10, 2002.

By DAVE WALTERS

NEW PORT RICHEY - There's no place like home for the Gulf High wrestling team.

The last time the Bucs hosted a district wrestling tournament, Gulf came away with the title. Since then, it has been a drought for the Bucs until Saturday night when the school hosted the Class 1A-District 6 event.

The results were the same as a decade ago: Gulf is district champs.

``It means a lot. People didn't expect this in the two years I have been here,'' said second-year coach Travis DeWalt. ``People who say Rome cannot be built in a day, I don't consider winners. We built this team to win as soon as possible.''

The Bucs put seven wrestlers into the finals and held off a late charge by Zephyrhills, winning 172-162.

The clincher for the Bucs was 189-pounder Tim Tracy's pin of Wesley Chapel's Nathan Reichner. The win gave Gulf a 15-point margin. A Zephyrhills pin at heavyweight couldn't overcome the difference.

The results of the district were questioned.

At the end of the tournament, a recount resulted in a tie between Gulf and Zephyrhills. A second recount had the Bucs winning by four. A third recount supervised by referees had the Bucs winning by 10.