Gulf High team starting to get overdue respect

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on Dec. 11, 2001.

By DAVE WALTERS

WESLEY CHAPEL - The Bucs were close to tasting championship success, but a loss to Sebring in the finals of the Wesley Chapel Invitation left a sour taste in Coach Travis DeWalt's mouth.

After beating Lake Weir, Wesley Chapel and Mitchell, the Bucs were poised for their first tournament title in four years. They didn't come close, as Sebring won handily, 54-20.

``We wrestled flatter than this floor,'' Bucs 125-pounder Keith Delgado said.

The wins against Wesley Chapel (42-36) and Mitchell (33-32) were dramatic, but the Bucs had nothing left for Sebring.

``You can't tell me that we shouldn't have paired up better than that,'' DeWalt said. ``The score didn't convey the team I have.''

Second place wasn't bad and DeWalt will take it.

``It's a steppingstone,'' DeWalt said. ``It's early in the season. We have some weights we need help with. We're going to continue to grow.''

DeWalt, in his second season, has turned the Bucs program around. Last year, the Bucs were young and were believing in DeWalt's philosophy.

This year, they are 6-1 and are the surprise of the county.

``We've only been together for a year-and-a-half and there's no telling what we can get done,'' DeWalt said. ``I'm proud of them. I really am.''

DeWalt sees the Bucs getting some overdue respect. They have cracked the FloridaKids.net top 25 coming in No. 22.

``Our team doesn't like the lack of respect we get,'' DeWalt said. ``If you ask other coaches, they are like ``Gulf who?''

``Our kids have developed an attitude. They don't like being a whipping post. Those days are gone.''

Mitchell finished third in the tournament, defeating Zephyrhills 47-30. P.J. Miller (130) and Bob Metz (160) were undefeated.

``We came a long way,'' Coach John Marretta said. ``In the Gulf match, we showed a lot of character. Two weeks ago, the beat us by more than 20. This time, they got us by one.''

Zephyrhills came the closest to knocking off champion Sebring losing 41-37 in the semifinals. The Bulldogs suffered its second loss to Mitchell and finished fourth.

``We spent everything we had trying to get that one against Sebring,'' Zephyrhills coach Kevin Epifanio said. ``Mitchell came out ready and we came out kind of flat.''

Doug Burden (135), Matt Engels (145), Scott Calhoun (171) and Shane Hand (HWT) finished the dual meets undefeated.

``Fourth place? I'm happy with it,'' Epifanio said. ``My young kids were getting pinned early last week and this week they wrestled into the third period and showed improvement.

``I'm not disappointed. For what we have in our lineup with eight freshmen, I'm more than happy.''

Wesley Chapel was fifth with Andrew Cleek (103), Kevin Boyd (112), Mike Aponovich (145), Jason Duplantis (160) and Jason Boyd (215) finishing the four duals unbeaten.

Hudson was 13th with Luke Jubran (125), Zennon Herrera (152), Tim Bentley (160) and Walter Truzack (HWT) going undefeated.

Rams place five in Seminole: Ridgewood lost by four points to Kissimmee Gateway on Friday night and came back strong in the 10-team Hooters Invitational at Seminole.

Ridgewood placed five wrestlers in the top six led by 103-pounder Anthony Jackson leading the way with a second place finish.

Bobby Shields (171) was third and Matt Bullwinkel (119), Bill Bullwinkel (112) and Keith Coghlan (125) finishing fourth.