Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
BOB PUTNAMThree state champions from last season graduated? Not a problem for Countryside, which simply reloads.
CLEARWATER - As Countryside staked its claim to the greatest season in county history and, arguably, one of the best ever in the state, coach Dave Frayer allowed himself a few minutes to celebrate.
Then he started preparing for this season.
The process of replacing senior standouts Mike Flood, Steve Spicuzza and Matt Turtzo already had begun.
While acknowledging the contributions of three state champions who helped the team set school records for points (1581/2) and place-winners (eight) and finish second at last season's Class 2A state meet, Frayer knew he had to look ahead.
"You can't survive any other way," Frayer said. "It's like a chess match. I'm always making three or four moves at a time."
Although the Cougars lost Flood, Spicuzza and Turtzo, they still have the talent to contend for conference, district and region titles.
That's because Frayer did his homework. Spending most of his time with the junior varsity program the past three seasons, Frayer has developed the proper pieces to fit Countryside's championship puzzle.
What the Cougars lack in star power, they make up for in depth. In fact, Frayer contends this team might be more balanced than last season.
"We're going to be a better dual meet team," Frayer said. "We have capable guys at every weight."
But this doesn't mean Countryside will be short on individual titles.
Last season, Vince Scholl (125 pounds), Dominic DeNunzio (145) and A. Jay Hixon (152) were state runnerups and Wes Walker (160) placed fourth.
Thrown into the lineup as underclassmen, those four spent the past three years accelerating their learning curve by going to camps and wrestling in the offseason. Now it's up to them to make sure the Cougars don't fall from grace.
"There are a lot of young guys who will have to fill some shoes," DeNunzio said. "We know we have to take the role as leaders. We'll see what happens."
What happens will depend on how many wrestlers step up to complement Countryside's four returning place-winners. Sean Murphy, a conference champion, is the only returning state qualifier. Others who were on varsity last season include Mike Kennedy, Parker Miles and Toby Hartranft.
Miles and Hartranft blossomed into contenders last season and give the Cougars strength in the upper weights.
The Cougars also will be better with the return of Kent Costell, who missed most of last season due to grades, and the addition of Casey Schreiber, who moved from Jacksonville.
Frayer plugged the remaining holes with JV wrestlers he molded.
"The lineup is a never-ending process," Frayer said. "It's always going to change. We've had state champions before who have come and gone.
"I'm constantly out in the halls getting kids to come out for wrestling. It's hard work."