Joe Blasucci, Naples, Florida Wrestling USA State Man of the Year

Joe Blasucci, Naples, Florida

Blasucci takes teams of wrestlers plus outstanding individual wrestlers
from Florida to prestigious national events such as Brute Scholastic
Duals in PA and NHSCA National Duals and Senior Nationals. Last year,
he took four teams to three events; this year, he'll take six teams to
four events.

Joe is the second generation of three in his family that has been
involved in the sport of wrestling. He has been involved for 33 of his
37 years; started wrestling at age 4 for his Dad, Mike, who was a high
school head coach in NJ, now coaches his sons in Naples, Florida

Serves as Folkstyle Director of Florida USA Wrestling;

-Brute Scholastic Duals Team Florida Coach 3 years (AA finish 08)

-South Florida Lightning National Team Coach 5 years (3x 5th Place
Finish NHSCA National Duals)

-National Coach of NHSCA Senior National Champion Scotti Sentes and
Senior National All Americans AJ Held and Ivan Lopuschanskiy 2008

-Assistant Coach Barron Collier HS Naples, FL

-Head Coach South Florida Lightning Wrestling Club

Florida's Pete Baldwin, 135-pounds from Kissimmee Osceola, Wrestler of the Week #5

By John Lawton

Pete Baldwin, a sophomore at Osceola High in Kissimmee , is the fan’s selection as “Wrestler of the Week” for Week 5 that ended January 5.

Baldwin earned his selection thru his actions on the mat in Oviedo at the Jarzynka tourney where he went 5-0 and won four of his matches by pin. His victims included returning state champs from two other states, Johnny Calcote of Archbishop Rummel in Louisiana and Tony James of Wentzville Holt in Missouri .

The caliber of his opponents is what swayed more fans to vote for Baldwin although several voted for Brandon’s Eric Grajales or Ryan Renkey, who both put in exceptional performances at the Heart of Dixie tourney in Alabama. Grajales was voted the tourney’s Outstanding Wrestler while Renkey defeated two All Americans enroute to his title.

“We knew Petey had a shot, it was a loaded weight class,” said Jim Bird, Head Coach at Osceola. “We knew going in that he had to wrestle real good. We were nervous but Pete is never nervous. He is getting better on his feet. He is a great mat wrestler. He got the first takedown and that set the tone of the match.”

“I always get nervous but I know how to use it to my advantage,” said Baldwin.” Being nervous means you are just ready for anything that happens. If you are not, you are just being too cocky.”

Baldwin’s goals for 2009 are to possibly win states a second time, individually and also for his team to win states. Next, he wants to wrestle well at the USA Wrestling Nationals Fargo, the FILA Cadets and the Junior National Duals.

Coach Bird is pleased with Baldwin’s performance this season and appreciates his work ethic.

“Pete’s having a great season,” says Bird. “Hopefully he’s not resting on his laurels. He is working hard in the room and is constantly getting better.”

When asked who he thinks are the wrestlers most likely to be in your way to repeating as state champ? He answered by saying, “Anybody that steps on the mat. I’m not going to pick any single wrestler. Whoever steps out on the mat against me, I’m going to give them all I’ve got.”

Baldwin started wrestling when he was just 8 years old. So now that he is 16, he has been wrestling for exactly half of his life, eight years.

His first coach was Jim Bird with the Attack Wrestling Club in Kissimmee . So Bird has been Baldwin’s coach with for a long time and he says, “I’m proud of that.”

He says his most memorable wrestling experience from before high school was the first time he walked into the stadium for the state championships. He was referring to the Lakeland Center back in 2006 when he first qualified for states as a seventh grader competing for the Kissimmee Life Academy .
“Everything seemed so big, the stands, the building, all the mats laid out. But the air was very cold since there was ice beneath the mats.”

Let’s hope, nobody else gets to have that kind of experience with ice under the mats.

The memories that stand out from his young career at Osceola are the team bonding experiences.

“Everything we do, we do as a team. We encourage everybody to all do the same thing to encourage us to bond together as a team, even getting lost. One time, we on a canoe trip on the river and we were only supposed to go one mile but we went the wrong way and ended up canoeing 10 miles.”

When asked if you could wrestle any other wrestler past or present, who would it be?

Baldwin answered, “Presently Eric Grajales and Kendrick Sanders but from the past, Cael Sanderson in his prime.”

The pin is Baldwin’s favorite move. “I’m known for my cradle but anyway to put my opponent on his back is a good way,” said Baldwin

So far, Baldwin doesn’t have a favorite college that he would like to attend but then again, he has two and a half more years of high school although he would consider anybody that gives him a good offer in terms of a scholarship.

In closing, Pete was given the opportunity for a say what he wanted in terms of a shout out.

“First, a shout out to my team. I feel the support from them and hope they all realize the special bond I feel for them.

I want to thank my Mom. She has been great support for me in everything I’ve done and my Dad who has been a great coach and an even better father.”

Pete Baldwin’s Stats at Kissimmee Life Academy and Osceola High

Sophomore: 31-0 with 23 pins at 135;

Freshman: 58-3 with 47 pins, state champion in Class 3A at 119;

8th Grade: 48-4, 4th at State in Class 1A at 103;

7th Grade: 41-8 did not place at State at 103;

6th Grade: 18-2 at 103;

Wrestler of the Week - Clark Glass, 130-pounds from Brandon

Clark Glass, a freshman at Brandon, is our selection as "Wrestler of the Week" for Week 4 that ended December 20.

Glass's actions on the mat in Homestead at the District 16 duals tourney where he went 4-0 and helped Brandon erase all doubts whether or not they are the top team in Florida when they defeated number two ranked South Dade by a 54-15 score.

His performance convinced nearly all the voters in the Scout.com poll that he is the Top Wrestler in the 130-pound weight class in the All State category.

Glass earned his selection with a convincing win against South Dade's rugged Wilson Metellus, a 2x state finalist, via a 6-2 decision. Glass scored his points via two takedowns and two escapes. Many felt he earned his win via his tenacious hold on Metellus' leg while the two wrestlers rolled several times in a classic "spaghetti wrestling" scramble where no points were awarded. The entire match can be viewed on a video posted on YouTube.

"I was just trying to get a takedown or make sure that he didn't get one on me," said Glass. "Coach Cozart was telling me what to do."

"We don't mind getting upside down," said Russ Cozart Brandon's Coach. "We're not bad at it.

We go over that situation a lot. Either you want to score or you try to get a stalemate. He did the right thing at the right time. We teach how to deal with counter defense meaning when we shoot and when the guy counters; we want to teach not losing your main move. In this case, he did a nice job."

Cozart has been Clark's coach starting when he just a youngster in the Brandon Wrestling Club.

"I've been with Clark for a long time. He has been getting better every day. He's a hard worker. He wrestled large in that match. The second he stepped out on the mat, even though he [Metellus] was nationally ranked, you could tell he was ready. Everybody was rooting him on. He had Eric [Grajales] rooting for him, he had Joey [Cozart] cheering."

Over the years in USA Wrestling's age group wrestling, Glass has won National Championships and earned All American honors in all of the Kids Divisions. The last two years have brought some mixed results. In 2007, he suffered a broken bone(s) at the Cadet Duals and couldn't compete at Fargo. This year, he placed second to a very tough opponent at the Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Although he did well at the Cadet National Duals, he did not place at Fargo.

Cozart feels that Glass is finally coming into his own in high school.

"We are trying to make him more consistent. He has struggled a little bit but the kid is a consistent worker. The week before, he had some good matches and some bad matches. He's been coming around. He never lets down. He showed a lot down there hopefully he'll continue," said Cozart.

Glass says the biggest difference in wrestling is the practices.

"There are just so many good partners to work with," said Glass. "And Coach Cozart has been around so long that I know that what he tells us to do is the best coaching."

Glass still thinks highly of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team but he feels there are many other good places that he could wrestle in college.

His favorite pro football team is the Pittsburgh Steelers but he doesn't watch enough baseball to have a favorite team.

When asked what he wanted others to know about him, he just said, "Not much. Just that I am a Christian and that I go to Church every Sunday at Bay Life in Brandon."

Clark Glass' Stats at Tampa Bay Christian and Brandon

Freshman: 23-1 at 130-pounds;

8th Grade: 39-4, 4th at State in Class 1A at 119;

7th Grade: 41-1, State Champ in Class 1A at 103.
Florida's Top High School Teams and Wrestlers

All State - Top 25

1 - Brandon 2 - Homestead South Dade 3 - Kissmmee Osceola 4 - Spring Hill Springstead 5 - Bradenton Manatee 7 - Miami American 8 - Miami Columbus 9 - Oviedo High 10 - Miami Pace 11 - Ft Myers Riverdale 12 - Naples Palmetto Ridge 13 - Lakeland Lake Gibson 14 - Ft Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 15 - Hialeah Miami Lakes 16 - Gainesville High 17 - Ft Lauderdale St Thomas 18 - Dunedin 19 - Valrico Bloomingdale 20 - Inverness Citrus 21 - Miami Southwest 22 - Jensen Beach 23 - Miami Braddock 24 - Miami Palmetto 25 - Orange Park Ridgeview & Niceville

Class 1A - Small School

1 - Miami Pace 2 - Cardinal Gibbons 3 - Riverdale 4 - Jensen Beach 5 - Citrus 6 - Green Cove Springs Clay 7 - Live Oak Suwannee 8 - Tampa Robinson 9 - Tampa Jesuit 10 - Crawfordville Wakulla 11 - New Port Richey Gulf 12 - Tampa Bay Christian 13 - St Petersburg Northside Christian 14 - Jupiter Christian 15 - Miami Doral Academy Others - Englewood Lemon Bay, Brooksville Hernando, Avon Park, South Ft Myers

Class 2A - Mid-Size Schools

1 - Brandon 2 - Springstead 3 - Manatee 4 - Palmetto Ridge 5 -St Thomas 6 - Lake Gibson 7 - Gainesville 8 - Dunedin 9 - Ridgeview 10 - Fleming Island 11 - North Port 12 - Ocala Forrest 13 - Punta Gorda Charlotte 14 - Naples Lely 15 - St Cloud 16 - Tallahassee Lincoln 17 - Lynn Haven Mosley 18 - St Petersburg Dixie Hollins 19 - North Ft Myers
20 - Belleview & Lakeland Jenkins

Class 3A - Large Schools

1 - South Dade 2 - Osceola 3 - American 4 - Columbus 5 - Oviedo 6 - Hialeah Miami Lakes 7 - Valrico Bloomingdale 8 - Miami Southwest 9 - Miami Braddock 10 - Miami Palmetto 11 - Niceville 12 - Davie Western 13 - Winter Springs 14 - Durant 15 - Palm Bay High 16 - Tampa Alonso 17 - Orlando Edgewater 18 - Palm Beach Gardens 19 - Parkland Douglas 20 -Tampa Riverview, Miami High, Sarasota High Miami Sunset, Orlando Timber Creek, St Pete High

Top Wrestlers - All State

TOP WRESTLERS - ALL STATE 103 Travis Laxton - Suwannee 112 Ryan Renkey - Brandon 119 Rossi Bruno - Brandon 125 Eric Chandler - Miami Braddock 130 Matt Nereim - Winter Springs 135 Eric Grajales - Brandon 140 Kevin Timothy - Brandon 145 Shakendrick Sanders - South Dade 152 Alex Eggers - Kissimmee Osceola 160 Didley Weche - Miami Pace 171 Jacob Harmer - Gainesville High 189 Caylor Williams - Palm Bay High 215 Willie Wiggins - South Dade
285 David Garlock - Lemon Bay

Class 1A

TOP WRESTLERS - CLASS 1A 103 Travis Laxton - Suwannee 112 Kevin Norstrem - Tampa Bay Christian 119 Dalton Dennis - Northside Christian 125 Alex Paraschuk - Riverdale 130 Garret Soileau - Clay 135 Zach Boyer - Robinson 140 Dillon Dennis - Northside Christian 145 Frank Pettineo - Cardinal Gibbons 152 Nick Moore - Arnold 160 Didley Weche - Miami Pace 171 Max Piasecki - Jensen Beach 189 Billy Kartsonis - Jacksonville Episcopal 215 Byron Dames - Jupiter Christian 285 David Garlock - Lemon Bay

Class 2A

TOP WRESTLERS - CLASS 2A 103 Brayton Logan - North Ft Myers 112 Ryan Renkey - Brandon 119 Rossi Bruno - Brandon 125 Jacob Gregory - Manatee 130 Clark Glass - Brandon 135 Eric Grajales - Brandon 140 Kevin Timothy - Brandon 145 Joey Cozart - Brandon 152 Geordan Speiller - St Thomas 160 David Richardson - Lake Gibson 171 Jacob Harmer - Gainesville High 189 Chris Ferrito - Seabreeze 215 Wilder Rislin - Poinciana 285 John Dixon - Ridgeview

Class 3A

TOP WRESTLERS - CLASS 3A 103 Earl Hall - South Dade 112 Quintavian McPherson - South Dade 119 Gabe Chandler - Braddock 125 Eric Chandler - Braddock 130 Matt Nereim - Winter Springs 135 Pete Baldwin - Kissimmee Osceola 140 Ray Parrado - Miami Goleman 145 Shakendrick Sanders - South Dade 152 Alex Eggers - Kissimmee Osceola 160 Chris Figari - Bloomingdale 171 Levi Clemons - Osceola 189 Caylor Williams - Palm Bay High 215 Willie Wiggins - South Dade 285 Henry Chirino - Miami American

1. South Dade

2. Brandon

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Osceola

4. Manatee

5. Riverdale

6. American

7. Oviedo

8. Palm Bay

9. Columbus

10. Countryside
10. Niceville

1.South Dade

2. Brandon

2. Palmetto Ridge

4. Manatee

5. Columbus

5. Osceola

7. Miami SouthRidge

8. Riverdale

9. Oviedo

10. Countryside

Top 10 South East Regional Rankings 1-7-08

1. South Dade H.S. Florida

2. Brandon H.S. Florida

3. Collins Hill H.S. Georgia

4. Cary H.S. North Carolina

5. Baylor H.S. Tennessee

6. Vestavia Hills H.S. Alabama

6. Union Grove H.S Georgia

8. Palmetto Ridge H.S. Florida

9. Parkland H.S. North Carolina

10. Brother Martin H.S. Louisiana

10. Bradley Central H.S. Tennessee

10. Harrison H.S. Georgia

10. Manatee H.S. Florida

34th Annual Seahorse Open

“NO EXCUSES”

CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS GYM (2501 CORAL SPRINGS DRIVE)

The SeaHorse Wrestling Club is proud to announce that the premier pre season wrestling tournament the 34TH ANNUAL SEAHORSE OPEN to be held November 28 and 29 has moved to the city of CORAL SPRINGS gym (2501 Coral Springs Drive) in Coral Springs, Florida. With the move to a facility that can accommodate 10 mats over 900 wrestlers is expected to compete in this 2-day event.

The competition will be outstanding as wrestlers from some of the best teams and clubs complete in the state longest running and best preseason wrestling event. This event serves as a tune up for the upcoming season and gives coaches an opportunity to give their wrestlers some quality mat time no matter what the level of ability.

**QUESTIONS??? e-mail at SEAHORSEWRESTLER@AOL.COM Call Ron Schulz, event director, 954-290-5262, or Allen Held 954-854-1124 competition director

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28- Weigh-in and registration 8:00-9:30 am Cadets (15-16) 2 divisions-Varsity level, JV level, High School weight classes, Schoolboys (age 13-14), High school weights plus 75, 85, 95 Kids (12 and under) by age and USA wrestling weights

ALL WRESTLERS WILL WEIGHIN IN A SINGLET. We will cover the decimal.

$20 entry fee for schoolboys, and cadets, $15 for 12 and under KIDS and 2008-09 USA Wrestling card. Cards will be available at the meet.

Match times for Kids, Schoolboys, and Cadet JV—1-1-1, Cadets-varsity—2-1-1

Awards for 1^st-4^th places individual and top two teams in Kids/Schoolboys and Cadets

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 --Juniors-2 divisions-State level, Varsity level and OPEN division, MASTERS division (over 35)

Weigh-in & registration Nov 28 4-6 PM or Nov 29- 8:00-9:30 am-JR-high school weights Open-NCAA wts. ALL WRESTLERS WILL WEIGHIN IN A SINGLET. We will cover the decimal.

$20 for JUNIORS and OPEN. Must have a 2008-09 USA card. Available at the meet with proof of age.

Juniors-State 2-2-2, cons--2-1-1 Juniors-Varsity all matches-2-1-1, Open-- 2-2-2-all match

High School rules to be used EXCEPT OPEN and MASTERS.

NO SEEDING-RANDOM DRAW

Awards for first four places individual and top two teams in Juniors and Open

Wrestling to begin at 10:00 am to completion.

Admission $5 per day for adults and $2 for 12 and under.

SAVE THE LONG WAIT IN LINE, BUY YOUR CARD ONLINE AT

floridausawrestling.org

SUBJECT: 34TH ANNUAL SEAHORSE OPEN- NOVEMBER 28-29, 2008

"NO EXCUSES"

CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS GYM (2501 CORAL SPRINGS DRIVE)

The SeaHorse Wrestling Club is proud to announce that the premier pre season wrestling tournament the 34TH ANNUAL SEAHORSE OPEN to be held November 28 and 29 has moved to the city of CORAL SPRINGS gym (2501 Coral Springs Drive) in Coral Springs, Florida. With the move to a facility that can accommodate 10 mats over 900 wrestlers is expected to compete in this 2-day event.

The competition will be outstanding as wrestlers from some of the best teams and clubs complete in the state longest running and best preseason wrestling event. This event serves as a tune up for the upcoming season and gives coaches an opportunity to give their wrestlers some quality mat time no matter what the level of ability.

**QUESTIONS??? e-mail at SEAHORSEWRESTLER@AOL.COM Call Ron Schulz, event director, 954-290-5262 , or Allen Held 954-854-1124 competition director

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28- Weigh-in and registration 8:00-9:30 am Cadets (15-16) 2 divisions-Varsity level, JV level, High School weight classes, Schoolboys (age 13-14), High school weights plus 75, 85, 95 Kids (12 and under) by age and USA wrestling weights

ALL WRESTLERS WILL WEIGHIN IN A SINGLET. We will cover the decimal.

$20 entry fee for schoolboys, and cadets, $15 for 12 and under KIDS and 2008-09 USA Wrestling card. Cards will be available at the meet.

Match times for Kids, Schoolboys, and Cadet JV-1-1-1, Cadets-varsity-2-1-1

Awards for 1st-4th places individual and top two teams in Kids/Schoolboys and Cadets

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 --Juniors-2 divisions-State level, Varsity level and OPEN division, MASTERS division(over 35)

Weigh-in & registration Nov 28 4-6 PM or Nov 29- 8:00-9:30 am-JR-high school weights Open-NCAA wts. ALL WRESTLERS WILL WEIGHIN IN A SINGLET. We will cover the decimal.

$20 for JUNIORS and OPEN. Must have a 2008-09 USA card. Available at the meet with proof of age.

Juniors-State 2-2-2, cons--2-1-1 Juniors-Varsity all matches-2-1-1, Open-- 2-2-2-all match

High School rules to be used EXCEPT OPEN and MASTERS.

NO SEEDING-RANDOM DRAW

Awards for first four places individual and top two teams in Juniors and Open

Wrestling to begin at 10:00 am to completion.

Admission donation $5 per day for adults and $2 for 12 and under.

SAVE THE LONG WAIT IN LINE, BUY YOUR CARD ONLINE AT

floridausawrestling.org

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 1-23-08

1.South Dade
2. Brandon

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Manatee

5. Riverdale

5. Osceola

5. Miami SouthRidge

8. American

8. Oviedo
10. Countryside

10. Eastside H.S. South Carolina

South Dade beat Brandon 32-28 to stop Brandon's 459 winning streak

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 1-2-08

1.Brandon

2. South Dade

2. Palmetto Ridge

4. Manatee

5. Osceola

6. Miami Southridge

7. Riverdale

8. Oviedo

9. Countryside

10. Columbus

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 12-25-07

1.Brandon

2. South Dade

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Riverdale

5. Oviedo

6. Miami Southridge

7. Osceola

8. Manatee

9. Countryside

10. Columbus
10. Cardinal Gibbons

Top 10 South East Regional Rankings 12-25-07



1. Brandon H.S. Florida

2. South Dade H.S. Florida

3. Collins Hill H.S. Georgia

4. Cary H.S. North Carolina

5. Baylor H.S. Tennessee

6. Palmetto Ridge H.S. Florida

7. Union Grove H.S Georgia

8. Brother Martin H.S. Louisiana

9. Parkland H.S. North Carolina

10. Bradley Central H.S. Tennessee

10. Vestavia Hills H.S. Alabama

10.  Eastside H.S. South Carolina
10. Harrison H.S. Georgia
Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 12-18-07

1.Brandon

2. South Dade

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Riverdale

5. Oviedo

6. Osceola

7. Manatee

8. Countryside

9. Cardinal Gibbons

10. Columbus
10. American
Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 12-11-07

1.Brandon

2. South Dade

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Oviedo

5. Riverdale

6. Osceola

7. Manatee

8. Countryside

9. Cardinal Gibbons

10. Columbus
10. American

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 12-04-07

1.Brandon

2. South Dade

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Oviedo

5. Riverdale

6. Osceola

7. Manatee

8. Countryside

9. Clay
10. Cardinal Gibbons

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 11-21-07

1.Brandon

                                                                               2.Sout 2.Dade

3. Palmetto Ridge

4. Oviedo

5. Riverdale

6. Osceola

7. Manatee

8. Countryside

9. Clay
10. Cardinal Gibbons

Florida Top Ten Teams All Classes 9-26-07

1.   Brandon

2. South Dade

3. Osceola

4. Palmetto Ridge

5. Oviedo

6. Flagler Palm Coast

7. Manatee

8. Braddock

9. Countryside

10. Riverdale

10. Ft. Meyers

10. Olympia

10. Clay

Written by Stuart “Hollywood” Mahler

State Editor Wrestling USA Magazine

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Florida Champter Honors Week

NEXT WEEKEND IS HONORS WEEKEND FOR THE NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME FLORIDA CHAPTER.

TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TO PLAY GOLF AND TO ATTEND THE BANQUET AND INDUCTION CEREMONIES CALL GARY TOWNSEND AT:

561-439-2429

Ira

Final Florida Top 10 Teams All Classes

1.   Brandon

1. Oviedo

3. South Dade

4. Osceola

5. Flagler Palm Coast

6. Palmetto Ridge

7. Manatee

8. Braddock

9. Countryside

10. Riverdale

10. Ft. Meyers

10. Olympia
10. Clay
Florida Top 10 Teams All Classes

2-05-07

1.   Brandon

1. Oviedo

3. South Dade

4. Miami Palmetto

5. Manatee

6. Palmetto Ridge

7. Cardinal Gibbons

8. Osceola

9. Riverdale
10. Countryside
Florida Top 10 Teams All Classes 1-29-07

1.   Brandon

2. Oviedo

2. South Dade

4. Flagler Palm Coast

5. Manatee

6. Palmetto Ridge

7. Cardinal Gibbons

8. Osceola

9. Riverdale

10. Countryside

10. Miami Palmetto

Submitted By:Stuart “Hollywood” MahlerState
Editor Wrestling USA Magazine

Florida Top 10 Teams All Classes 12-17-06

1.   Brandon

2. Oviedo

3. South Dade

4. Cardinal Gibbons

5. Flagler Palm Coast

6. Palmetto Ridge

7. Manatee

8. Countryside

9. Durant

10. Osceola

Submitted By: Stuart “Hollywood” Mahler

State Editor

Written by Stuart Mahler

Florida State Editor