Brandon Set To Clinch State Title; Nine Wrestlers Poised to Start Final Round for Individual Crowns

It's all over but the individual titles, with the Brandon High School wrestlers gearing up for the final round in a state competition that has them 93 points ahead of the second-place team.

"The team championship is locked up for Brandon and they're going for the record for individual state crowns," said Tony Gallo, an '86 graduate of Manatee High School, where he wrestled for the Manatee Hurricanes.

"The record is seven individual titles and Brandon has nine wrestlers in the finals," Gallo added. "It's crazy to have that many kids in the finals and they've done it more than once."

Indeed, this is the second year in a row that Brandon has qualified 14 wrestlers for state competition, one in each weight class. This will be the team's 11th consecutive state crown and its 22nd state title overall.

"That's crazy, too," Gallo said. "All of the stuff they're doing is crazy."

Gallo, a friend of Brandon wrestling, joined parents and teammates outside the Lakeland Civic Center during a break from competition.

The latest team scores show Brandon with 236 points, clearly ahead of the second-place team, South Dade (Homestead), with 143 points.

The finals for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 3A state title are set to begin at about 5:40 p.m., according to an on-site official at the Lakeland Civic Center.

Wrestling in the finals for Brandon will be Devan Berrian (103 pounds), James Flint (112 pounds), Kevin Norstrem (125 pounds), Rossi Bruno (130 pounds), Tyler Liberatore (135 pounds), Travis Berridge (145 pounds), Clark Glass (152 pounds), Wally Figaro (160 pounds) and Kyle Koziel (171 pounds).

Rounding out the team are Brandon wrestlers Brice Jones (140 pounds), Victor Fugate (119 pounds), Lorenzo Martinez (215 pounds) and Jo Dudley (285 pounds).