North Fort Myers High School - Lance Yearbook (North Fort Myers, FL)

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Hand-to-Hand Combat Most of us obtain our limited knowledge of wrestling from watching the grunt and groanerst' on the video tube. Professional wrestling involves 98070 showmanship and certainly is not an accurate portrayal of the highly com- petitive team and individual high school sport of wrestling. High school wrestlers have to adhere to strict training to keep their bodies in top physical condition, and must watch their calorie intake if they are to weigh in before each meet at the correct weight. If a wrestler gains or loses too much during the week and doesn't qualify in his weight class, the team suf- fers as it must forfeit that match and the opposing team gains an automatic 6 points. Keeping wrestlers healthy and on-their-weight for all thirteen weight classes is no small undertaking. Wrestlers can qualify and compete in the following weight classes: 101 lbs., 108 lbs., 115 lbs., 122 lbs., 129 lbs., 135 lbs., 141 lbs., 148 lbs., 158 lbs., 170 lbs., 188 lbs., 223 lbs., and unlimited. Although wrestlers are required to wear headgear to protect their ears and tights to protect their legs from mat burns, injuries can occur. Cauliflower ears fears swollen from being banged against the mat or fallen onj, pulled muscles and tendons, and raw skinned arms and faces are common complaints of the athletes who engage in this hand- to-hand combat. The individuals who composed the 1981-82 Red Knight Wrestling Team qualified for this demanding sport by being strong, agile, quick, determined, and dedicated. Coaches Frank Drake and Roger Pritchard and Team Captain Phil Baker organized each daily two- and-a-half hour practice session to in- clude calisthenics and running drills to increase endurance, agility, and strength, and practice matches to sharpen moves and the ability to think while engaged in competition. One thing that hurt North's team this season was the limited number of par- ticipants. In some meets as many as 6 matches were forfeited due to a lack of qualified North wrestlers in certain weight classesg thus North was down 36 to O before the first opponents stepped on the mat. Although the team's record was not outstanding, two wrestlers had excep- tional individual seasons, Levi Mooney and Ieff Kader. Both had identical win- loss records until Ieff was injured and had to cease competing. Levi, at 223 lbs., ended the season with a 13-1 record and the South Florida Conference Cham- pionship in his weight class. 1 1 - Once again North's Frank Putnal gets the ad- vantage over his opponent. 2 - 1981-82 Wrestling Team: IL to Rl Coach Frank Drake, Iacob Hemed, Frank Putnal, Kenny Richmond, Ierry Cohen, Phil Baker, Shawn Smitter, Rusty Wenrich, Brian Makar, Levi Mooney, Coach Roger Pritchard. 202 X Athletics 2

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Future Glor Working on layups, dribbling, free throws, passes, and defense . . . defense . . . defense kept the IV basketball squad busy from November to February, five days a week, excluding game days. Coach Levon Simms stressed the impor- tance of team play and working the ball into the player with the best shot. They knew that when a ball left a player's hands, Coach Simms wanted one thing, two points. Hard work during practice and in games against each other and the varsity paid off for the young Knights. After fif- teen games they stood at nine wins and six losses. Then a decision was made to disband the IV squad and move its members up to the varsity to complete the season. Disbanding the team and forfeiting 'N-41 DeLaine, Coach Levon Simms. the rest of the games was a difficult decision for the coaches to make and an equally hard one for the players to understand. The varsity was plagued by personnel problems, but the North IV stood very high in conference competi- tion. Of their six losses, only four were to conference teams, so they had a real chance to rank at or near the top at season's end. Being loyal Red Knights, the team ac- cepted their fate and began to work equally hard to become contributing, useful members of the varsity squad, gaining tremendous experience as they watched and played against the tough South Florida competition. Watch out for North in the futureg with these young players maybe we can recapture our Basketball Glory Days. 1 - Iohn Cummings dribbles his way to stardom. 2 - Soaring to score is Iames DeLaine. 3 - Bruce Whitaker attempts to put the ball over the outstret- ched arms of the Riverdale Raiders. Teammate Ed Williams is set to rebound if he misses. 4 - Basket Bound Ioe Williams gets an assist from teammate Bruce Whitaker who boxes out his opponent. 5 - Ed Williams shoots to score another victory for North. 6 - 1981-82 IV Boys' Basketball Team: IL to RI Kneeling - Paul Davis, Tyrone Davis, Ioe Williams, Iohn Cummings, Ray Cobb, Brian MacDougall. Standing - Manager Anthony Battle, Ed Williams, Ray Brown, Todd Ienkins, Tony Myrick, Scott Ower, Gerald Christian, Iames Athletics X 201

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1 I ig 1 - Conference Champion Levi Mooney displays his wrestling ability and determination. 2 - It's not a new dance step, it's serious business to North's wrestler Brian Makar. 3 - Ieff Kader sizes up his Riverdale opponent. 4 - Going for the . pin is Red Knight Phil Baker. 'iiaw 3 4 Athletics X 203