Northeast High School - Viking Log Yearbook (St Petersburg, FL)

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Persistence is the ke Becoming a junior varsity wrestler took a lot of guts! Starting out as freshmen, they were brand new to the wrestling moves and to all of the rules. The moves were difficult to learn and took many hours of practice to perfect. Some beginners couldn't handle the pressure, and they ended up quitting. Most, though, through determination, made it and realized that it was a good choice to do so. Sophomore Kelly Andersen said, I went out for wrestling because some of my friends were going out for it. I wasn't sure at first, but now I'm staying on for good because it's a good sport that's worthwhile. When asked if he'd be staying with the team, Shawn Goodrich said, Yes, because I don't like to quit what I start, and I also hope I can get really good at it and maybe continue into college wrestling. With much determination, junior var- sity wrestlers can get good, so good that they can wrestle off someone on var- sity for a varsity position. Wrestle-offs usually occurred before a match: at that time, any j.v. wrestler who thought he was good enough to beat a varsity oppo- nent wrestled him for his spot. If he made it, he had the glory of holding a varsity position until another wrestle-off was held or until he was defeated. junior varsity coach Fred Ulrich predicted that the most promising wrestlers were Gary Guarino, Mike Alton, Paul Ivory, and Tom Santilli. These guys are real hard workers, totally dedicated and motivated. They always excel and succeed in what they're doing. When asked what he thought the outlook for the team was, Gary Guarino stated, We have a lot of young talent, and we'll have a winning season this year. The team had a lot of support from wrestlettes Paula Surgeson, Debbie Mohyla, Sonia Dominguez, Claire Campbell, and Lorna Capannaf' Mike Alton added, This should be a good season, we have a good varsity squad, and the j.v. squad has a lot of new, young talent. They are very motivated and should do well. Also, Coach lBillj Dudley and Coach Ulrich really motivate the team to give it everything they've got. Taking their stance, hearing the whistle blow . . . The match begins, and Tom Santilli moves in on his opponent lrightl, grabbing his leg to perform the usual takedown. Later on in the match lbelowl, Tom breaks down his opponent to retire him out in order to edge his shoulder blades closer and closer, inch by inch, to touch the mat. 134 1 v. WRESTLING

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Brains and brawn It took a special breed of person to have been able to withstand the physical and mental stress which was associated with wrestling. Hard physical workouts such as four-mile runs, weight training, drills and scrimmages were on- ly a few activities that helped condition the team to achieve victories. Why did they do it? For glory, self-satisfaction, fame? lamie Columbus supplied an answer. After a match you feel com- pletely satisfied with yourself whether you win or lose. Captain Steve Ivory commented, t'It's the hardest sport. It's a challenge most wrestlers like to face. Going for a take-down, a difficult technique used by members of the wrestling team to get an oppo- nent on the mat to put him in a vulnerable posi- tion, is Scott Gibson. The wrestling team practiced for ap- proximately twelve hours a week for on- ly six to twelve actual minutes of mat time. That seemed tough to most but nothing could be accomplished without persistence, panted Danny Diaco during a heavy workout in the wrestling room. A lot of things went through a wrestler's mind while wrestling an op- ponent. Danny Diaco explained, When the match started everything that you have memorized, you forget, but everything you've learned comes back to you. Strength was important, but concen- tration and strategy were equally so. A lot of planning was a key necessity to winning matches. This sport involved more than brute forceg it was a combina- tion of brains and brawnf' 'T'9 ' A switch to the top. Paul Ivory's move up to a var- sity position proved to be a good choice by the coaches as he showed what he could do by pinn- ing his opponent. Oblivious to what the coaches are shouting, Andy Ragan uses his own knowledge of the sport of wrestling as he puts his opponent in the head and arm position. Various techniques are taught by the wrestling coaches in practices before the season begins. VARSITY WRESTLING 133

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Taking all he's got, Mark Ackett breaks down his opponent, receiving points for his strategic moves before he moves in for the pin. Front row - Mike Alton, Gary Guarinog 2nd row - Mark Ackett, Greg McDonald, Kevin Gregg, Tom Santilli, Rob Bedartg 3rd row - Todd Gregg, Paul Ivory, Steve Diaco, Ken Ballengerg Back row - Ieff Hare, Chris Turner, Kelly Andersen, Bobby Ortiz, Shawn Goodrich. f Complete concentration is on Steve Diaco's face as he makes a reversal to have the advantage of being top man. if 1.v. WRESTLING 135