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Cougars Host Power-Packed Wrestling

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

PLANT CITY - The Durant High Cougars will soon be hosting what will probably be the most power-packed wrestling event in Florida outside of the state tournament.

In terms of their chances to win, they might have picked a bad year to do it.

"We may be spectators when the finals come around," said Durant head coach Dennis Kitko, whose team lost three state-qualifying seniors, Justin Bechtold, Erik Ruiz and Matt Raynal.

That's not to say Kitko isn't hopeful for his squad. Durant's team should be able to send a handful of wrestlers to state, something that has become tradition during Kitko's first four years as Cougar head coach.

Christian Reed returns from a state appearance and should be one of the Cougar leaders as a senior. Kitko can't wait to see how 215-pound junior Devin Johnson performs. Johnson missed most of last season with mononucleosis.

"He was able to wrestle in a few matches at the end of the year and killed the guy he faced," Kitko said. "He kept getting so dehydrated last year, I was feeding him Gatorade. Eventually, we had to give him salt pellets. Then we found out the problem was mono."

Kitko is really pumped about transfer Yamil Crespo from Bloomingdale. The senior is an "absolute stud," said Kitko, and should give the Cougars a strong presence in the middleweight categories.

Crespo should wrestle at 145 pounds.

Another good addition is assistant coach Kerry Beatty, who also coaches the junior varsity team but will be running his share of varsity practices. Kitko and his wife, Kristin, have a month-old son, Kael.

"Kerry is a young guy with a lot of energy. Which will be good, because there will be times when my energy is a little low," Kitko said.

Durant began its season last week but had a good preseason tune-up with a meet at Countryside. Against two of the area's most respected programs, the Cougars lost to Manatee 40-25 and beat Countryside 42-27.

The Durant Invitational, to be held Friday and Saturday, will be loaded with strong teams. Most noteworthy is that Kitko was able to draw Miami-area power South Dade.

"We finally got them to commit," Kitko said. "That's big. We might have trouble ourselves, but either way, this has to be the best tournament in the state."

South Dade finished second in the Class 3A meet last year. Kissimmee Osceola, which finished in third place, along with fifth-place Miami Braddock, will be there as will 1A runner-up Fort Myers Riverdale.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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