Story
Brian Blackwell, Olympic Heights: Post All-Area wrestler of the year
Friday, March 26, 2010
by
Joseph Kairalla
Brian Blackwell. (Photo by Ray Graham / The Palm Beach Post
Brian Blackwell was not one of the favorites entering this year's Class 2A state wrestling tournament.
So when the Olympic Heights senior finished as the runner-up at 215 pounds, it came as shock to a lot of people.
But not to Blackwell.
"No one works harder than me and I truly believe that," said Blackwell, a four-year varsity member. "The state tournament was a culmination of all of that work paying off."
Blackwell's training schedule is not for the faint of heart. He said for the past four years, after wrestling practice and football practice (where he played nose guard), he spent an additional two hours working out by himself. After that, he would go home and run for at least two miles. That conditioning paid off this year.
"It certainly wasn't easy; it's crazy, actually," Blackwell said of the routine. "But I knew in the long run it was going to make me better than my opponents … If I lose, it's not because I got outworked."
Blackwell won the Palm Beach County championship at 189 pounds, then made the jump to 215 pounds for the rest of the season.
"When I made the jump up in weight, I was giving up at least 15 pounds to most guys," Blackwell said. "But at the same time, I felt faster and stronger than everybody."
Once he reached the state tournament, Blackwell had every intention of winning a title and becoming the first state champion in Olympic Heights school history. But the storybook ending wasn't meant to be, as Blackwell lost to Springstead's Kenaniah Cox in the championship match.
"I was disappointed at first, but at the same time, I was only the third kid in school history to take second at state," said Blackwell, who finished 37-4 on the season. "At state, I just felt like I peaked at the right time."
Olympic Heights coach Boomer Mears said what Blackwell accomplished will have a lasting effect on a young Lions team.
"Brian was the hardest worker I ever coached and all the younger guys saw that," Mears said. "He set an example of what can be done if you put everything you have into something."
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Doug Rasmusson
Jupiter
Led the Warriors to the county and district championships and had five state qualifiers.
FIRST TEAM:
103 POUNDS
Brian Radli
Jupiter, So.
Went 44-10. The county champion finished fifth at the state Class 3A meet.
112 POUNDS
Sam Wyatt
West Boca Raton, Sr.
Wyatt won the county meet and was also the regional champion.
119 POUNDS
Jared Browning
Jensen Beach, So.
Went 41-2 and finished second in the Class 2A state meet.
125 POUNDS
Brandon Short
Seminole Ridge, Sr.
State qualifier was a county and district champion.
130 POUNDS
Mike Hess
Jensen Beach, So.
Had 41-2 record. District champion was second in the class 2A state meet
135 POUNDS
James Jenkins
Dwyer, Jr.
County champion and regional champion, went 44-2 and finished second at state meet.
145 POUNDS
Josh Brady
Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
State qualifier was the county and district champion and placed second in regionals.
152 POUNDS
Kerry Bradwell
Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
Fifished fifth at 3A meet to go along with county, district and regional championships.
152 POUNDS
Hans Rasmussen
Jupiter, Sr.
County's all-time wins leader, battled injuries but still won county and qualified for state.
160 POUNDS
Kyle Knect
Jupiter Christian, Sr.
State qualifier was second at county and won the Raich memproial tournament.
171 POUNDS
Devon Bradley
Jupiter, Sr.
State qualifier was the county and district champion while going 44-11.
189 POUNDS
Max Piasecki
Jensen Beach, Sr.
Defending state champ was having a great season before being injured at regionals.
215 POUNDS
Kristoff Warden
Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.
Finished fourth in the 3A meet. County, district and regional champion.
285 POUNDS
Karl Stanborough
Jupiter, Jr.
State qualifier won county, district and regional titles.
SECOND TEAM:
103: Dillon Marcus, So., PB Central
112: Andrew MacArthur, Jr., Jupiter
119: Brandon Smith, So., Dwyer
125: Chris Gonzalez, Sr., Park Vista
130: Ode Osbourne, Jr., Dwyer
135: David Burrows, Sr., West Boca Raton
140: Ryan Cleary, Sr., Jupiter Christian
145: Luke Dehon, Sr., Dwyer
152: Travis Cleary, Sr., Jupiter Christian
160: Dan Williams, Jr., Dwyer
171: Jair Martinez, Sr., Port St. Lucie
189: Brandon Lustgarten, Jr., Wellington
215: Kenny Shaw, Sr., Dywer
285: Chris Escamilla, Jr., Park Vista
HONORABLE MENTION:
103: Sam Hargesheimer, Seminole Ridge; Anthony Mercadante, Benjamin; John Freia, OIympic Heights
112: Leo Serruto, Jensen Beach
119: Tag Wilber, Jupiter Christian
125: Mike Fleming, Jensen Beach
130: Josh Weinberg, Palm Beach Central
135: Brandon Barron, Santaluces; Fred Zimmerman, Jensen Beach; Thomas Bertone, Jupiter
140: Jake Ferrera, Wellington; Steve Santil, Treasure Coast; Eddie Ryckman, Jensen Beach
145: Sean Mann, Martin County ; Tory Higginbotham, Jupiter
152: Andrew Veins, Jensen Beach
160: Deshawn Blackwood, Palm Beach Central; David Ricketts, Benjamin.
171: Chris Thomas, Dwyer; Miguel Modeste, Palm Beach Gardens; Rodney Matthieu, Fort Pierce Central; Scott Fricker, Benjamin
189: Johnson Cineus, Atlantic; Lawton Petit-Frere Glades Central
215: Brian Lenhart, Fort Pierce Central; Martavius Lewis, Atlantic
285: Mikingson Marsaille, Jr., Fort Pierce Central; Alan Williams, Martin County; Brandon Hale, Treasure Coast
.
User Comments:
shannon simpson commented on March 27, 2010 at 1:09 a.m.: report abuse
Is this the first year we have not had any state champions in Palm Beach County in a long time ? PBC will hopefully step up next year with hard work off season.
Coach B. commented on March 27, 2010 at 7:11 a.m.: report abuse
Brian is a great young man. He has character, dedication, discipline, and a rare courage. He is unlike the kids of today, as he accepts the consequenses of his actions. He should be young man of the year. I have coached for 30 years, and have coached some outstanding young people. Brian sits on top.
Good Luck.
Coach B.
#11 commented on March 27, 2010 at 8:37 p.m.: report abuse
Congratulations Brian. everyting stated is true. the kid is the hardest working person ive ever met. whether its in the football field, weightroom, or on the mat hes giving 110%. im glad to be your friend and hope the best for you.
true wrestling fan commented on March 28, 2010 at 12:42 p.m.: report abuse
palm beach post needs a fact checker or someone who actually pays attention to wrestling. Sean Mann placed second at states, first at regions and first at districts. Luke Dehon placed fourth at states, third at regions, and first at district. not to mention both placed higher then brady at the jupiter tournament at the end of the year, Luke Dehon beating him head to head. Kerry Bradwell should also be the sole first team seeing as he beat Hans at districts, and placed fifth at states where Hans went 0-2.
the truth commented on March 28, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.: report abuse
Is this a feel good team of people that were hurt but could have won? I always thought you honored achievement not speculation.
Joke commented on March 28, 2010 at 6:02 p.m.: report abuse
The 215 from ATL, only county loss was to Warden, and was a state qualifier, yet Shaw (not a state qualifier and losses to Warden) finished ahead of him??? okkkk.....apparently this is a love fest for the northern teams in the county.....jooooooooooke!!!!
The team commented on March 29, 2010 at 2:56 p.m.: report abuse
The team is good. Brady was better than Duhon and beat him twice to prove it. Didn't Brady win the County championship? Maybe Mann should've been higher, but Brady was the County champion, district champion and placed second at regionals?? What am I missing? A love fest for teams in the northern part of the county? Wasn't the wrestler of the year from Olympic heights (Southern school)? When it easily could've gone to one of the Jensen Kids or Jenkins fron Dwyer. Also, Hans was the county champ before he wrestled the rest of the year hurt and still did well. The kid is the all time wins leader in PBC but shouldn't be first team??
Maybe you're not that true of a wrestling fan after all.
true wrestling fan commented on March 29, 2010 at 9:52 p.m.: report abuse
"The team" let me ask you a question, what place did brady get at states? what's that no answer, that right cause he didn't place. I'm not saying he wasn't a good wrestler but when it mattered most he didn't show up, and duhon, as you spelled it incorrectly, placed fourth, and mann placed second, not to mention mann won the jupiter tournament where brady got fifth after losing to "DEHON". Hans was hurt but he had been wrestling with that injury for a while, it doesn't explian why he ducked the jupiter tournament and then did so poorly at states, hans could have done much better, again hans is a good wrestler but didn't perform where it mattered most. I'm just saying the team should be based on results not check pionts.
The team commented on March 30, 2010 at 9:57 a.m.: report abuse
let me repeat: Brady was better than Dehon and beat him twice to prove it. Didn't Brady win the County championship by defeating who? Anything can happen at states depending on your side of the bracket...you know that. Brady drew a tough side. The team is based on the whole season, not just how you start or finish...I think.
true wrestling fan commented on April 1, 2010 at 4:01 a.m.: report abuse
still doesn't explains why Mann is Honorable Mention
Caroline Thompson commented on April 1, 2010 at 8:52 p.m.: report abuse
Ryan Cleary won the PBC Championship, finished 4th in the state, and lost in the semi's at state by 1 point. His weight class was chosen to not have a first team wrestler.... Why ? Congratulations Ryan on a great season !
County Fan commented on April 5, 2010 at 7:34 a.m.: report abuse
I'd love to know who chooses this team and on what criteria it is based. Can the Post tell us?
true restling fan commented on April 12, 2010 at 1:58 p.m.: report abuse
me too county fan
Wrestling Mom commented on April 13, 2010 at 12:27 p.m.: report abuse
Congratulations to ALL hard-working PBC Wrestlers-Keep making us proud! Especially KUDOS to Sam Hargesheimer from SEMINOLE RIDGE HIGH for making Honorable Mention at 103...this was only his second season wrestling in his life...NOT BAD!! And STELLAR job BRANDON SHORT, Seminole Ridge SENIOR!! Congratulations on your season even WRESTLING HURT! LOVE YA!
right in the eye! commented on April 14, 2010 at 2:49 p.m.: report abuse
sooo tragic Piasecki couldnt finish the season..he was on route to being a 2-timer
louksus commented on April 15, 2010 at 1:40 p.m.: report abuse
its to bad Piasecki got injured..he was on route to being a 2-timer
Add Your Comment:
We'd like your thoughts on this topic. I appreciate your willingness to share them. We want to avoid comments that are obscene, hateful, racist or otherwise inappropriate. If you post offensive comments, we will delete them as soon as we can. If you see such comments, please flag them to notify us. -- Tim Burke, Publisher and Executive Editor, The Palm Beach Post