Successful Florida coach to pursue sixth title in veteran class

Victoria Sun

Friday, April 26, 2002 | 10:28 a.m.

Tournament at a glance

When Russ Cozart took over the Brandon (Fla.) High School wrestling program 22 years ago, school administrators wanted him to feel welcome instead of overwhelmed.

So they told him not to worry about sustaining the team's 74 dual-meet win streak.

Cozart followed the advice -- and still guided the team to 278 more consecutive victories, bringing the total to a masterful 352.

Under Cozart, Brandon has also won the last two state titles and 12 total.

"It's a little thing we've got going," he said humbly. "It keeps the kids working hard, gives us a lot of tradition and keeps the pressure on. The pressure is always there.

"But we don't recruit kids. We get them out of the hallway and turn them into wrestlers."

His record as a competitor is equally impressive.

The 48-year-old began vying for his sixth veteran national title at the Las Vegas National Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday night.

Cozart, the most successful veteran wrestler ever with six world championships, is wrestling in the age 45-50 division at 152 lbs.

His son, Rocky, who turned 16 Thursday, took fifth in the Greco Roman Western Junior Regionals at 145 lbs.

Two of Cozart's high school wrestlers, Cesar Grajales and Matt Juncal, also made the trip.

Grajales, last year's Florida state champion, took third in 112 lbs. while Juncal, a two-time state champion, competed in the 189-lb. freestyle Thursday.

"I feel very fortunate I'm able to wrestle and coach my son," said Cozart, who wrestled for the University of Alabama before its wrestling program was eliminated. "I feel fortunate he's chosen the sport of wrestling.

"I always wanted to be a wrestling coach my whole life. Even as a little kid in junior high and high school I thought I would love to be a teacher and a coach. Now here I am, doing what I've always loved."

Once he finished college, he continued to pursue his dream of wrestling at the Olympics, but it eluded him.

Not easily discouraged, Cozart trained regularly until he began coaching and teaching.

At the time, there were no national competitions for men 35 and older, but Cozart continued training so that he could be a more effective coach.

When the first 35 and over championship was held in South America when he was 38, he and a few friends decided to enter.

To his own surprise, Cozart emerged the winner.

"It was a great tournament," Cozart said. "Through wrestling, I've been to places like Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Bulgaria.

"After that first one, I caught the fever wrestling guys from other countries. Getting on the mat against Russians, Bulgarians. It was addicting. The thrill came back.

"My kids see me wrestling, my sons see me. In an offbeat way it keeps me in touch with my high school kids again. I feel fortunate to have gone in this direction. I think if I didn't, I might have a big beer belly by now."

Now that the cancer is in remission, the 35-year-old police chief is focusing on living again.

Richardson, representing the Minnesota USA Storm club team, will be competing in the super heavyweight Greco Roman nationals which start today.

Eager to show there is hope for everyone afflicted with cancer, he gave no consideration to competing in the veterans category and will be going against guys some 10 years his junior.

"I have a shirt that I made up called mental aerobics," he said. "Life is mental.

"You've got to pick and choose positives and try to crush the negatives."