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Ex-Brandon High wrestler and coach win top state honors

Photo from ESPN

Grajales, right, a recent Brandon graduate who will continue his wrestling career at the University of Michigan, finished his senior season 67-0 and won the Class 2A 135-pound state championship.

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 30, 2009

BRANDON - Brandon High's Eric Grajales and Eagles coach Russ Cozart have earned the state's top wrestling honors.

Grajales on Monday was named the recipient of the 17th annual Mr. Florida award, while Cozart earned the state's top coaching award, which are presented by the Florida Dairy Farmers.

It is the second consecutive year Grajales was named the recipient of the Mr. Florida award and the fifth consecutive year the honor has gone to a Brandon wrestler. Grajales, a recent Brandon graduate who will continue his wrestling career at the University of Michigan, finished his senior season 67-0 and won the Class 2A 135-pound state championship. For his prep career at Brandon, Grajales finished 219-0 and as a four-time state champ.

Cozart earned the state's top coaching honor after leading the Eagles to their ninth consecutive state title (the program's 20th overall title), one that came in record-setting fashion. Cozart coached a state-record seven individual champs and all 12 wrestlers he took to the state championships in Lakeland placed in the top five, helping the Eagles set a state record with 270 points.

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