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Brandon's Gomez Wins NCAA Wrestling Title

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 23, 2009

Former Brandon High star wrestler Franklin Gomez won the 133-pound title at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in St. Louis on Saturday, becoming the first former Eagles wrestler to be crowned an NCAA champion.

Gomez, a junior at Michigan State and the No. 1-seeded wrestler in the bracket, edged Ohio State junior Reece Humphrey in the championship match, 5-4. Gomez, who finished third at 133 pounds at last season's NCAA Championships, went 5-0 at the tournament to win the crown and became the Spartans' first national champion since 1995.

Gomez went 97-2 during his three seasons at Brandon and won a Class 2A 119-pound state title as a senior in 2005. At Michigan State, he is now a two-time All-American, a two-time Big Ten champion and has a 60-4 mark over the last two seasons, including a 27-2 record this season.

"I've been through really hard times and some really difficult times, but I was able to get up," Gomez said at a press conference following the win. "This means a lot to me because I kind of represent not just Michigan State, I represent Puerto Rico, the people over there, my club [Spartan club] in Puerto Rico, especially the people in Florida, the parents [at Brandon] that took care of me. I represent a lot of people, not just Michigan State."

Gomez was one of four former Brandon wrestlers who reached the NCAA field this season. Penn's Cesar Grajales (149 pounds), Lehigh's David Craig (184 pounds) and Cleveland State's Rashard Goff (285 pounds) also qualified for the event, but none of the three were able to place in the top eight of their respective weight class.

Iowa won the team national title. Former Countryside star Jared Frayer is a first-year member of the Hawkeyes' coaching staff, serving as the strength and conditioning coach.

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