Spidey

Spidey
I'll Say What I Want To Say

Friday, August 29, 2008

You will have to wait a little longer


I am still putting some facts together, but there is much to tell...



Transfers and Move-ins



Quittings



and a Drug Bust or Two



Stay tuned

72 comments:

Anonymous said...

Transfers - Varona et. al to SD

DrUgS - Carlos Montero of CG

Anonymous said...

How does South Dade get away with all the recruiting? Incredible!!!

Call it Transfers, what ever you want but everyone knows what it really is. RECRUITING!!!!!!!

By the way, I'm not a hater. I attended SD. I just don't find it fair to the other good teams like Columbus, American, the Ridge.

Anonymous said...

Although most of us use this site for fun as well as to antagonize coaches, parents, and at times wrestlers, there is something that we all should know. It was posted on the other site and I just thought it would be wise to peruse it at your lesiure.

Thu, 2006-10-12 13:51
Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent for Asian Tribune
Washington, D.C. 12 October : A Florida woman who won a lawsuit against a Louisiana woman, who posted messages on the internet accusing her of being a "crook" and a "fraud" said of the State of Florida’s Broward Circuit Court jury award of $11.3 million "People are using the internet to destroy people they don’t like, and you can’t do that."

Susan Scheff and her Weston-based company, Parents Universal Resource Experts Inc., won the jury verdict in Broward Circuit Court in Florida against Carey Bock for posting defamatory statements about her on an internet bulletin board viewed by parents, according to court pleadings.

In this case, the Broward Circuit Court jury sends a strong message that freedom of speech has limits, and the case will make people think twice before setting out on a campaign to destroy others.

The verdict joins the increasing number of litigation in the United States over the content of Internet sites, blogs, online bulletin boards and e-mails that target to defame characters of others with the motive of tarnishing their image and destroy them.

Susan Scheff filed the suit in December 2003, and the jury gave the verdict on September 19, 2006. After her daughter was abused and harmed at a teen help program (World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, WWASPS, Carolina Spring Academy), she set out to help others so they would not fall into the same trap.

WWASPS, a corporate giant, filed a law suit against Ms. Scheff in 2002 in an attempt to silence her. She prevailed in a jury trail. WWASPS filed an appeal and again Ms. Scheff prevailed.

It is not often a person is awarded $11.3 million from a jury of their peers. But in the case of Susan Scheff and her organization Parent’s Universal Resource Experts, Inc. (PURE) v. Carey Bock, the Broward Circuit Court jury in Florida felt compelled to send a very strong message – which they have. Included in their 11.3 million dollar verdict, they awarded Ms. Scheff and PURE $5 million in punitive damages. "The punitive damages speak volumes," says Scheff, "it was set to punish the defendant for what she did to my children and me. Just because you don’t like someone or what they do, it does not give you carte blanche to post false statements about a person on the internet."

Since 2001 PURE and Sue Scheff have helped thousands of families providing various resources for their children as well as works closely with the Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse (CAICA).

The defendant Carey Bock maliciously and intentionally started a campaign on Internet forums against Sue Scheff and her organization, PURE, and the jury accepted it declaring defamation of character.

"This is a new area of law," said Susan Scheff’s attorney, David H. Pollack of Miami. "The problem with the Internet is people can post anything about you and it can destroy you."

Spiderman said...

American Patriots,

I hope Coach Osorio knows who you are so he can grab you by neck and wash your mouth out with soap. People use so much profanity typically have very little intelligent conversation in them, you r are noticeably one such individual. Believe it or not wrestling can be quite cerebral, and if you level of intelligence is to be judged by the level of your speech than you will the recipient of quite the ass whooping. BTW, the Patriots will not dent the Bucs line-up I have heard rumored, if you can score 15 point against them in a dual you should leave the gym extremely pleased with yourself.

Spiderman said...

Anonymous,

I sincerely appreciate your post. I have often warned people to be responsible with their comments, but I am not responsible for their actions. Anything stated as opinion can not be considered defaming, but accusation levied as facts better be verifiable or certainly one can be held accountable. Trust me when I tell you that I have a background in this, and being knowledgeable of the law I have always been diligent to state facts as such and to make opinions apparent, and my own. I fear not; but there are certainly those that should.

Nevertheless, if I wanted to pursue a matter against you for example, how would I go about finding you unless you confessed your identity?

I for one am an anonymous entity with a distinguishable persona as identity, but good luck tracking me down to a particular device, and even if you did (Which only the federal government would have the resources to do), good luck placing me behind the keyboard. I leave no tracks, save no files other than in cyberspace, and have issued no verifiable evidence of my identity. I abide by an adage coined by the great American Benjamin Franklin “Two can keep a secret only if one of them is dead”, so I trust no one, I tell no one, and I am in my 10 anniversary. They are no closer to catching me now than they were 10 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Did Earl Hall from Homestead and Eric Chandler from Braddock transfered out their high school like it was reported on here in the spring. If they did does anyone know what schools they are attending.

Spiderman said...

Anonymous,

Earl Hall has not transfered anywhere, he is still a student at the same school in which he was enrolled last year. The thing is his school does not have athletics so he wrestle for what is his home school which last year was Homestead Senior, I believe this year he will have a different home school; we shall see...

As for the Chandler brothers, I believe everything there is status quo unless it is the most closely guarded secret since the Manhattan Project.

Anonymous said...

Can we start some topics.
What teams you do expect to have good season? Maybe some rankings. How about top wrestlers and coaches.

Anonymous said...

Don't tell the only interesting thing on this site is when Osorio says he is going to pee on everyone.

Anonymous said...

Yes I will piss on you like R Kelly and you will find me interesting and you will all love my famous quotes.

Ron Osorio

Anonymous said...

Hate him or love him Osorio is one of the best coaches in the state. I'd have him piss on me if he would come coach with me.

Vic Balmaceda

Spiderman said...

Anonymous,

Yes I'm an idiot, you already know everything, so please please tell us and steal my thunder. We would all like to know what you know, O wise anonymous poster.

Spiderman said...

Other Anonymous,

It's a little early for rankings and predictions don't you think?

Spiderman said...

Other Other Anonymous,

If this site is so boring then what are you doing here, and why do you bother to post some lame ass comment like The only interesting thing is when Osorio is Peeing on someone.

Why don't you make it a little more interesting instead of just complaining about it not being interesting.

BTW, you are correct, there is nothing interesting going on here now; in fact it is boring as hell, but it will pick up. Thanks for your patronage, check back in soon, you might find something you like soon enough, and hey if you get a chance, get a screen name, other other anonymous is taken.

Anonymous said...

Is Spiderman upset. Boo hoo.

Spiderman said...

Anonymous, (if this is really you?)

What part of that led you to belive I am or was upset?

I think you are having a hard time with inferrence, or likely your intuitive sense is seriously deficient.

If anything I was poking fun and joking with you, but I see now that it went over your head. So I will guess that you are either in Junior high or have ajunior high reading level at best.

In the future I will try to dumb it down for you and speak in more common tones G so dat you mite get wit me playa, aight....

Anonymous said...

Top 10 teams

1. South Dade - too much recruiting
2. Columbus - too much recruiting
3. American - too much of an idiot
4. Braddock - too much coaching from hobbit
5. Palmetto - great incoming class
6. Sunset - very well coached team
7. Homestead - too much toughness
8. Southwest - too many cubans, nice coach
9. Miami High - good program
10. Goleman - couple of studs

Anonymous said...

Top 5 coaches

1 Balmaceda, Dynasty, Dynasty, Dynasty and has an excellent staff.
2 Osorio, Love him or hate him, gets the job done every year.
3 Riviera, always has fundamentally sound wrestlers that wrestle extremely hard.
4 Husk, Legend in building winning traditions, has done it again at Columbus.
5 Gonzalez, Been watching him improve every year, probably the youngest and most overlooked coached in the county.

No disrespect to other coaches these are my favorite 5.

Anonymous said...

1. Balmaceda
2. Tejada
3. Mendez
4. Husk
5. Pardo
6. Osorio
7. Soderholm
8. Turner
9. Riviera
10. Johnson

Anonymous said...

what the fu...
are you just putting coaches names up there who are popular and have been around for a while. some of those guys should not even be coaching their teams. they should move aside and let someone else try it. who is gonzalez. did you make that one up.

Anonymous said...

1. Balamcida. Best coach out there.
2. Osorio. Haters hate him because they can't beat him.
3. Tejada. Too nice to hate and always a good team.
4. Husk. Recruiting hurts his image but he doesn't care.
5. Rivera. Little man does big things with what he's got.

Anonymous said...

Osorio builds team from nothing
Balmaceda manages his team
Soderholm
Johnson
Husk

Anonymous said...

Get off Tejada's midget. He has had nothing but luck. His lack of coaching will soon show.

Anonymous said...

New List:

1. Balmaceda: Cocky and arrogant little Napoleon. His sh!t doesn't stink.
2. Osorio: Won't play by the rules. Doesn't know his place.
3. Tejada: Plays by the rules and knows his place.
4. Husk: Old cocky and arrogant big Napoleon. His crap does stink and he still doesn't care.
5. Rivera: Great job always and never gets noticed.
6. Pardo: Old and uninterested. Hanging on for the sake of hanging on.
7. Turner: Always pissy and full of excuses why his kids suck.
8. Johnson: Nice guy but will stick it to you if he can. Will smile afterwards.
9.Sotherholm: Old and cranky. Needs to leave the game. Makes his own rules and breaks them as well.
10. Mendez: Always looks tired and depressed. Prozac anyone?

Beat that =-)

Anonymous said...

husk
pardo
johnson
soderholm
turner
tejada

none of these guys should be mentioned as good wrestling coaches
some are has beens and some have never been. more credit should be given to guys like riviera, mendez, the goleman coach and i belive gonzalez is the miami high coach, if i'm right, he is also doing a good job. none these guys are ever caught up in any contraversies. they keep quite and put out good quality wrestlers.

Anonymous said...

after some of those names i tink dade coaching needs a makeover and dont mean a dye job like pardo. i agree that the weiners gotta go as does husk and vasquez. this may sound mean but braddoc needs fresh blood. take the twins away and they arent any better than killian coral reef gables or a buch of other mediocre teams.

Deco Jones said...

There is much disrespect between coaches in Miami. This is unfortunate. Anyone willing to contribute their time to educate and mold your child into something better should be seen as a saint.

If you feel you can do better, DO IT AND SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE.

DECO.

Anonymous said...

deco,

I agree, coaches do deserver more credit than they get.

I will take a stab at individual weights in dade, primarily lightweight and projections.

103- 1)Earl Hall,2) Gulesian. Hall will be a man among boys this year. Not mention, probably better workout partners this year.

112- 1)Guzman from Miami High. Good source tells me he will be at 112. If he can stay healthy I like his chances at Lakeland. 2)Mcpherson from South Dade if he is at that weight. 3)Noffo. He is in a much better team this year. 4)Barreras if he can make the weight.
119-1)Chandler(one of them)probably Gabriel again at 119. If he can be consistent he can be a factor at Lakeland. Braddock has a crappy team which doesn't help.
2)Harris from American or Villanueva from South Dade. Both are real good wrestlers that can do well this year. Harris has probably the most underated coach in the state.
125-1) Chandler twin(probably Eric)
If he can stay healthy and his coaches can keep him motivated in a substandard team with little talent around him he may win big at Lakeland this year. 2)Josh William from South Dade if he is wrestling. 3)Nodar Columbus. He has great partners to work out with.

130- 1)George Gulesian. This kid may surprise some folks this year. He is a stud who is capable of winning it all.

135- 1) Metullus. He will be tough to beat. 2)Rio from Columbus

I will stop at that weight for now.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I think people should really think before they write on here. As long as you do not disrespect others, it is all good. I do agree with others the fact that many times we write down a top coaches list without thinking. We list coaches who have been around not necessarily the ones that have very good quality programs other than SD. There are some coaches that do not even have middle school programs, have wrestlers on their team for 2 or 3 years and they excell. Schools like Southridge, Palmetto and many others have a huge head start with their middle schools program and they are no where near where they should be. There is no excuse for that. That is all do to coaching. Take American for example, no middle school. I think we need to move foward into the 21st century.

Spiderman said...

Deco Jones,

Like the name.

Anyway, you assume too much,

"There is much disrespect between coaches in Miami."

I don't think these are coaches disrespecting each other, Dade coaches don't do that, in most cases its trash talking by kids or by immature parents or siblings.

I don't believe coaches view other coaches this way, and for you to assume as much is absurd.

Spiderman said...

I don’t think Noffo can make 112 and be effective, I have seen him recently and he looks like a 130lber. I think he is going to go 119 or 125, unfortunately for him one of the chandlers will be there and I don’t think he can beat either. Noffo might be the next great wrestler who never won a state title.

Anonymous said...

I have an idea. Does anyone have the top 10 teams in GMAC and Regionals last year. Spidey do you know which of those schools have middle school programs. I think this would be a great indicator of top coaches in our county.

Anonymous said...

1. South Dade - two middle school feeders. Youth club program. A private school. Some high schools.

2. American - Some high schools. No middle schools.

3. Columbus - Youth program. ALL high schools. ALL middle schools

4. Braddock - One middle school.

5. Southridge - One middle school. They get to keep what South Dade doesn't want or can't use.

Spiderman said...

Simon,

That is a good question. I am not the stat man, for that we would need KW but I have not seen him here as of yet.

Still, of the top of my head and without doing any research.

South Dade - Multiple feeds

Columbus - Feeds from everyone

American - No feeder that I know of

Braddock - Had feeders but currently I think they have lost them which is reflected in the teams downturn.

Palmetto - Multiple Feeders

Sunset - no true feeder but does get a kid or two

HML - No feeder

Miami High - No feeder

That is to the best of my recollection.

Anonymous said...

Spidey,

I haven't seen Noffo lately, but you are right, 119 or 125 may not be good for him, at least this year. I think he will be at 112 and do well if it is not too much of a cut.

We have seen over the years kids who have over cut and not reach their potential due to too much weight cutting.

Spiderman said...

Anonymous,

That was my point, I think Noffo would have to lose nearly 20 pounds to make 112 and that is a huge number for a light weight. I think he can make 112 from 130, but I think he will be ineffective due to fatigue. But that is just my opinion, we shall see.

Anonymous said...

braddoks decline is due to coaching. other schools don't have feeders and are way better. the twins are the only ones that score points for them and they don't even belong there they just happen to land at braddok.

Deco Jones said...

Spidey,

My statement was not an assumption. As I speak to coaches often, they make disrespectful comments of each other constantly. The officials are on their tongues as well.

From a coach trashing Kinloch for sending "his" kids to Gables to speaking of Husk as a has-been that couldn't do it without recruiting (everyone recruits at some degree,) Osorio being a cheater that no one confronts(no proof - only allegations,) now Balmaceda recruits also (everybody wants to be a winner, lets go to SD!) Tejada is washed-up without a feeder (ever heard of rebuilding?) and the list just grows and grows.

These are words I have personally heard from the mouths of coaches.

Call it what you want - lies, BS, whatever - just not assumptions.

Deco

Spiderman said...

Anonymous,

It was a lot easier to coach when Jorge Borgen was sending then Studs from the Junior high that's for sure.

Spiderman said...

Deco,

I will not refute your first hand account, I'm sure it happens, but I thought you meant that coaches were here trashing eachother on my site.

Anyway, if a coach has a legitimate gripe then he should say something, but mainly to the person he has issue with. If he is not talking behind the coaches back then I don't see a problem, if he is talking behind another coaches back then he should man up and say something or not talk behind his back.

Anonymous said...

QUE VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

My take:

South Shady, Vicor Balmaceda is an incredible coach. He has been able to manage situations in his room that only few really know. He does benefit from the Youth program run by Coach Dewberry and Duck. He does have his choice of kids that he wants to 'continue' to coach at the high school level. There are many schools with feeders but only one South Dade. That proves that he has done great things with his kids. Remember that since he gets to choose who comes to South Shady, he chooses the “can’t miss” kids. With those kids he has been able to continue to mold championship teams year in and year out. Due to his success he now gets 7 or 8 recruited (allegedly) kids to his school this year solidifying his stature as the best coach in the region and state. Is it fair? No, but nobody will do anything about it, not with Golden pit bull backing him up. Don't take away from his accomplishments just because the next few years he will have 14 kids wrestling for him that don't belong to him. Any school would take kids, recruited or not, if they showed up to their school. The only difference is that Balmaceda and South Shade get to choose which one’s they want to keep.

Columbus, every kid that I have ever spoken to about Husk has told me the same story. They love him. He has a great way about him that allows for kids to look up to him and follow his lead. He lacks that rough and tough assistant (Johnson) to really make an impact at Columbus. That does not mean he is not trying. He has recruited (allegedly) kids from around the county and even set up a recruiting booth at the middle school championships. This man has slapped every coach in the face over the years and through his many years of dominance at Southridge. Now he aims to repeat that same level of greatness at Columbus and is well on his way except for South Shady. As far as being a great coach, I would say that he is a great motivator.

Braddock, please don’t tell me that they don’t miss their middle school feeder. Please don’t tell me that a middle school just doesn’t mean anything. With Jorge Borgen serving up tough and well trained middle school kids for Braddock , those teams placed high at the state tournament and even won the region and GMAC. Now without a middle school the burden of proof lands squarely on the shoulders of the coach. Can he take what he was given and build on it. The answer for that school is sadly ‘no’. Tejada is a great man who has done great things in managing his teams in the past but now, maybe due to his interest in his own family, he has lost more than just a step. He may still have some tough kids but I think that it’s because of the Chandlers. Having those kids in the room elevates the intensity and desire of any room. What will happen when those kids and their leadership graduate? I think the slow decline of the Braddock program says it all.

American, ‘love him or hate him he gets the job done wherever he goes’, (anonymous poster). I would have to agree. He is good for wrestling just not good for the competition and status quo. Hialeah is back to what they were before his arrival and soon American will be too if he keeps his promise to leave after his 10 years (he tells everyone that). There is something about his teams that resonates arrogance and cockyness. He just doesn’t care. It’s easy enough to make great wrestlers two or three at a time (see HML, Sunset, South West, etc.), but it’s hard to bring a team to the table year in and year out. No matter what anyone says about Osorio he has proven that he can deliver and still doesn’t care about the critics. I doubted him at Hialeah and doubted him at American, I no longer doubt. I do feel sorry for him because he will never win anything in this county. Not with South Shady and Columbus in the mix.

Southridge, great athletes and a great tradition. Johnson, like Balmaceda was an assistant coach at their schools during the height of greatness and only one has been able to continue to maintain that level of greatness. Southridge has fallen and can’t get up. Johnson from all accounts did not get enough credit for the dynasty of the past, but his inability to continue that rise and maintain that level of greatness shows just how much he misses Husk and his motivational X factor. He is living proof that great coaching is just not about x’s and o’s but about team management, ego management, and all the other factors that are required to keep a team together and still competitive for a whole season. Last years collapse may have signaled the final screw in the long storied dynasty that was created by a young Husk and an equally young Johnson.

I’m tired of typing so I will leave you with that. Add what ever you see fit to add and comment how ever you see fit to comment. This is just my views from the rafters.

Deco Jones said...

Borgen fed Braddock for only one season at Doolin. The twins wrestled there, but were not the product of Borgen. The following year, Doolin was coached by Varona. The Varona crew then went to Hammocks Middle when he transfered his son.

Why only note that his current team is in decline? Why not also give him credit for the teams he built in the past?

Also, I think the terms recruiting and transfers are becoming merged. Recruiting means you were persuaded to join someone through an offer, while a transfer is merely that - a transfer. When a program is successful, there isn't the need to recruit - as someone posted before - build it and they will come. Balmaceda has built it and transfers are coming.

Deco

Hermano de Nico, Queco, y Cinco

Anonymous said...

Anonymous (my take),

You really did a great job with that post. I thought you were pretty much on target. I will elaborate a little more on your points.

1)South Dade- Yes, many kids that do not belong there will be wrestling at SD over the next few years. This years kids that will make an impact- Montero(transfered from Sunset) Even though Rivera is a good coach, Montero wasn't able to blend in his system and Montero and his decided not to chance it any further being he is only a sophomore. OFF TO SOUTH DADE THEY WENT.
* Varona- many people saw it coming. Cannot blame the old man for wanting what is best for his kid.
* Rojas- Him and Varona are a package deal. The Bucs graduate a lot this year, but they will continue to be strong in the years to come.

2) Columbus- Years of recruiting will payoff this year. However, It may not be good enough for #1 in the county or state. But who knows, time will tell and come Jan, I will have a better idea.

3) American- You hit it right on the nail with your statement. He does an AWESOME JOB wherever he goes. If he had a middle school feeder program, even an average feeder program, American will easily be top 3 in the states.

4) Southridge- Again, you are right on with your comments on SR. I would also like to add that he doesn't seem to get big numbers in the wrestling room either which doesn't help.

5) I agree, Tejada is a great man but doesn't seem to have it anymore. I am not sure if he has lost the passion to coach. It's a shame, because he has one of the best wrestlers to ever come out of Miami Dade County history in his wrestling room and I feel him and his staff failed Eric Chandler last year. This kid was put in a situation that no one in his caliber should be put in especially the team they had last year. Just ask his dad. He wasn't a happy camper last year from the beginning of the year.

Other coaches that have been around and have produced good individuals are Turner HML,Soderholm Palmetto who has had really good teams back in the days, Mendez SW underated coach, Rivera Sunset.

the watcher said...

I was just tipped off about this site being lively again. I will share my thoughts and observations soon.

the watcher

the watcher said...

testing testing

Spiderman said...

Watcher,

Yes I am back after my typical summer hiatus.

It is not strong yet, but the site will be strong again soon.

Check out my next post.

Anonymous said...

top 10 coaches

1 benito camela balmaceda
2 ben dover husk
3 semore butts tejada
4 I.P. freely osorio
5 mike hunt soderholm
6 chu pamela turner
7 freddy kruger
8 jason
9 the devil himself
10 lionel richie

Anonymous said...

I am sorry but the Chandler twins should have not gone to Braddock. I don't think that is the ideal program for those boys.

The Devil's Advocate said...

While many have believed that the Chandlers belonged somewhere better, their father feels
Braddock is their home.

Wow, Braddock is getting some odd attention this year. I hope they suprise many and start showing glimpses of their past.

DA

the watcher said...

I

the watcher said...

I agree with "the devil's advocate". It was their dad's choice to go to Braddock. I also would like to see a glimpse of the old Braddock team, as they were fun to watch and able to compete consistently (maybe not beat) South Dade. The reality is that based on where they are at right now it is wishful thinking. They are going down like a sinking ship.

Yes, they more than likely will be a top 10, maybe a top 5 in Dade.

Regardless of what people keep speculating about the Chandler's transfering to another school, diminishing program, as well as what has been reported in a previous post about "their dad not being a happy camper last year from the beginning of the season", I have reliable sources that says the Chandler twins and their dad remain loyal to the Braddock wrestling program and their coaches.

CoachKW said...

I'll try to make this brief. I don't have all the answers, but I do want to clarify some of the situations that are being discussed. Braddock began the rise to power in the late 90's and early 2000s. Braddock won District Titles in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. They won Regional titles in 2002 and 2003. When they first started competiting for District and GMAC titles with the likes of Chris DeSouza, Andres Zapata, and Heilio Zamura, I don't think they had extensive middle school backgrounds. The beginning of the rist to power was well before Borgen was at Howard Doolin, Borgen started coaching at Doolin in 2003. It started with Monroe Owen at Doolin and I believe that he coached a County Championship team that had Angel Sanchez and Andy Perez on the team, but even when they moved to Braddock, they had already won a Region Championship and 2 District Championships, before Sanchez and Perez came to Braddock. After Monroe moved on to Coral Park, Leo Perez stepped in for a year or two, then Jorge Borgen came home from college. When Borgen started at Doolin, Ferguson was in the process of opening. Doolin became an almost exclusive feeder pattern for Ferguson, but students whose family member were currently at Braddock got to go to Braddock as well. Namely people like Danny Perez. After Borgen left Doolin, Nestor Varona was there for a year. Since then Doolin has not had a team. During that same time period Coach Morejon was working away at Paul Bell. Not sure when he started but he did great things at Paul Bell. His kids got spread all over South Miami (Southwest, Coral Park and some to Braddock). When he left to go to Miami High, the program was suspended. For 2 years now, Braddock has been without a feeder pattern. That would affect any program. Even if you get just 2 or 3 wrestlers with prior experience, that helps alot. They have been building from with in. They have some numbers in the room, but the 9th graders they have could not compare to the 4 County Champions that went to Homestead last year, or the Glades wrestlers that went to Columbus last year or the Redland group that showed up at South Dade 4 years ago and are graduating now. I would compare the kids they got last year to some of the classes that I used to see show up at Columbus. They will put in the effort, but they need time to catch up to those that got started earlier.

You may think Coach Tejada has lost a step, but I still believe that he is one of the best coaches in Dade County. The one thing that I have been impressed with the past year has been the sense of family that I get from his ex-wrestlers. The feeling that these wrestlers have for Tejada is how Vic used to describe his earlier wrestlers he had at South Dade. Aside from the lack of feeder patterns, Tejada's coaching staff has been in flux for a couple of years now. It is hard to keep things going when your coaches are changing every year. I think this year you might see a turn around. He has established some stability with his coaching staff again. Every year Braddock has kids step up that no one expected. I don't think anyone expected Jhonathan Medina to qualify for state last year, let alone be 1 match from placing, but there he was at Lakeland (scoring points).

As for where Eric Chandler went last year. The Chandlers and their father are very loyal, but they also are in control of where they go. Eric knew that if he would go 112 and let Gabe go 119 and Mario go 125, that would be the best for the program. No one on the coaching staff forced Eric to go 112. Making the cut to 112 was not what kept Eric from becoming a 3 time State Champion last year. The 2 and a half monthes he was sidelined did not help, but even with a shortend season he was undefeated in Dade (for the 3rd year in a row, no Dade County wrestler has beat him during his high school career) and finsihed 2nd in the State. That was a family decision, just like it was a family decision the year before for Gabe to go 103 and Eric to go 112. If you had followed the Chandlers in Middle School, their father always had them switch weight classes each season. In 6th grade one wrestled their natural weight of 75 and the other one got bumped up to 85 (I can't remember who went each weight class). In 7th grade they switched weight classes even though, they were still both slightly under 75.

And just so you people understand, the Chandlers are part of the Information Technology Magnet that Braddock has. That is why they and how they came to Braddock. At the beginning of their high school career, their mother lived in the South Dade District, but their father thought they would be better suited in all aspects if they went to Braddock. I would say that the decision has paid off for the most part. Eric is the first ever Freshman State Champion from Dade County and Gabe also earned his State Championship as a sophomore.

the watcher said...

KW,

Good summary and seems very accurate for the most part. However, let me correct some info.
that I happened to get confirmation from at least 2 reliable sources.

1)You stated that it was a family decision for Eric to wrestle 112 last year as it was Gabe to wrestle 103 the year before, and switch it up in middle school.

ANSWER: Up until last year it was a family and coaches decision. Last year it was as well with the exception of their father who strongly OPPOSED the decision for Eric to wrestle 112. How did the team came to the decision to support Eric to wrestle 112 is interesting and new information to me. Yet, I can understand why after I explain it. Not that I agree with it, but can understand.
*I was informed that Eric had planned to wrestle 119 and Gabe 125. Yet, another teammate Named Mario was to battle it out with Gabe at 125. In the summer or at the start of the season(not clear when) Gabe beat Mario in a close wrestle off where it then caused friction in the wrestling room between Mario and the Chandler twins. At that point it was going to be Eric at 119, Gabe at 125 and Mario at 130, but then would have left out the senior 130 pounder out of the line up. At the time it seems as if the staff was encouraging one the two(2) twin boys to make the cut for "the sake of the team" which was not even going to content for a state title.

It is my understanding that the coaches did not make Eric wrestle 112, but they didn't discourage him from doing so either.

2)You stated that Eric wrestling 112 did not keep him from winning states, and that being sidelined for 2 and a half month did not help either.

ANSWER: This is debatable. I don't think it was 2 and a half months, but You probably know better than me so I will take your word for it.
Fact is, when he did come back from his injury he cut weight hard which was evident in his poor performance at GMAC even though he still won.

If you don't think my source is credible why don't you ask their coaches yourself if their dad was in favor or opposed of Eric wrestling 112. I am confident about my info. not that it makes a difference to me as I am just reporting the info.

THE WATCHER

CoachKW said...

Watcher,

I do not know of any tension after the wrestle off between Gabe and Mario. Regardless there was going to be a log jam of decent wrestlers in the lower-middleweights last year. There were still some seniors that didn't make the line up. I remember hearing Eric at 119, Gabe at 125, Mario at 130, then you had Fitz senior and Randy fighting for 135, throw in Baltadono, Yuliani, Villalobos, Medina and Perez someone was going to get left out. One of my office aides last year was trying to make it down to 112 (he was weighing 130ish), but that was his only shot. He was never going to make it, but he was trying. I discouraged him and so did our trainer. I remember when it was told that Eric decided to go 112, that made things a little bit better at the bottom and allowed coach some wiggle room.

I really believe that Braddock could have been the 2nd best team in Dade County last year. Danny Perez has always given Luis Montalvo problems, but he was advised not to finish the season last year. Villalobos was a GMAC Finalist (defeated Parado), but got stuck in the log jam at 145 when Clarke dropped. Pineyro could have also been a state qualifier at 135, but his season was not as succesful as it should have been. Montoto should have been in the State Finals or at least in the semifinals for a 5th match vs Jake Rio.

I think if Danny Perez would have finished the year, Braddock might have won Districts and finished higher at GMAC and Regions. But it did not happen that way.

Anonymous said...

no offense to coach tejada, I think he is a fine coach, but Chandler lost the state title 30 seconds into into the 3rd period. When you ride a kid for 30 seconds and you can't even come close to turning him especially a kid who is very skilled on bottom as he showed by turning Chandler for points the strategy should have been to cut him, especially when Chandler had the only takedown in the match. I think the smart thing would be to let your opponent go and win the match on your feet, this is what Balmaceda would have done and in my opinon it would have worked and he would have won that match.

Anonymous said...

lots of would'ves, could'ves, and should'ves. theres a saying in spanish that doesn't translate that great but i'll try it anyway. its like this, if my granmother "would've" had testicle she would have been my grandfather and she "could've" been a wrestler, and should've been a state champ but she is just my grandmother.

Anonymous said...

what would you do for a klondike bar?

Spiderman said...

Watcher,

There are two sides to every story, and yours is one of them.



KW,

There are two sides to every story, and yours is one of them.



Anonymous 1 and 2,

I believe you are the same person. I agree with your first post and was amused and laughed out loud with the second.

Spiderman said...

Other Anonymous,

Exactly whom where you speaking to?

It would be nice if we all addressed our post to the individual your we are responding to so we don't have to guess what it is we could possibly be saying; especially when our comments are so vague.

CoachKW said...

watcher,

I believe that my source is better informed then your source.

Gabe and Mario wrestled off for Disney Duals for the 119 (124) weight class, Gabe won and Mario was upset, because he didn't want to go 125 (130). There were never any hard feelings on the twins end towards Mario, but I can't say that Mario wasn't a bit upset. But there was never any wrestle off anytime near the season starting.

Eric decided to go 112 for the team and to make the team better. Gabe had no problem going 119, not much of a cut for him either. Did the coaches make it known that the team would be stronger with Eric at 112 and Gabe at 119, but Eric made the decision himself to go 112 for the team.

You are correct Eric was not out for 2 and a half monthes, it was inbetween 1 and a half and 2 monthes. He got injurred right before Thanksgiving and came back in mid Jan for GMACs.

I don't have to ask the father anything, I asked the twins for their opinions on what was written about them.

CoachKW said...

Spidey,

It is not my side that I'm reporting, it is actually what they have told me.

the watcher said...

KW,

Obviously I do not have as much inside information as you do as far as who was initially going to go 112, or which middleweights were going to be left out and so on. I did find it odd that Danny Perez didn't finish the season as I do agree that would have helped the team towards the end of the season. Was he injured, grades, what happened to Danny Perez?

Let me finish by stating that all coaches and AD like yourself KW should be commended on the time and effort that is put in at molding and helping kids succeed in all sports. But based on my info that I gathered, plus the info. that you just provided, I am going to come to my conclusion. Again, my conclusion based on the available info. It probably went something like this. Fictitious non factual conclusion. Probably not too far off though.

Staff: John Doe is going to wrestle 112 and weighs 130ish.

John Doe: (just making this name up since I do not know the kid) Coach it is too hard I don't think I could do it.

Staff: Darn, we have a pretty good line up except for no one at 112. Who can we put at 112? Hey, lets see if Eric Chandler wants to do it. He does work hard, he stays after practice, heck, he even works out with that coach in the morning from time to time.Maybe he can help the other kids be in the line up by cutting to 112.

Eric Chandler: (As a good soldier) yes sir!!! reporting for duty. I will do it.

Teammates and supporters: Yeah, let Eric do it, why not Eric. (Like the old cereal commercial; yeah let Mikey try it, he will try anything, he likes it he likes it)

After a tournament: The wrestling team goes out for dinner and maybe a little bit of dessert. They tell each while having dessert, "wow, Eric is such a nice guy. I am so thankful that because of him I am varsity and having dessert after a tournament."

After a tournament: Eric goes out to the track to run 10 miles to keep his weight down.

Moral of the story, Eric works hard anyways. Let him work hard to cut weight. He is good already, all he has to do is work hard to make weight. Heck, since he works hard for wrestling, lets push him to continue working hard and shed some weight for the team. After, he is used to it, his teammates won't do it because they are not use to it.

Heck, if I am not mistaken, didn't one of their guys go up a weight at the end of the season.

Spiderman said...

KW,

OK then, their side of the story.

Deco Jones said...

Watcher - I concur on your "ficticious" tale. I believe that is how it worked out. Eric got hosed.

Deco Jones

Anonymous said...

who gives a hoot don't pollute.

I have question for KW. What are you doing on here anyways. You are suppose to be working as an A.D. for Braddock. Stop playing around on the computer during company time.

The Devil's Advocate said...

Eric "hosed" himself. He made the weight because he chose to.

CoachKW said...

Had lunch with Gabe and I expressed what he wrote in the last 2 posts. Just got done talking with Eric and here was what he said. He did tell me that he was actually cutting 1 more pound last year, than Gabe cut the year before for 103. I was there when they did their hydration test and Eric was not his normal chipper self, but I didn't think the cut was that bad for him. I guess I was wrong, he just hid it better. I still believe that if Gabe had been wrestling all sophomore year and Eric had been wrestling all junior year, they would have had smaller cuts at the end of the year.

Eric said it was his decision. He even mentioned that he did it partially for his brother. Gabe was better suited for 119 pounds last year not 125. His frame was not there for 125.

Now this is my opinion, remember who was waiting at 125, Rat, Joey and Jake. Now I do think that Gabe could have done well, but he would not have been the dominant force in Dade County at 125 as he was at 119.

John Doe (the potential 112 pounder) while he was a great kid he would not have been a force at 112, but he was trying to go to the only spot he could make the line up at. Him at 112 would have been nice to have a senior there, but it was the same when they had the 9th and 10th graders there during the season, before Eric came back.

Anonymous said...

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Watcher that is a funny story. Maybe having desserts after tournaments made the one kid go up a weight class at the end of the season.

the watcher said...

I don't think some of you get the point. Only because the coaches "did not make him" cut the weight makes it OK. See, they allowed him to, even encouraged him to even when it wasn't beneficial.

OK, I'll give you another example as extreme as it may seem. But maybe some may understand. Again a fictitious example:

If a kid tells his coach, "Coach I am going to take crack so I can lose weight" and is allowed. Technically, he did not force him to take crack, yet allowed it knowing it wasn't beneficial to the kid himself, but would help the team.

OR, coach I am going to barf at night so I can lose weight and make weight. Again, technically the coach didn't make the kid barf, but allowed it knowing that it wasn't to the kids best interest.

Until this summer I was clueless about the whole situation.

Anonymous said...

So I guess it is safe to assume that this kid won't be at 112 this year then.

Anonymous said...

Danny Perez quit in the begging of season then came back and quit again during the season...