http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/sfl-se11cooperjan11,0,1464016.story
Holding pattern
Cooper City wrestler Brandon Neifeld has pinned this season's hopes on doing well at the state tournament.
By Larry Blustein
Special Correspondent
Posted January 11 2006
For two years, Brandon Neifeld was a two-sport athlete who was good on the football field and on the wrestling mat, but this Cooper City standout wanted more from his athletic career.
Neifeld, who was one of the top linebackers at Pasadena Lakes Optimist Club, explored wrestling with older brother, Aaron, 19, who had his budding athletic career cut short by injury. When Brandon got to high school, he played linebacker but the interest began to fade.
After qualifying for the state wrestling tournament as a sophomore and coming within one match of placing, Neifeld began to focus more on the sport. Instead of splitting time with football, his concentration was on wrestling.
It was the offseason between his sophomore and junior seasons that Neifeld became more than just an average wrestler. He got serious and dedicated his time to improving.
"After doing well as a sophomore, I really got into the sport last year, during my junior season," Neifeld said. "I attended as many events as possible and went against the top competition around."
It was the summer workouts with athletes from Chaminade-Madonna, St. Thomas Aquinas and others that took Neifeld from the middle of the pack and pushed him toward the top.
Last year, although he did take fourth in the 152-pound weight class at the 3A state tournament, Neifeld wasn't close to where he wanted to be despite being a county, district and regional champion.
When this season began, Neifeld was considered a favorite to compete for a state title, either at 152 or 160, where he spent the first half of this season.
"I have been very fortunate to have coached several outstanding athletes, and I would put Brandon right there with the best," Cooper City coach Scott Sodergren said. "To me, it's nice when you don't have to tell one of your wrestlers something more than once. He is strong, smart and very athletic."
Sodergren, who was one of the top wrestlers in his high school and college days in Illinois, works out with Neifeld each day in practice, and has watched the transformation from a good wrestler into one who has the opportunity to accomplish some great things this season.
"Brandon's ability to take it to the next level on the mat is impressive," Sodergren said. "He watches other wrestlers and is not afraid to try new things that will help. He also takes what I have taught him and applies it."
Neifeld, who is in the top 10 percent of his class, has had 22 consecutive wins this season.
"It has always been a given in our family that school comes first and then everything after that falls into place," Neifeld said. "My mother and father have always stressed the importance of getting it done in the classroom."
With his parents support, Neifeld is focusing on winning a state title, getting to the high school national tournament in April and then making a decision where to attend college.
"I want to wrestle at the next level," Neifeld said. "I would also like to be challenged in the classroom as well. Right now, my main objective is this year and then I will decide about my future."
Although Neifeld is clearly the wrestler to watch for the Cowboys, he is not alone on a team that has a few veterans and plenty of youngsters.
The senior class also includes Luis Blanco (189) and Ryan Owen (171). The juniors have also been impressive with Kyle Franzone (112), Joe Barbaccia (135), Jessie Waters (140), Sean Samson (215) and Elvin Rivera (152). Freshman heavyweight Felix Jaffey is working his way into the lineup.
"We have a lot of young men who are just maturing in this sport," Sodergren said. "While we do have three seniors, the underclassmen could be the difference in how we do in the districts and regionals."
Larry Blustein can be reached at
FloridaKids1@hotmail.com.
