When an athlete finishes as the state runner-up, the expectations next season become pretty straightforward.
For Nature Coast senior Anthony Contegiacomo, there is only one way his final prep wrestling campaign can end in a satisfactory manner. Last year, Contegiacomo placed second in the Class 1A state meet at 220 pounds, so there’s just a single rung left on the ladder to climb.
“I can’t afford to lose. Losing is not an option now,” Contegiacomo said. “It’d be totally disappointing knowing I put in four years of hard work knowing I had the same results as last year. I wouldn’t be too happy about it.”
So far, losing isn’t something he’s done very often. He has compiled a 24-1 record with 15 pins according to Hernandosport.com.
“I wish I didn’t have one loss, but it doesn’t matter until I get to states,” Contegiacomo said. “My expectations are high and I know everyone I wrestle will give me their ‘A’ game. They’re going to be gunning for me.”
Contegiacomo is the son of a former prep wrestler, and came to the sport as a freshman. He used to play basketball, but soon realized that at 5-foot-9 he didn’t have the size to play his position, shooting guard, at the college level.
Wrestling came naturally, he said, and it soon surpassed football as his top sport. Not that he’s been too shabby on the gridiron. This past season the defensive lineman helped the Sharks reach the regional finals, recording 98 tackles including seven for a loss, and added three sacks.
But without any scholarship offers in football, wrestling will be his path to competing at the next level.
“Getting an education is key. I could get into college playing a sport I actually love,” Contegiacomo said. “Any college will be fine with me as long as I get an education. I just want a scholarship so that I can put in the work and get four years of education.”
A two-time state qualifier, Contegiacomo has progressed each season, from 18-17 with 11 pins as a freshman to 52-14 with 30 pins the following season, then 55-6 with 40 pins in 2014-15.
“He’s pretty much set the tone for the whole team. In the practice room, he works his butt off,” Nature Coast head coach Mike Lastra said. “He’s a physical wrestler. Kids, when they’re done wrestling him, you can see they’re in pain.
“He’s such a good athlete. You look at his build, he’s very unassuming. His athletic ability mixed with his mental attitude, he’s like a little bowling ball. You see him, you think he’s a chubby kid. But when you wrestle him you see how strong he is, how physical he is. It’s really a perfect combination.”
It’s a style honed with hard work and determination, in part passed on to him as a younger grappler when he had to match up with two formidable foes every practice.
One was Brandon Vovan, to this point the only state champion the Sharks have ever produced. The other was a state placer in Dylan Savoury, and both took Contegiacomo under their wings.
“It made me know what I have to put in and the stuff I need to do. It just puts you in a whole different mindset,” Contegiacomo said of working with his former teammates.
He joined them as state medalists last season, but fell to St. Petersburg-Admiral Farragut senior Robert Enmon in the state final, 11-5.
“Being a state runner-up, there’s nothing like knowing you’re that high up on the podium. Everything is on your shoulders because now you know you can’t lose,” Contegiacomo said. “It was very emotional in a way. I went from going there and losing to beating everyone. The silver medal, that’s all right, But I want the gold.
“I really learned to go out there, no matter how good the guy is supposed to be or what the rankings are, just go out and wrestle. Anyone can win any match.”
His hope is to run the table at states this March and finish off his prep career in style.
“He has a really good shot,” Lastra said. “I think the state is wide open. The kid that beat him (last year) is gone. I think he has a really good shot to win it, but we talk about it every week. He knows he’s the top dog and people will be aiming for him.
“We’re not going to make any bones about it. It’s state champ or nothing. Anything else, none of us will be satisfied, and he knows that. His goal is to be the second state champion in school history.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.