Sharks’ wrestler is Riverview High’s first state champion
BY MIKE HAMSON
Special Correspondent
TBO.com
Published: April 13, 2016
Updated: April 14, 2016 at 03:36 PM
RIVERVIEW – Riverview High School Coach William Sargable says wrestling is a beautiful sport where, no matter if you win or lose, there is no one to point a finger at besides yourself. And he’s proud that one of his outstanding wrestlers recently became Riverview’s first male athlete to win a state championship in any sport.
In early March, Kizhan Clarke won the 2016 Class 3A 132-pound State Championship at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
“Kizhan was the first state champ we had,” Sargable said. “Actually he was the first finalist we ever had. Last year he was state runner-up.”
“My greatest accomplishment was winning the state title,” Kizhan said. “It’s a feeling I can’t explain. It takes hard discipline to come back and beat someone who beat you.”
Kizhan, who started wrestling as a freshman at age 15, will sign his letter of intent with Division I American University of Washington, D.C., on April 20 at Riverview High.
Kizhan played football for awhile before he became a wrestler. He advanced quickly. Sargable said his climb to the top in just four years was rare. Most wrestlers enter the sport as early as age 4 or 5.
Born in Germany, Kizhan moved to Texas with his parents when he was an infant. They came to Florida when Kizhan was in the seventh grade.
He said he loves how wrestling is all about the individual.
“It’s all up to you how much you work,” he said. “It’s all up to you how much you sacrifice. It’s all up to you how much you put on the line for that win. That’s what I love about wrestling.”
He’s excited about attending American University in the fall because of the wrestling program and also the academics.
“It’s such a prestigious college,” he said. “I like it because it’s small. That’s what I want. You can focus on your education.”
Sargable hopes his other wrestlers will follow in Kizhan’s footsteps. Next season, the coach believes his team will be greatly improved.
“We’d like to get some of our young, up-and-coming guys to the state tournament, get them to a podium somewhere,” said Sargable, who has coached varsity wrestling for 17 years at Riverview.
He said 10 of their 14 starters this past season were either first-year or second-year wrestlers.
“Even though we had a great year, I think we can improve on that with a more experienced team,” Sargable said. “Obviously we would like to get a couple guys to return to the state tournament. Both of our state qualifiers this year were seniors.”
Freelance sports writer Mike Hamson can be reached at michaelhamson@gmail.com.
Special Correspondent
TBO.com
Published: April 13, 2016
Updated: April 14, 2016 at 03:36 PM
RIVERVIEW – Riverview High School Coach William Sargable says wrestling is a beautiful sport where, no matter if you win or lose, there is no one to point a finger at besides yourself. And he’s proud that one of his outstanding wrestlers recently became Riverview’s first male athlete to win a state championship in any sport.
In early March, Kizhan Clarke won the 2016 Class 3A 132-pound State Championship at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.
“Kizhan was the first state champ we had,” Sargable said. “Actually he was the first finalist we ever had. Last year he was state runner-up.”
“My greatest accomplishment was winning the state title,” Kizhan said. “It’s a feeling I can’t explain. It takes hard discipline to come back and beat someone who beat you.”
Kizhan, who started wrestling as a freshman at age 15, will sign his letter of intent with Division I American University of Washington, D.C., on April 20 at Riverview High.
Kizhan played football for awhile before he became a wrestler. He advanced quickly. Sargable said his climb to the top in just four years was rare. Most wrestlers enter the sport as early as age 4 or 5.
Born in Germany, Kizhan moved to Texas with his parents when he was an infant. They came to Florida when Kizhan was in the seventh grade.
He said he loves how wrestling is all about the individual.
“It’s all up to you how much you work,” he said. “It’s all up to you how much you sacrifice. It’s all up to you how much you put on the line for that win. That’s what I love about wrestling.”
He’s excited about attending American University in the fall because of the wrestling program and also the academics.
“It’s such a prestigious college,” he said. “I like it because it’s small. That’s what I want. You can focus on your education.”
Sargable hopes his other wrestlers will follow in Kizhan’s footsteps. Next season, the coach believes his team will be greatly improved.
“We’d like to get some of our young, up-and-coming guys to the state tournament, get them to a podium somewhere,” said Sargable, who has coached varsity wrestling for 17 years at Riverview.
He said 10 of their 14 starters this past season were either first-year or second-year wrestlers.
“Even though we had a great year, I think we can improve on that with a more experienced team,” Sargable said. “Obviously we would like to get a couple guys to return to the state tournament. Both of our state qualifiers this year were seniors.”
Freelance sports writer Mike Hamson can be reached at michaelhamson@gmail.com.
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