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Hernando Today

Nuby Evolves Into More Than Just a Football Player

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By MARTY MILLER

Hernando Today correspondent

Published: February 9, 2008

If there is something that people who are involved in prep wrestling have in common, it's that to be successful in the sport, a person has to spend years practicing and working at it.

On the other hand, you have the case of Nature Coast Technical football player-turned-wrestler Brandon Nuby.

The 5-foot-7, 210-pounder recently won his first tournament title when he took the 215-pound weight class at the American Legion Wrestling Tournament held at The Villages High School.

"I don't consider myself a football player or a wrestler, I think I'm a football player and a wrestler," said the Shark senior.

From Virginia

Nuby moved to Spring Hill three years ago from Virginia and has played on the football team for the past three years, serving as an offensive and defensive lineman along with also playing fullback and linebacker.

He also began wrestling during his sophomore year.

"I made it to the regional that year and won a match," he said.

Then last year, the Shark senior had some problems.

"I was battling weight problems and we had Lee Lehman in front of me, and he was a good wrestler," he recalled. "So I didn't get into a lot of matches but I learned some things in practice that I think helped me this year."

This year Brandon, along with his brother Brenton, a freshman on the team, has been impressive even though he goes up against much taller wrestlers.

Like in football, Brandon spends most of his time in matches giving away a lot of height, but his coach Mike Lastra thinks he makes up for it.

"He's a smart kid and he's a bit under-sized," describes Lastra. "But he has a non-stop motor. This year he only has four losses and they came against two of the better wrestlers he's faced. I'm hoping this year that he can become our first state qualifier."

On the other had, Nuby doesn't see a problem in what other people are built like.

"I don't think it's a disadvantage," he remarked. "If I wrestle someone who's taller than me, I can use my speed, and I'm a lot quicker and stronger than most of the guys I wrestle."

Nuby also has missed a number of matches this year for legitimate reasons.

"He's missed out this year because he had to take the ACT and SAT tests, that was why he missed both the Hernando Kiwanis and Springstead Invitationals," said his coach. "And he missed the Clearwater Catholic tournament because he had to work. He's missed a lot of wrestling, but he's an animal, he's just an athlete."

At The Villages, he took home the 215-pound crown by pinning Alex Hull of The Villages in nine seconds to win the semifinal match, then pinned Joe Ferrante of North Marion in 5:41 to win the title.

He followed up with a 2-1 weekend at Citrus Springs Middle School to place third in the Class 1A, District 5 Tournament.

"It feels great to win, but it's not a big surprise," Nuby said. "When you put in all the hard work and all the coaching I've gotten, it's not a big surprise. The result is from all the hard work I've done."

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