He's Tough; He's Huff

Of the six F.W. Springstead High seniors on this season's team, only one is the defending state champion, Schuyler Swanton.
Another standout, C.J. Cook, may have a shot to set the all-time career wins record.
But if you look for the heart and soul of the Eagles' mat squad, look no further than Skylar Huff.
Huff symbolizes the re-emergence of the program since Head Coach Eric Swensen took over just prior to the 2004-05 season.
Before Huff's class arrived at the Mariner Blvd. campus, SHS did not win a tournament in 2002-03 or 2003-04.
Since then, they've won 10 including back-to-back-to-back district titles.
One of the main reasons is Spring Hill's Huff.
Huff recently reached a milestone with his 100th career win during the Gulf Duals Tournament.
He entered this past weekend's two-day, grueling 27-team 6th annual Zac Jarzynka Iron Man Tournament at Oviedo High as one of the team leaders.
He was also in perhaps the most loaded weight class in this stacked tourney.
His weight division was like a "Who's Who."
Every time Huff stepped inside the mat's circle, he was in for a scrap.
Huff: 6-2 overall
On Friday, the four-year letterman opened with a 3:04 pin over Deltona's Josh Curry.
Next, Huff stuffed Archbishop Moeller senior Adam Wallander in 5:50.
Then came the long awaited rematch against the state's defending Class 3A State Champion, Gabe Chandler of Miami-Braddock.
Earlier in the season at Durant, Huff stuck Chandler in a loser's bracket match in the first period.
This time, Chandler was ready and barely edged Huff, 4-3.
On Saturday, Huff toppled Forsyth Central senior Taylor White, 9-4.
Next, Huff solved Riverdale freshman Alex Paraschuk, 6-2, setting up a semifinal rematch with (you guessed it!) Chandler.
Chandler wrestled a tactical match and won 7-5.
Dropped into the lethal loser's bracket, Huff was matched up with Kissimmee-Osceola's talented freshman Pete Baldwin. Baldwin had pinned Huff earlier in the season at Durant.
This time would be different.
Huff toppled the two-time state placer, 6-5.
Yet, Huff wasn't done. In a consolation match for fifth, Huff decisioned Countryside High junior Jordan Frease, 6-3.
All told, Huff finished 6-2 overall in a weight class where any one of six different grapplers had a chance to win.
"I thought I wrestled well," expressed the 17-year-old Huff, who improved to 25-4 this season. "Except maybe for the two times I lost to Gabe (Chandler). They were good matches, but I've got more work to do."
And the field?
"It was pretty tough," he answered. "One of the toughest ones we'll see all year. I think overall we could have done a little better. I know Schuyler wasn't happy about Friday, he wrestled much better on Saturday. I thought he picked it up.
"Maybe we didn't do as well as we could have," said Huff, who is 107-31 lifetime with 50 pins. "But look at the field. It was loaded."
Swensen echoed Huff's sentiments.
"The keys to our success down the road are mental toughness and staying healthy," declared Swensen, whose team finished seventh overall in Class 2A last winter. "If we place seven guys at states like we did today, we've got a got chance."
And thanks to guys like Huff, Springstead will remain in the title hunt.