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They only had enough wrestlers to finish third in the tournament.  But with 5 individual champions in the 2008 Bicentennial League Tournament (second in that category behind tournament champion Lower Moreland) Bristol High School showed that they may have the talent to overcome the numbers.  And one big reason that talent is able to succeed is their head coach, Enrique Velez.

“We won [this tournament] last year when there was only 3 teams,” Velez said after the tournament.  “We knew we had firepower this year, but not enough wrestlers.”

So when a team knows they are short handed, what goals do they set? “Districts.” Velez said.  “We might be able to win that next week.  This tournament was a prep.”

Bristol prepped well, winning all but one of the finals they were in during the tournament.  They even had the official MVP of the meet, Terry Figueroa.   But Coach Velez does not take full credit for their success.  “They teach themselves, [and] they always care about each other,” he said humbly after the game.  The team’s comraderie was on display the entire day as they cheered each other on and worked hard.  Coach Velez believes that the bonds created from being on a wrestling team is what helps lead to success, and he thinks it will be a driving force for the teammates for a long time.  “Years from now, they’ll still be friends,” he said. 

When you’re outnumbered, sometimes that’s all you need.