Wrestling: Riverview’s Sargable hits milestone

Posted Dec 19, 2011 by Eddie Daniels

Updated Dec 19, 2011 at 02:27 PM

Riverview wrestling coach Wili Sargable reached and surpassed the 200-career win mark this weekend during the Federal Division meet at Spoto.

The Sharks went 6-2 overall, but it was their second dual of the day that got the mark for Sargable, in his 12th season at the helm of the program. Riverview opened the tournament with a 54-9 loss to Durant, bouncing back to beat Spoto, 60-16.  The team then beat East Bay (38-35), lost to Brandon (68-6) and knocked off Bloomingdale (66-15), Lennard (66-15), Plant City (60-16) and Newsome (60-22).

Sargable, who began coaching the Sharks in 1998 when the school opened, has only missed one season, taking a leave of absence during the 2006-07 season. The former East Bay wrestler, who wrestled for hall of fame coach Tom Lota, admitted he had no clue the milestone was coming. Sunday afternoon, while watching football, a coach’s record was mentioned. That got him to look at his own ledger, which sits at 205-73.

During Sargable’s tenure, he has collected the Joel Medgebow Awards as Hillsborough County’s Coach of the Year (2001-02), Western Conference Coach of the Year (2002-03) and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Florida Chapter in 2004.