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	Ahfachkee School Celebrates Spring Festival
	WSBC Interviews Michael Moorer
	BC Host Caregivers Appreciation Luncheon
	Tribal Wrestler Places Second In State
	Krystle Young, Seminole Artist
	Naples Community Meeting Held
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Tribal Wrestler Places Second In State

By Kenny Bayon
LAKELAND — Two points. Two lousy points!
That is all that separated Seminole tribal member Keith (Mitchell) Simmons from winning a high-school state championship at the 2003 FHSAA Wrestling Finals, held Feb. 27-March 1 at the Lakeland Center.
Mitchell, a 17-year-old junior at Brandon (located just east of Tampa) High, placed second in the Class 2A 275-pound weight class after losing 3-2 to Clay’s Cyrus Wainwright.
Despite the season-ending loss, Mitchell can’t be too upset. After all, he improved so much in the past year it’s incredible: After finishing with a 26-15 record during the 2001-2002 campaign (his first year on varsity), this season Mitchell went an impressive 37-5 en route to district and regional championships.
Even in defeat at Lakeland, Mitchell still came away a champion when the legendary Brandon program, coached by Russ Cozart, rolled to the Class 2A team title.
Brandon pumps out state champions like a factory—the Eagles had six individual titleists this year alone—and Cozart expects Simmons to be standing on the winner’s podium at the end of next season.
Of course, it won’t come easy. Wrestling is perhaps the most physically demanding high school sport, and between now and next season Mitchell will have to endure endless hours of grueling training in the wrestling room, in the weight room and on the track.
Simmons also starts both ways as an offensive and defensive lineman on the Brandon football team.
However, according to Cozart, Mitchell’s strong work ethic and hunger for success—along with his cleverness—should make him a favorite to win it all next year.
“ Mitchell is one of the best wrestlers in the state coming back,” Cozart says. “His ability to dedicate himself to the workload without hesitation, and his smartness both on and off the mat are some of the qualities that make him a champion.
“ Knowing him as well as I do, he will be working toward the one thing that eluded him this past year -- the state title. Beyond that, perhaps wrestling and/or football in college. He has great leadership skills that will help him shine in the future.”
Mitchell’s outgoing personality is especially evident with regard to his Native American heritage (son of Mayra Osceola Simmons and Keith Simmons.) Cozart has noticed that Mitchell is very proud of his Seminole culture and that he’s not afraid to talk to anyone about it.
Mitchell gets much of his cultural pride from his family—including brother, Clayton, who will be a ninth-grader at Brandon in the fall—and other tribal members, who attend all of his sporting events to offer their support.
“ They are at every match and football game to root him on,” Cozart says. “It is very important that the families are as involved as they are. They all do a great job being right there for him.”
It must run in the family because Clayton, who has already been wrestling for a few years, will be making his debut for Team Florida at the 2003 Sunshine State Games, being held June 12-15 in Tampa.
A few days after his runner-up finish at the state tournament, Mitchell took some time to answer a few questions about this past season, the role of his Seminole heritage in his sports career, and what lies ahead.
Kenny Bayon: When we last spoke after the Indigenous Games this past summer in Canada, I asked you about your goals for the upcoming year. How do you think you did?
Mitchell Simmons: I met some of my goals, such as winning the district and regional championships. It just burns inside that I lost by one point in the state championship match. To work so hard all year and lose by one point is only going to make me want it even more next year. I am on a mission.

Kenny: Did your experience at this past summer’s North American Indigenous Games help your mental or physical preparation for the 2002-2003 season?
Mitchell: Yes, it helped me get ready for my high school season. It felt awesome to win the gold medal. It was a stepping stone for me. It also helped me showcase my talent from our tribe to the world. The training was very intense, and I should always be training that hard. It proved to be helpful by dominating my opponents at the NAIG. This is one of the secrets of success.

Kenny: At what point this year did you realize that you could contend for a state title?
Mitchell: At the beginning of the season, I was beating everybody. Then I went to some statewide, out-of-town tournaments, which was where I received some of my first losses. That helped motivate me even more to win. My region is real tough, and if I could win that, then I knew I had a good chance for the ultimate prize. After my regional victory, I had a good feeling that the state championship was within my grasp.

Kenny: I feel sorry for your competitors next season. What motivates you on the wrestling mat?
Mitchell: The thought of losing is what gets me pumped up. This is what motivates me to go out there and try to dominate my opponent. I work extremely hard all year long to be a winner and nothing is going to get in my way.

Kenny: How important is your Native American heritage to you?
Mitchell: Very, very important because I’m in a unique position of showing that an Indian boy can have success in the white man’s world. I want to set an example to all of my tribal members that we can be successful if we are willing to put forth the effort and not be afraid of failure. If I can do it, than any one of my tribal members can as well. I want to also set an example for the youth -- that we can dominate as much as anyone.

Kenny: Do you ever feel like you’re representing your entire family or tribe on the mat?
Mitchell: I feel that I’m always representing my family and the tribe whenever I do anything. You always see my parents and tribal members at the matches encouraging me at all times. It makes me feel good when I can make them proud. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

Kenny: Well done, young man. What are your goals for this summer?
Mitchell: My summer goals are to train hard, lift weights, eat well, stay positive and improve myself in every way. I will be trying to win a gold medal at this year’s Sunshine State Games in my backyard, Tampa. Then I’ll be getting ready for the upcoming football season, and to make it back to the state finals, where I’ll be seeking the championship that I let slip through my fingers. I’ll be seeking to be the first Seminole tribal member to win a Florida state high school wrestling championship. After that, I will be preparing for college to either play football and/or wrestle. My short list of schools includes USF, FSU, Duke and Georgia Tech