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Lennard Wrestler Has Been 'Fantastic' This Year

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By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

RUSKIN - Though he hasn't completed his first year at Lennard High, Ian Mills has made an impact on the school's varsity wrestling team.

"He's been absolutely fantastic," head coach George Edington said. "He works hard, stays out of trouble and he's a great wrestler.

"He's also a terrific student-athlete."

The sophomore, who attended Sarasota High School last year before moving to Ruskin, has a 15-3 record while wrestling in the 140-pound weight class.

He is part of a much-improved squad that has notched wins over teams such as Tampa's Freedom High School after going winless last year.

Though this is only his second year wrestling - he also was a member of Sarasota's team last year - Mills feels the sport came naturally.

"One day I just sort of decided to try out for it," he said. "I guess my favorite thing about it is that it's an individual sport - it's all on me."

This spring, Mills, 16, will give another individual sport a shot - he will try out for the track team, where he hopes to run the 100-meter dash.

Though he has dedicated a lot of time to athletics, Mills also has taken care of business scholastically.

"Even though we stay out late a lot of nights, we have to get our work done," Mills said. "It's all worth it in the end."

He would have been more involved in Lennard athletics if given the chance.

"I wanted to try out for the football team too, but my family and I didn't move out here in time," Mills said. "It's OK - I'll just wait until the fall."

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Ian Mills

AGE: 16

SCHOOL: Lennard High School

GRADE: 10th

SPORTS: Wrestling, track and field

FUTURE PLANS: Wants to study business management

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