Brandon High School Head Wrestling Coach Russ Cozart began his 40-year career as a coach and educator in California. After a job at his alma mater there didn't work out, he packed his bags for Florida. One of the first things the former All-SEC Wrestler did in Florida was establish a wrestling camp. The camp is now in its 36th year and Cozart says he is still motivated by seeing his students grow up and finally get to high school, graduate, and maybe even be offered a scholarship.
Cozart's summer camp charges a nominal fee for attendees, and offers scholarships to those who can't afford it. Cozart's son and Brandon High School assistant coach, Joe Cozart, says giving back is “a Brandon thing, but it’s also a wrestler thing. It’s just, it’s just in the wrestler’s blood to give back. You combine those two and it just makes it, you know, it’s hard to stay away”.
All-star Brandon High and Cozart Camp alums like Anthony Grajales and Kyle Norstrem volunteer to return to coach young, aspiring wrestlers. Grajales' commitment is a result of the impact the program had on him at an early age: “I grew and learned a lot through this program, through Russ, through Cozart. So, to me, it’s natural to want to give back, to be loyal to the program, and help these guys and help these little guys and girls wrestle and grow. Because to me, I learned a lot from it. Not just on the mat, but helping me in school, and helping me in my life”.
For more on Cozart’s wrestling camp, click on the video link.