Published: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Timeout with … Frankie Breland, senior, Mariner wrestling
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Mike Cane/The Herald
After three years away from wrestling, Frankie Breland returned to the sport this season. Breland, a heavyweight at Mariner High School, is a senior who overcame a congenital birth defect to become an all-league football player and now a varsity wrestler. His fingers are deformed but that hasn't stopped him from competing in sports and creating video projects in his visual communications class.
Refusing to limit his aspirations, Frankie Breland got used to ignoring the doubters. Over and over, he proved them wrong.
"People used to tell me all the time, 'Oh, you won't be able to do this.' But I've been able to do everything that's normal," said Breland.
Born about one month premature, Breland had a congenital abnormality called amniotic band syndrome that affected the formation of his fingers. He also was born with a cleft foot on his left leg, which Breland said a doctor broke and repositioned so Breland could eventually walk normally.
None of it stopped Breland from becoming a standout athlete. After receiving all-league football honors as a lineman this past fall, Breland is a heavyweight on the Mariner wrestling team.
A video-game enthusiast who loves basketball and plans to major in business at a four-year university, Breland has an easy smile and an upbeat personality.
Coach's corner
Before this season, Breland hadn't wrestled competitively since he was an eighth-grader at Explorer Middle School. His coach was Otto Olson, who now coaches Breland at Mariner. Breland's return has gone well, said Olson: "We've had some pretty tough practices so far and he's survived them all. A lot of people, when they think about (wrestling) they think, 'Oh, that'll be fun. I'll do that.' And then when it actually comes down to it it's too tough."
Why wrestle?
Breland played basketball the past three winters but said he switched to wrestling because "I missed the feeling of being able to pick somebody up and slam somebody." In his season debut Breland pinned his opponent in 58 seconds. "That's pretty tough to top that feeling," Olson said.
Training with TJ
Going against teammate TJ Ratuniyauravu at practice has helped Breland improve in many ways. "He pushes me to go 110 percent. He shows me basically everything," Breland said. "If it wasn't for him, I (don't) know how I'd be able to do it."
Thunderous movie trailer
Breland's favorite class at Mariner is visual communications, taught by Audrey Sharp. With help from his peers, Breland creates music videos and movie trailers. His favorite project was a spoof trailer for "Tropic Thunder" in which classmates portrayed characters from the 2008 comedy.
Unbeatable?
When it comes to playing video games like "Madden NFL 09" and "NBA 2K9," Breland dominates. His friends are still trying to defeat him. "I'm really good," said Breland. "I don't think there's anybody that can beat me yet."
"If I could meet anyone…"
"I would want to meet Martin Luther King, Jr.," Breland said, "because he's been a really big inspiration on young African-Americans. I'd want to know what he went through growing up as a child."
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
"People used to tell me all the time, 'Oh, you won't be able to do this.' But I've been able to do everything that's normal," said Breland.
Born about one month premature, Breland had a congenital abnormality called amniotic band syndrome that affected the formation of his fingers. He also was born with a cleft foot on his left leg, which Breland said a doctor broke and repositioned so Breland could eventually walk normally.
None of it stopped Breland from becoming a standout athlete. After receiving all-league football honors as a lineman this past fall, Breland is a heavyweight on the Mariner wrestling team.
A video-game enthusiast who loves basketball and plans to major in business at a four-year university, Breland has an easy smile and an upbeat personality.
Coach's corner
Before this season, Breland hadn't wrestled competitively since he was an eighth-grader at Explorer Middle School. His coach was Otto Olson, who now coaches Breland at Mariner. Breland's return has gone well, said Olson: "We've had some pretty tough practices so far and he's survived them all. A lot of people, when they think about (wrestling) they think, 'Oh, that'll be fun. I'll do that.' And then when it actually comes down to it it's too tough."
Why wrestle?
Breland played basketball the past three winters but said he switched to wrestling because "I missed the feeling of being able to pick somebody up and slam somebody." In his season debut Breland pinned his opponent in 58 seconds. "That's pretty tough to top that feeling," Olson said.
Training with TJ
Going against teammate TJ Ratuniyauravu at practice has helped Breland improve in many ways. "He pushes me to go 110 percent. He shows me basically everything," Breland said. "If it wasn't for him, I (don't) know how I'd be able to do it."
Thunderous movie trailer
Breland's favorite class at Mariner is visual communications, taught by Audrey Sharp. With help from his peers, Breland creates music videos and movie trailers. His favorite project was a spoof trailer for "Tropic Thunder" in which classmates portrayed characters from the 2008 comedy.
Unbeatable?
When it comes to playing video games like "Madden NFL 09" and "NBA 2K9," Breland dominates. His friends are still trying to defeat him. "I'm really good," said Breland. "I don't think there's anybody that can beat me yet."
"If I could meet anyone…"
"I would want to meet Martin Luther King, Jr.," Breland said, "because he's been a really big inspiration on young African-Americans. I'd want to know what he went through growing up as a child."
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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