Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos to Produce 'The Streak' for ESPN

December 18, 2007 -- The longest winning streak in the history of American sports will be the focus of a new, one-hour documentary on ESPN, The Streak. Produced by ESPN Content Development in conjunction with Kelly Ripa’s and Mark Consuelos’ Milojo Productions, in association with critically acclaimed producer John Hock (Through the Fire) and Hock Films, the film will follow the 2007-08 season of the Brandon High School (Tampa, Fla.) wrestling program which sits atop a 451-0 record dating back 34 straight years. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos will serve as co-executive producers for the project to be televised October 2008.

“From the start, Kelly’s and Mark’s enthusiasm for this project has been as much a selling point as the jaw-dropping record of the Brandon High wrestling team,” said Joan Lynch, ESPN executive producer and vice president ESPN Content Development. “Great stories like this one need to be told and can be enjoyed by sports fans and non-sports fans alike because of the personal storylines and drama behind the team's amazing success."

Article continues below...

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos said, “This is the type of story we want to tell. We are extremely happy to be in business with ESPN.”

Consuelos went to Bloomingdale High School in Tampa, a rival of Brandon High School, but did attend one semester at Brandon.

In 34 years, the Brandon wrestling team has amassed 18 state championships and 66 individual state champions. Team members train for years to earn a coveted spot knowing that the pride and prestige of being a Brandon wrestler comes with the weight of expectation by fans, alums and themselves that the record is preserved. Brandon’s latest win was at the Sunshine Invitational the weekend of December 7 -8. In January, the school will host The Jim Graves Challenge, sometimes known as the “Beat the Streak Invitational” because head coach Russ Cozart created the meet to serve as an open invitation to any wrestling team that wanted a shot at ending Brandon's winning streak. Despite six such challenges, the streak is very much alive.

Source: ESPN