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Hernando Today

Operation: transition begins Springstead boys coach Mike Garofano notches initial female meet victory

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Published: December 9, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - Despite earning the county championship and having the school's best-ever finish at the state tournament in 2006-07 behind Lifter of the Year Christine Alberts, Head Coach Cecilia Page's departure from the Springstead High weight room yielded another mentor.

Jackie May was penciled as the school's replacement but just prior to the season opener, commitments stacked up and she pulled out as coach.

Fortunately the Eagles, boys' coach Mike Garofano was available to pick up the pieces of two coaching changes in six months.

The transition has actually been seamless.
Garofano did not bring all 36 members of the 2007-08 Springstead squad to Tuesday night's tri meet at Nature Coast Technical - he brought 25 - but left with his first-ever tri-meet win.

The Lady Eagles behind six individual champions and two runners-up, totaled 46 points to edge out pre-season favorite Hernando (40) and host Nature Coast Technical (24).

Unlike NCT and Hernando, Springstead's depth proved invaluable. The Eagles scored points in all 10 weight classes.

Eagle individual wins belonged to Brittany Morrissey at 110 pounds, Joni-Marie Crossan at 119, Katelin Killory at 129, Karlee Burrows at 154, Olivia D'Acunto at 169 and Frances Pagan at 199.

Eagle runners-up included Lindsay Kuhn at 101 and Linda McCarthy at 119.

Killory is the Eagles' lone returning Hernando Today All-County selection from last winter.
Garofano praised this team's initial efforts.

"What we'd have six champs, almost seven," said Garofano. "That's not bad for our first meet. We were pretty strong, primarily in the lower weight classes.

"Overall, I was very happy with the performance," he added. "I was particularly pleased with our power cleans. That's where most lifters improve the most during the course of the season. Our kids have worked real hard."

Any surprises?

"Crossan was at 119," replied Garofano. "She hit all six of her lifts. So she has room for improvement. But she's like all the girls. I don't want to focus locally; I want to get us prepared for states. That's the goal I want each and every one of them to shoot for."

Leopards: four champs

Hernando stayed in the hunt behind four first-place efforts: Emily Calamari at 101, Samantha Pankow at 139, Kristian Stephens at 183 and Melody Hayes at unlimited.

Calamari, Pankow and Stephens are all returning All-County performers.

Stephens, a 2007 state qualifier, hoisted a meet-high 200-pound bench press and an impressive 140-pound clean and jerk for a 340-pound total.

Hayes had the second-highest total with a 165-135--300.

"It was a close, close meet," described HHS Head Coach Judi Decker. "Our girls did great for the first meet of the year. With so many new girls, we did fantastic."

What about Stephens' efforts?

"Kristian has weightlifting class here, then she works out at Gold's Gym and then she also practices with us," indicated Decker. "She's constantly on the bench. And what a great kid. She works so hard.

"Right now, she's within 10 pounds of setting the state record for her weight class," added Decker. "State record is 215 pounds on the bench. She can lift 210. She needs 10 more pounds to break it. I know she'll do awesome. She's somebody who really drives herself."

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