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Hernando Today

Simonson says 'surprise win'

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By MARTY MILLER, Hernando Today correspondent

Published: December 28, 2007

Going into the first-ever Ed Goodpaster Wrestling Tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Land O' Lakes High School, Nature Coast Technical junior wrestler David Simonson really had no reason to believe that this would be the tournament where he would get his first tourney win.

Coming into the 20-team event, the best the 112-pound Simonson had done in any other tournament was finish third in the Kissimmee-Poinciana Tournament earlier this season.

But three wins at The Swamp enabled Simonson to earn his first tournament title as he pinned Matt Biondo of River Ridge at 3:26 to win Saturday night.

"I tried not to force anything early," recalled Simonson. "Whenever he tried to, I ducked under it and then I got a couple of takedowns, although he tried to pull a couple of switches on me."

Simonson, a two-time regional qualifier, came into Saturday's final with a 14-4 record against Biondo, a senior from River Ridge who last year won the Sunshine Athletic Conference title at 112 pounds.

But from the start, Simonson was in control the whole way, leading 5-1 after one period and 10-1 after two periods.

"It's great to win a tournament," he said. "I've improved a lot since last year. I went to the Florida Pride and Citrus wrestling camps and I had a plan and worked hard over the summer."

Being the fourth seed in the tournament, the win by Simonson was a nice surprise for fourth-year Head Coach Mike Lastra.

"You always want to get a kid into a final of an open tournament, and David is probably our most improved wrestler," remarked Lastra.
Being a wrestler also presents a lot of problems because of weight. "It's hard for him because he can bulk up to 130 pounds real easily with no problem at all. Then he has to come back down to 112 for a match," said his father Ken, who works for ADT. "So it's really hard for him, but he's so dedicated. He's very focused on what he's doing."

Last year

Last year, Simonson qualified for the region meet but he twice dislocated his left shoulder at the district tournament and could not compete at the South Florida Community College facility.

"It feels great because I know how much he puts into it, how much he loves it," said his father Ken. "He's gotten a third place before but this was his first tournament he's ever won and it feels great."
Simonson also says he already has a place set up to put the first-place tournament trophy.

"My stepdad was into wrestling and my dad so I figured I would give it a try and I liked it," explained Simonson. "But I've got a place on the shelf above my TV already for this trophy."

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