TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Impressive Debut

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High’s returning 2008 county champion and state qualifier, Jasmine Sharpe, displays the effort of a successful clean and jerk attempt during Wednesday’s dual meet against Springstead in Brooksville. Springstead won, 60-27.

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: December 10, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Springstead High began its defense of the county championship on the right foot Wednesday afternoon at Hernando High.
Head Coach Mike Garofano's troops captured 7-of-10 weight divisions and finished 1-2 in five classes to tame the Leopards, 60-27.

SHS: seven champs

With the win, the Lady Eagles opened their season at 1-0 while first-year Leopard Head Coach Shawn Bigham watched his club dip to 0-2.
For the victors, Lindsay Kuhn (at 101 pounds), Caroline Monzo (110), Victoria Boccio (119), Jennifer Dragonchuk (139), Karlee Burrows (154), Iza O'Neal (169), Olivia D'Acunto (183) took first place.
In perhaps the best match-up, Kuhn hoisted 105 pounds in her final clean and jerk attempt to tie Hernando's Emily Calamari at 190 total pounds. But since Kuhn weighed in 1.6 pounds less, she took home first while Calamari settled for second.
These two have a history.
Last winter, Kuhn edged Calamari by 15 pounds to earn her first-ever county championship.
What happened this time?
"I was shooting for a 200 total today," shrugged the 17-year-old Kuhn. "I did real well in my cleans, but I've got to get back to work on my bench press."
Another defending county champ, Dragonchuk, grabbed first place similar to Kuhn. She and Hernando High's Alex Hayden each finished with 235 pounds, but Dragonchuk weighed in 3.5 pounds less to win the tiebreaker.
D'Acunto, another returning county champion, celebrated her 17th birthday, by besting her closest competitor, teammate Jeanette Boudreau, 245-165.
"I thought I did good," smiled D'Acunto, a fine all-around athlete. "I was excited for this being our first meet. I'm looking to go 5-10 pounds higher next week."
How about the team win?
"I thought the team did real well," she replied. "I didn't get to see many of the other girls. I gotta thank our coach (Mike Garofano); he's really worked on our technique this year."
Burrows, the Eagles' fourth returning county champ, began the campaign by toppling teammate, Brittnee Parson, 245-205.
"I was a real nervous for the first meet," described the 17-year-old Burrows. "But after a couple of lifts, I finally settled down. I thought everyone did so good. I'm proud of all my teammates."
Two SHS newbies savored their first-ever individual wins.
"This (win) feels great," said Boccio, who edged teammate Stephanie Jeffords, 190-185. "I've come a long ways from last year. So far, I'm gone up at least 15 pounds during the offseason. I was shooting for a 200 total, maybe I'll get it next week."
"I was so nervous," said the 17-year-old Monzo, who topped teammate Kaley Craig, 190-145. "I really had no idea what to expect. I literally came in not knowing anything; my teammates have been so supportive and helpful."
Afterward, Coach Garofano took the win in stride.
"I thought we did a good job of executing our lifts," he said. "Each girl went in with a game plan. Most achieved their personal goals. The biggest thing I saw was improvement in our cleans."

HHS: three winners

The Purple and Gold had three individual medalists including Melinda Blount (129), Jasmine Sharpe (199) and Ava Baylor (heavyweight).
Blount tied Springstead's Katelin Killory with a 220 total. However, Blount weighed in a half pound less to edge Killory for first.
The Leopards' lone returning county champion and 2008 state qualifier, Sharpe, defeated Springstead's Jennifer Rosino, 255-220, for first.
Sharpe's 255 total was the county's highest total to date.
"I wanted to get at least a 125 in the bench and 125 in my cleans," commented the 16-year-old Sharpe. "Am I satisfied? No. I can always do better."
Baylor made it two wins in two meets by edging teammate Sharvae Bennett, 255-250.
"I went five pounds higher today than I did on Monday," explained Baylor. "I thought I did better on my power cleans today."
Despite the loss, Coach Bigham addressed the positives.
"They (Springstead) brought 33 girls, we had 12," pointed out Bigham. "We did pretty good for having a meet on Monday. Now, we've got a week to work on some things and get some help. A couple of girls have already increased their totals. That's a great sign."

Springstead (SPG) 60, Hernando (HER) 27

101 – 1. Kuhn (SPG) 85-105 – 190, 2. Calamari (HER) 95-95 – 190, 3. Toles (SPG) 90-80 – 170.
110 – 1. Monzo (SPG) 95-95 – 190, 2. Craig (SPG) 70-75—145.
119 – 1. Boccio (SPG) 95-95 — 190, 2. Jeffords (SPG) 90-95 – 185, 3. D. Maldonado (HER) 85-85 – 170.
129 – 1. Blount (HER) 105-115 – 220, 2. Killory (SPG) 110-110 – 220, 3. Morgan (SPG) 85-120 – 205.
139 – 1. Dragonchuk (SPG) 105-130 — 235, 2. Harper (HER) 110-125—235, 3. Brown (SPG) 95-95—190.
154 – 1. Burrows (SPG) 115-130 — 245, 2. Parson (SPG) 100-105—205, 3. Hayden (HER) 100-105 – 205.
169 – 1. O'Neal (SPG) 110-100 – 210, 2. Kundrat (SPG) 90-95 – 185, 3. Schwab (HER) 75-95 — 170.
183 – 1. D'Acunto (SPG) 130-115 – 245, 2. Boudreau (SPG) 85-80 — 165.
199 – 1. Sharpe (HER) 130-125 — 255, 2. Rosino (SPG) 120-100 — 220.
HWT – 1. Baylor (HER) 140-115 –255, 2. Bennett (HER) 135-115—250, 3. Pagan (SPG) 130-115—245.
Records – Springstead (1-0), Hernando (0-2).

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT