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Hernando Today

Swanton, Graham Go For Gold Grab

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: February 16, 2008

LAKELAND - In a day that claimed five Hernando County grapplers in the 44th annual State Championship Wrestling Finals, two advanced to Saturday night's finals.

Springstead senior Schuyler Swanton at 112 pounds and Hernando High senior Jesse Graham at 140 each won two matches to remain unbeaten in their quest for the county's 25th state champion at the Jenkins Arena.

Swanton repeat?

Swanton pinned Friday morning's first opponent, St. Thomas Aquinas senior Brandon Pellecer, in 76 seconds.

In the semifinal nightcap, the three-year varsity letterman and defending 2A State Champion at 103 pounds never trailed in besting Bradenton-Manatee senior Mikey Torres for the fourth time in four matches this winter, 13-9.

Swanton, who was also the 2006 state runner-up, reached his third consecutive state finale tonight beginning at 7 p.m. against Brandon sophomore Terry Dawson.

Swanton, who climbed to 3-0 in the tourney and to 35-2 overall this winter, will clash with Dawson for the third time this season. He previously defeated Dawson, 8-3 and 7-4.

Two other Eagles, featuring seniors Skylar Huff at 112 and C.J. Cook at 125, each went 1-1 on Friday.

Huff handed Martin County junior Kevin Lowery (46-1) his first loss of the season Friday morning via a 4-2 win in overtime. With the score knotted at 2-all after regulation, Huff tallied a two-point takedown 39 seconds into the extra session to advance to the semifinals.

Unfortunately, Venice senior Wade Consul (33-4) defeated Huff (43-11) in the semifinals, 8-4.

Cook followed the same pattern as Huff.

Cook downed Fort Myers senior David Roberts (38-12) Friday morning, but fell to Bradenton-Manatee freshman Alexander Doran in the semifinals, 8-2.

Due to the early-morning wins, both Cook (45-8) and Huff have at least guaranteed placing sixth on Saturday.

Graham reaches finale

Hernando High's efforts were highlighted by Graham's two wins Friday.

In the morning round, the four-year letterman folded Clewiston junior Jose Cordova via a major decision, 14-6.

In the semifinal nightcap, Graham defeated Matanzas senior Mike Bizzozarro for the second time this season, 9-5.

Graham, who climbed to a county-best 46-2, had defeated Bizzozarro in a grueling four-overtime match at the Clay Invitational.

This time, he dominated with four takedowns. He'll face Riverdale senior Micah Fellows (40-1) in Saturday's state 1A championship.

"This tourney has been hard so far," explained the 17-year-old Graham, whose attempting to place for the second straight season. "Fortunately, I still haven't been taken down. This is for my my brother (Chuck, who passed away during the summer). I know he's with me, I know he is."

What was the mindset going in?

"I was expecting to wrestle for 20 minutes if I had to," smiled Graham. "Charley (Combs) has pushed me and pushed me over the past month until I can't go anymore."

How close is the dream?

"It's one match away," said Graham. "It's been my dream since I was little (to win states). I want so badly to do it for me and my brother."

HHS sophomore Daniel Pritz's state finals bid was halted Friday night.

In Friday's early round, Pritz pinned Miami-Pace's Kedarius Harris in 2:43.

But in the nightcap, Wakulla freshman sensation Tre McCullough downed Pritz (42-10), 9-2.

Bad day at the office

Besides the finalists, Hernando High had an otherwise undistinguished effort losing three members on Friday night.

Senior Nick Pauliot went 1-1 on Friday at 189.

In the morning winner's round Key West senior Ralph Major splashed Pauliot via a technical fall, 17-2.

In the afternoon, Pauliot bounced back to eliminate Braden River senior Greg Cannon West in a 79-second pin.

Pauliot's second state win in three bouts improved his seasonal record to 24-7.

What was the difference in the two matches?

"The first kid (Major) was an awesome leg rider. He's the best rider I've ever seen," explained the 17-year-old Pauliot. "In my second match coach told me he needed me to win. You don't know how badly I wanted to win."

First-time state qualifier, junior Max Morrill, ended his Cinderella run by falling to Lake Wales junior Jason Fowler in a loser's bracket match at 135.

In losing a match that Fowler led from the opening whistle, Morrill finished 1-2 at states and 26-20 overall.

How did he evaluate his performance?

"It was cool," shared the 16-year-old Morrill. "For never being here before; it was an experience. Really it wasn't as hard as I expected, I just made mistakes and didn't wrestle like I had."

Is this tournament the motivation for next year?

"This (states) was eye-opening," he replied. "I want it bad. No I wasn't satisfied this year. I want to come back and place."

In another loser's round match, junior James Davidson at 171 let his state dreams slip away.

Davidson was beating Estero senior Derek Bonvillian after two minutes, 5-1.

But in the second period, Bonvillian (25-5) flipped Davidson on to his back and pinned him in 2:33 closing out Davidson's season at 34-11 overall.

Perhaps the most shocking development was senior Taylor Rotunda's two unexpected losses Friday at 215.

Rotunda, who came into states at 31-1, crushed his first opponent on Thursday, 17-6.

Friday, however, was a different story.

In Friday morning's winner's round Rotunda appeared two minutes away from reaching the semifinals ahead 3-1 against Riverdale senior Trey Dunn.

But Dunn (36-7) rallied for an 8-5 decision knocking Rotunda into the loser's bracket.

Even worse, Rotunda forfeited to Fort Lauderdale-Archbishop McCarthy's Paul Kelley to finish 1-2 overall.

Eagles: rough day, too

Meanwhile, the Eagles lost 2-of-3 competitors during the loser's bracket on Friday.

Junior Dustin Soto's first-ever visit to states lasted three matches at 103 pounds as he finished 1-2.

On Friday, he was leading Fort Myers sophomore Hilo Wantanabe through two periods, 4-1.

But in the final period Wantanabe (42-9) rallied for an 11-6 win.

The loss ended Soto's best-ever season at 38-10.

Another junior Thad Klenovich at 152 dropped his only match of the day to a familiar face, Bradenton-Manatee sophomore Isaac Riley. Riley pinned Klenovich for the third time in three meetings -- this time in 2:35.

The setback closed Klenovich's best-ever season at 38-9.

Senior Cesar Acosta extended his state run behind a 9-5 decision over Stranahan senior Carlos Cruz, 9-5, at 189 pounds.

Acosta, who climbed to 2-1 at states, never trailed against Cruz.

What was Acosta's mindset going in?

"I want to take third," explained the 18-year-old Acosta, a four-year Eagle letterman, who climbed to 41-13 overall. "Tonight, I was nervous for some reason. Maybe because I thought in the back of my mind it could be my last match. Still, that's no way to wrestle. I just want to go out with a bang, not a boom."

Simonson survives

Nature Coast's first-ever state representative junior David Simonson went 1-1 on Friday.

Simonson, who received a first-round forfeit on Thursday, was handled easily Friday morning by Suwannee sophomore Travis Laxton via a major decision, 9-1.

In the afternoon, however, Simonson remained alive by carving out a 7-6 decision versus Cocoa Beach sophomore Nick Watson.

Simonson's second state win improved his record to a school-best 30-10 overall mark this winter.

Most importantly, the third-year Shark remained in contention for a consolation-round medal.

"I came here to place," explained Simonson. "I'm not leaving till I do."

What was the difference between Friday's matches?

"I wrestled bad in my first match," he recalled. "Maybe I didn't shoot enough. I wasn't aggressive enough. I went into my afternoon match just wanting to get to basics. I'll be fine."

How's it feel to still be in contention for a medal at states?

"It feels great," explained the 16-year-old Simonson. "But I haven't accomplished what I set out to do."

3rd Round Results:
112 - Swanton (SPG) pin Pellecer (STA), 1:16.
112 - Laxton (SUW) major dec. Simonson (NCT), 9-1.
119 - Huff (SPG) dec. Lowery (MART), 4-2 (OT).
125 - Cook (SPG) dec. Roberts (FM), 5-2.
125 - D. Pritz (HER) pin Harris (PACE), 2:43.
135 - Day (BOLL) pin Morrill (HER), 3:00.
140 - Graham (HER) major dec. Cordova (CLEW), 11-3.
189 - Major (KEY) tech. fall Pauliot (HER), 17-2.
215 - Dunn (RIVRD) dec. Rotunda (HER), 8-5.
4th Round Results:
103 - Wantanabe (FM) dec. D. Soto (SPG), 11-6.
112 - Simonson (NCT) dec. Watson (COCB), 7-6.
135 - Fowler (LW) major dec. Morrill (HER), 15-5.
152 - Riley (MAN) pin Klenovich (SPG), 2:35.
171 - Bonvillian (EST) pin Davidson (HER), 2:33.
189 - Acosta (SPG) dec. Cruz (STR), 9-5.
189 - Pauliot (HER) pin Cannon (BRR), 1:19.
215 - Kelly (AMC) won by forfeit over Rotunda (HER).
5th Round Results (semifinals):
112 - Swanton (SPG) dec. Torres (MAN), 13-9
119 - Consul (VEN) dec. Huff (SPG), 8-4.
125 - Doran (MAN) dec. Cook (SPG), 8-2.
125 - McCullough (WAK) dec. D. Pritz (HER), 9-2.
140 - Graham (HER) major dec. Bizzozzaro (MAT), 14-6.
Springstead at Lakeland 44th 2A State Finals Results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
103 Soto, Dustin 1 2 0 -
112 Swanton, Schuyler 3 0 2 -
119 Huff, Skylar 2 1 0 -
125 Cook, C.J. 2 1 0 -
152 Klenovich, Thad 1 2 1 -
171 Wern, Scott 0 2 0 -
189 Acosta, Cesar 2 1 0 -
TOTALS 11 9 3 -
Hernando at Lakeland 44th 1A State Finals Results
Wgt. Name W L Pins PL
125 Pritz, Daniel 2 1 1 -
135 Morrill, Max 1 2 0 -
140 Graham, Jesse 3 0 1 -
171 Davidson, James 1 2 0 -
189 Pauliot, Nick 2 1 1 -
215 Rotunda, Taylor 1 2 0 -
TOTALS 10 8 3 -
Nature Coast at Lakeland 44th 1A State Finals Results
Wgt. Name W L Pins PL
112 Simonson, David 2 1 0 -
TOTALS 2 1 0 -
Central at Lakeland 44th 2A State Finals Results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
125 Supple, Ken 0 2 0 -
189 May, Daniel 0 2 0 -
TOTALS 0 4 0 -
Class 1A State Championship Team Standings
PL Hometown-School Points
1. Fort Myers-Riverdale (FMR) 80.5
2. Green Cove Springs-Clay (CLY) 49.5
3. Ft. Laud.-Cardinal Gibbons (CAG) 41.5
4. Live Oak-Suwannee (SUW) 39.5
5. Crawfordville-Wakulla (WAK) 36.5
6. Jupiter Christian (JUC) 33.5
7. Miami-Monsignor Pace (MPAC) 33.0
8. Inverness-Citrus (CIT) 32.0
9. Brooksville-Hernando (HER) 31.0
10. Archbishop McCarthy (AMC) 27.5
Others:
46. (tie)Nature Coast Technical (NCT) 5.00
Class 2A State Championship Team Standings
PL Hometown-School Points
1. Brandon (BRA) 98.5
2. Naples-Palmetto Ridge (PALM) 79.0
3. Bradenton-Manatee (MAN) 74.0
4. Gainesville (GAIN) 54.0
5. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 33.5
6. Punta Gorda-Charlotte (CHAR) 33.0
7. St. Cloud (STC) 26.0
8. Fleming Island (FI) 24.5
9. JAX-Forrest (FOR) 19.0
10. Ft. Lauderdale-St Thomas (STA) 18.5

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

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