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Hernando Today

Warm-Ups are Over

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 27, 2008

SPRING HILL – Groundhog Day cannot arrive fast enough for the county's grapplers.
Eight days removed from the first step in the arduous state series, Class 1A Hernando visited Class 2A Springstead Wednesday night.
Amid a fog machine and blaring music, Springstead came out on to its home mats for the last time this season.
An hour later, the Eagles rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to capture 10 of 14 bouts en route to a convincing 58-19 win.
With the rare dual meet triumph, Springstead concluded its dual meet schedule at 12-3 overall behind five pins, four forfeit nods and one major decision against the 6-6 Leopards.
Still, fourth-year Eagle Head Coach Eric Swensen thought the duel meet gimmicks to fire up his team backfired.
"I think we were flat," emphatically stated Swensen, whose team just arrived from placing third in the grueling, 30-team Ippolitto Tournament in Brandon last weekend. "I think we're tired. I don't have a whole lot of positives from tonight."
How important was this final regular season tune-up?
"Sure, the match was important, but because it didn't impact our district seeds and it wasn't a tournament. Maybe we didn't have enough motivation? There wasn't much self-motivation," he said.
Overall?
"Heck, if you win by one point or 100 points, a win is still a win," said Swensen. "Since a lot of our better guys did not wrestle, maybe our guys weren't as fired up as they could have been."
"Hey, 58-19 is huge for us," countered first-year HHS Head Coach Joe McLain. "With the guys we had, we'll take it.
"Pritz won an impressive match and Pauliot showed some resiliency in beating Acosta -- both of those matches were big," replied McLain. "Fernando (Gomez) has been our utility guy all year and he's come through. He did it again tonight. I only wish we had 14 guys like Fernando.
"Even for a first-year guy like Kenny (Day) to go six minutes against (Sean) Hughes was big for the kid's confidence," added McLain.

Eagles rule

The hosts earned pins from Dustin Soto (31-7 overall) at 112 pounds, C.J. Cook (37-7) at 130, Steven Bliss (26-8) at 135, Ken Cox (20-16) at 215 and Carlos Ramirez (31-11) at 285.
Cook's 74th career pin in 2:46 over Leopard senior Chris Bishop helped him improve to 145-36 lifetime.
Counting the weekend action and Wednesday night, the four-year varsity starter is now just three wins away from his personal record in wins at SHS.
What was it like competing in the final home match?
"I never think about losing in my home stadium," remarked the 18-year-old Cook. "I kinda decided a while back, it's my last year why not go out with a bang, so I've kinda turned it up. Am I satisfied with reaching states three times? If I want to be a state placer, I've got to step it up."
How about the team?
"I'm not gonna name names," said Cook. "Sure, there were some disappointments tonight. But we still won 58-19. Had the score been larger, it would have been a bigger success. Winning 58-19 ain't bad."
Bliss, who led 15-1 after two periods, collected his 51st pin in 4:31 at Springstead High over Max Morrill.
Bliss, who climbed to 88-28 lifetime in Spring Hill since relocating from Pinellas Park, reflected on his final match at home.
"Yeah, it was kinda a scary thought, being my last match at home," declared the 17-year-old Bliss. "I know I sure didn't want to lose, or disappoint my friends and classmates. Tonight, I just tried my hardest and best I could.
"I know the team was counting on me to win tonight," he added. "So, I just went there hoping to take care of business and I got a pin."
And Hernando?
"Give them credit," said Bliss. "They wrestled really well, even though they were missing some guys. No way did I expect them to get 19 points on us. They came strong."
Four other Eagles etched forfeit wins against the depleted Leopards, who were minus starters Tim Ball, James Davidson (ill) and Taylor Rotunda (injury).
Richie Bliss (8-3) at 103, Schuyler Swanton (25-2) at 119, Tommy Ellerbe (19-13) at 152 and Thad Klenovich (30-6) at 160 earned wins without breaking a sweat.
Swanton's win was his 16th in a row since getting stuck in the Oviedo Tourney semifinals by Clearwater-Countryside's Kyle Grueninger in 1:45.
Sprinsgtead's other win belonged to Sean Hughes (13-17 overall) at 145, who never trailed in posting a 12-3 major decision over Kenny Day.

Leopard highlights

Hernando High collected four wins highlighted by pins by Jesse Graham (35-2) at 140 and Fernando Gomez (15-9) at 171.
Graham's 51-second pin over first-year Dan Slover was his 63rd lifetime pin and permitted him to improve to 120-36 lifetime. Graham is now in a three-way tie for career wins with Charley Combs and Richard Gant. He needs fives wins to surpass Billy Woods for fifth place all-time.
Gomez's win was a bit of a surprise. Wern led early 3-0 before getting flipped and pinned in the second period.
HHS carved out two impressive decisions as sophomore Daniel Pritz (33-9) rallied past 2007 state qualifier Skylar Huff (34-9) at 125, 6-4 in overtime, and Nick Pauliot (15-5) applied an 11-3 major decision over Cesar Acosta (33-11) at 189.
Pritz's win arrived after the two-year grappler fell behind 4-0. Pritz tied up matters in the third period and survived allowing a takedown on the edge of the mats early in the 60-second overtime.
But with 33 seconds left, Pritz secured a two-point takedown to complete the come-from-behind effort.
"Even though I was down 4-0, I thought he was tired," recalled the 16-year-old Pritz. "So, I took advantage as the match went on."
How big was the win?
"A win like this just gets me ready for districts," shrugged Pritz. "It gives us all a little more confidence. I thought team-wise, we did well especially having Taylor and James out. You never know what would have happened if we had all our guys."
Pauliot's win was also critical. It was his seventh straight since returning from being ejected at the Clay Invitational.
More importantly, the 2007 state qualifier made up for losing via disqualification at the Kiwanis Inv. in a controversial finish against Acosta.
What was the difference this time?
"Simple," explained the 17-year-old Pauliot. "I came out ready to wrestle. I'm 7-0 since my vacation. I plan on going undefeated into regionals -- that's my goal."
How tough was Acosta?
"This win means a lot," answered Pauliot. "He's a good wrestler. It was a good win. I really thought I had him stuck twice, but he got out."

Springstead 58, Hernando 19
103 - R. Bliss (SPG) won by forfeit.
112 - D. Soto (SPG) pin Weston, 0:38.
119 - Swanton (SPG) won by forfeit.
125 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Huff (SPG), 6-4 (OT).
130 - C. J. Cook (SPG) pin Bishop, 2:46.
135 - S. Bliss (SPG) pin Morrill, 4:31.
140 - Graham (HER) pin Slover, 0:51.
145 - Hughes (SPG) major dec. Day, 12-3.
152 - Ellerbee (SPG) won by forfeit.
160 - Klenovich (SPG) won by forfeit.
171 - Gomez (HER) pin Wern, 2:55.
189 - Pauliot (HER) maj. dec. C. Acosta, 11-3.
215 - Cox (SPG) pin Raney, 2:37.
285 - Ramirez (SPG) pin Hostetter, 0:54
Records - Hernando (6-6 overall), Springstead (12-3 overall).

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

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