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Hernando Today

Three County Powers Seek State Bid

Staff photo by BOB EAST III

Hernando High senior Joe Wright (61) will pace the Leopards this fall in cross country.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: September 20, 2008

Today when the starter's gun goes off at the Zak Lucas Invitational at Hernando High, the prep cross country season will be officially underway for all four county programs.

As a new year begins, the local landscape hasn't changed much from 2007, with three programs, Central, Hernando and Nature Coast, taking aim at reaching their respective state meets Nov. 22 at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.

Last year, the Bears laid claim to the county championship, yet failed to reach the Class 3A Florida High School Athletic Association Finals.

Meanwhile, both the Leopards and Sharks did move on to the 2A Finals, finishing 13th and 14th respectively.

This season the Bears are rebuilding with the graduation of their top two runners, while Nature Coast continues to build a program that had little positive history prior to last season.

Even Hernando, the state runner-up in 2005 and 2006, has to replace the county's lone 2007 state medalist, Tyler Maier.

(Re)Build-A-Bears

Central Head Coach Eric Milholland enters his fifth year with the program, needing to fill the gaps left by Brad Henderson and Alex Yettaw.

He'll look to three key returning members of the 2007 club that finished 10th in the Region II meet at the Bears' Den, junior Mason MacKenzie and senior twins Josh and Mike Shannon.

"The main thing is getting us ready for the Hernando/Citrus Classic, getting ready for districts, getting ready for regionals," Milholland said. "We feel fairly confident we can make it out of the district, but the main thing is getting to states."

Of course at Hernando, Hall of Fame coach Ernie Chatman still rules the roost, starting his 27th year as headman.

Senior Joe Wright, junior David Worthington and sophomore Jeremy Wright, as well as freshman Parker Steinkamp, are among those that must step up to continue the Leopard legacy.

"I was thinking we'd be better than last year but now I hope to be as good as last year," Chatman said. "It's one of those things. You don't know at this point. It's been an up-and-down type of thing thus far.

"Everybody has to pick up the slack (to replace Maier). He was a little bit of a surprise last year. A pleasant one, he made us a lot better. We have a ways to go to make up for his absence."

Armen Merjanian turned the Sharks from an afterthought to a state qualifier in just his first year at Nature Coast, but cautions that the building process still needs time.

Senior Matt Lambert and juniors Bruce Federico and Tyler Harrison are back, while the Sharks must replace Alex Mason and David Garton.

"We've never won a meet yet so we're definitely aiming on winning a meet or two," Merjanian said. "We want to finish near the top in the district, near the top in the region and a top 10 finish in the state I think is very realistic for us."

At Springstead, the Eagles are still a ways from inserting themselves into the county picture. This year they'll have a full roster for second-year coach Josh Criner, an improvement from 2007.

Still, Criner has no returning runners from last season, though he has high hopes for newcomers such as junior Drew Fulcher, who came on strong toward the end of track and field season.

"The main thing is we want to get a solid team together so that next year coming back we can have the experience of going through a whole season," Criner said, "get them to run track, do the summer workouts and next year be competitive."

CENTRAL BEARS

Head Coach: Eric Milholland (5th year)

District: 3A-3

2007 finish: 3A-Region II meet (10th).

Key losses: Brad Henderson, Alex Yettaw, Bob Davis, Kyle Rybka.

Key returnees: Mason MacKenzie (Jr.), Josh Shannon (Sr.), Mike Shannon (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Brent Hartley (Sr.), Ed D'Angelo (Fr.), Jawara Jarrett (Sr.), Jacob Stough (Fr.), Brandon Malone (Fr.), Jacob Wright (Jr.).

Coach's outlook: "The main thing is getting us ready for the Hernando/Citrus Classic, getting ready for districts, getting ready for regionals. We feel fairly confident we can make it out of the district but the main thing is getting to states."

HERNANDO LEOPARDS

Head Coach: Ernie Chatman (27th year)

District: 2A-3

2007 finish: 2A Finals (13th).

Key losses: Tyler Maier.

Key returnees: Joe Wright (Sr.), David Worthington (Jr.), Jeremy Wright (So.), Jesse Balogh (So.), Alex Spade (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Parker Steinkamp (Fr.), Kevin Herbert (Jr.), Jeff Vrosh (Sr.).

Coach's outlook: "I was thinking we'd be better than last year but now I hope to be as good as last year. It's one of those things. You don't know at this point. It's been an up-and-down type of thing thus far."

NATURE COAST SHARKS

Head Coach: Armen Merjanian (2nd year)

District: 2A-3

2007 finish: 2A Finals (14th).

Key losses: Alex Mason, David Garton.

Key returnees: Matt Lambert (Sr.), Bruce Federico (Jr.), Tyler Harrison (Jr.).

Key newcomers: David O'Quinn (Jr.), Britton Cox (Sr.).

Coach's outlook: "We've never won a meet yet so we're definitely aiming on winning a meet or two. We want to finish near the top in the district, near the top in the region and a top 10 finish in the state I think is very realistic for us."

SPRINGSTEAD EAGLES

Head Coach: Josh Criner (2nd year)

District: 3A-3

2007 finish: 3A-3 meet (NTS).

Key losses: Devin Hall, Jon Santana.

Key returnees: none.

Key newcomers: Drew Fulcher (Jr.), Craig Brice (Sr.), Chris Conrad (So.), Mike Rosenweig (Jr.), David Bonda (Jr.).

Coach's outlook: "The main thing is we want to get a solid team together so that next year coming back we can have the experience of going through a whole season, get them to run track, do the summer workouts and next year be competitive."

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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