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Hernando Today

Eagles Earn Rare Repeat

BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

F.W. Springstead High School's boys weightlifting team earned its second straight county championship trophy Wednesday night in Spring Hill, besting runner-up NCT, 51-43. The title was the Eagles' fourth in the past six seasons.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: April 1, 2009

SPRING HILL - Two Hernando County teams – Springstead and Nature Coast Technical – broadened their scope behind a respective 1-2 finish during Wednesday's 11th annual Hernando County Boys Weightlifting Championship Meet in the Eagles' gym.
For the first time in nine years, heavily-favored Springstead captured back-to-back team titles.
For its part, the visiting Sharks enjoyed its best-ever finish after five consecutive last-place efforts.
For the hosts, sixth-year SHS Head Coach Mike Garofano earned his fourth county crown as the Eagles slipped past NCT, 51-43.
Central finished third with 35 points followed by Hernando with 28 points.

Eagles rule

All told, the Eagles had 13-of-15 lifters secure points in each of 10 weight divisions highlighted by meet-best five county champions and two runners-up.
Claiming titles for the hosts was Geovanny Decene at 154 pounds (255-225—480), Steve Sullivan at 169 (300-250—550), James Wozniak at 183 (315-245—560), Daniel Wilson at 199 (315-235—550) and Nate Schafer at 238 (330-285—615).
Decene and Schafer, who hoisted the meet's highest combined total at 615 pounds, were repeat champions from 2008.
Sullivan became a rare three-time champion topping teammate Armando Noury by 50 pounds.
How tough was it to repeat?
"It was a little easier this time," explained the 17-year-old Sullivan, the county's lone returning state placer from 2008, "Because I didn't have to cut any weight. It seems one season isn't really tougher than the next. I still got butterflies before my first lift."
And the team?
"This (win) is great," replied the Eagle captain. "We've all worked hard all season. A lot of guys raised their totals. My goal next week is like everybody else who goes to sectionals – to reach states. The key is to focus on each lift."
"It was harder to win this year," explained the 16-year-old Decene. "My teammate scratched (Joel Rivera), so there was a lot more pressure on me. Like always my cleans carried me today. My goal next week is to go up 10 pounds in my bench and cleans."
Schafer differed from Decene saying that it was harder to win last spring.
"Last year I had to get my last lift and it was more than I had ever done in front of everybody," he recalled. "That (win) was amazing. This year I won by 60 pounds over (NCT's Gary) Myrick. He's gotten a lot stronger. He'll end up being real strong in the future."
And the team win?
"I didn't realize it until today that we had never won back-to-back titles, so its pretty nice," added the 18-year-old Schafer.
Unlike the trio of repeaters, Wilson was relieved to finally earn a championship nod.
"It's about time," proclaimed the 19-year-old Wilson after beating Central's Zach Rice by 35 pounds. "This is my fourth year and its great load off my chest to finally win."
Overall?
"Today wasn't even my best day," said Wilson. "My shoulder is still bothering me. I'm probably 30-40 pounds under what I usually max out on. All I want to do next week is get enough to go to states."
Like Wilson, Wozniak was another first-time champ.
"It's really good to get my first championship," commented the 18-year-old Wozniak after besting central runner-up Alex Jang by 25 pounds. "I thought I had a good day, especially on my bench."
Coach Garofano praised his entire squad but thought his older kids led the way.
"The guys that have been around the longest like Woz, Schafer, Sully, they set the tone for all the guys," shared Garofano. "Every day those three are the first ones in the weight room and last to leave."
Any surprises?
"It was a welcome surprise with Geovanny (Decene)," said Garofano. "We went from 129 to 154 pounds and still won. He gave up some weight, but along the way he raised his totals, too. He's like most of these kids. They're real good, hard working guys."

Sharks: two crowns

For the first time in three seasons under Head Coach Charles Liggett, the Sharks returned home with a pair of individual champions.
Senior Joe Mignoli (330-260—590) topped Hernando senior Clay Kessler by 40 pounds at 219 while sophomore Anthony Carlucci bested teammate Mark Piskura by 15 pounds, 395-380, at 139 pounds.
Though Mignoli failed to increase his totals for the second week in a row, he looked at the bright side of his performance.
"I must be pretty lucky," said the 18-year-old Mignoli. "That won even though I didn't have my best day. Today I was attempting to lift more in preparation for section finals."
What about the Sharks placing second overall?
"It's a good improvement," replied Mignoli. "You'll see, we're getting better and better. There's definitely been improvement this year."
Carlucci joined Mignoli in the winner's spotlight.
"It feels good win," shrugged the 16-year-old Carlucci. "But I feel I can do better."

Central: two titles

Though the four-time county champion Bears struggled during the regular season, Head Coach Joe Nestor's squad recorded two first and three second-place finishes on Wednesday.
Individual crowns belonged to first-year lifters, junior Ben Lascurain at 119 (190-170—360) and freshman David Morales (175-160—335). Second-place efforts were notched by senior Mike McDaniels at 154 (270-185—455), Jang at 183 and Rice at 199.
Lascurain, a move-in from Paris, KY, had never lifted weights until reaching CHS. On Wednesday, he defeated Hernando's Mike Sanders by 30 pounds for his first county crown.
"We didn't have weightlifting in Kentucky," explained the 17-year-old Lascurain. "So, this all new; but it feels real good to win. My next goal is to reach states but I know I've got to work harder on my bench. It needs to go up 10-15 pounds."
Another first-time winner was Morales, who was competing in just his second-ever meet.
"This (win) is so cool," admitted the 15-year-old Morales, who topped Springstead's Peter Napoli by 15 pounds for first place. "I went up 10 pounds from my last meet. I'm so stoked, I never thought I could this far. I feel like I'm getting stronger every day."

Leopards: one champ

Rounding out the champions was Hernando High junior Robert Huggins, who bested NCT junior Braddie Ellison by 50 pounds, 600-550, for first place in the heavyweight division.

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

Final 2009 Hernando County Boys Weightlifting Meet Results
PL SCHOOL PTS
1. Springstead (SPG) 51
2. Nature Coast Technical (NCT) 43
3. Central (CEN) 35
4. Hernando (HER) 28

Past Hernando County Boys Weightlifting Championships
YEAR TEAM POINTS
1999 Central NA
2000 Central NA
2001 Central NA
2002 Springstead 42.0
2003 Hernando 42.0
2004 Springstead 53.0
2005 Hernando 55.0
2006 Springstead 50.0
2007 Central 50.0
2008 Springstead 57.0
2009 Springstead 51.0

2009 11th annual Hernando County Championship Meet Individual Results
(Top 5 featuring bench, clean & jerk and total weight lifted. Points awarded 6-4-3-2-1 basis)
119 - 1. Lascurain (CEN) 190-170—360, 2. Sanders (HER) 180-150—330, 3. Siegfried (SPG) 175-145—320, 4. Hicks (NCT) 140-130—270, 5. Rossicoe (SPG) 140-125—265.
129 - 1. D. Morales (CEN) 175-160—335, 2. Napoli (SPG) 160-160—320, 3. Callacci (CEN) 160-145—305, 4. Wagner (HER) 155-140—295, 5. Prezkop (NCT) 130-120—250.
139 - 1. Carlucci (NCT) 205-190—395, 2. Piskura (NCT) 190-190—380, 3. Santiago (SPG) 225-145—370, 4. Gartner (CEN) 190-170—360.
154 - 1. ** Decene (SPG) 255-225—480, 2. McDaniels (CEN) 270-185—455, 3. D. Pritz (HER) 205-180—385, 4. Bailey (CEN) 240-135—375.
169 - 1. $ Sullivan (SPG) 300-250—550, 2. A. Noury (SPG) 285-215—500, 3. Giordano (HER) 275-220—495, 4. Mackiewicz (NCT) 240-240—480, 5. Read (CEN) 230-215—445.
183 - 1. Wozniak (SPG) 315-245—560, 2. Jang (CEN) 330-205—535, 3. J. Greene (NCT) 280-200—500, 4. Clemmons (NCT) 255-225—480, 5. Farace (CEN) 230-215—445.
199 - 1. Wilson (SPG) 315-235—550, 2. Rice (CEN) 255-260—515, 3. J. Murray (NCT) 290-225—515, 4. Greco (SPG) 245-225—470, 5. R. Greene (NCT) 235-205—440.
219 - 1. Mignoli (NCT) 330-260—590, 2. Kessler (HER) 325-225—550, 3. Parnell (HER) 255-240—495, 4. French (CEN) 270-210—480, 5. Lakin (SPG) 265-215—480.
238 - 1. ** Schafer (SPG) 330-285—615, 2. Myrick (NCT) 275-280—555, 3. Dampier (NCT) 260-250—510, 4. Bailey (HER) 205-155—360.
HWT - 1. Huggins (HER) 355-245—600, 2. Ellison (NCT) 290-260—550, 3. Oquendo (SPG) 315-205—520, 4. Cullen (NCT) 280-220—500, 5. Doyle (HER) 220-175—395.
$ Denotes three-time champion
** Denotes repeat champion

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

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