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Hernando Today

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

REGIONAL WRESTLING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High junior Daniel Pritz earned his second district title at Inverness-Citrus High and is shooting for second regional crown this weekend at Palm Coast-Matanzas.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: February 12, 2009

Hernando County grapplers will once again be well represented in a pair of grueling, two-day torture examinations this weekend called Class 2A, Region II and Class 1A, Region II.
Fourteen Springstead Eagles will be joined by seven members from Central High for the second straight year at the 2A-II Tournament at Kissimmee-Poinciana High School.
Meanwhile, nine Hernando Leopards and six Nature Coast Technical Sharks venture to the Class 1A-II meet at Palm Coast-Matanzas High - just outside of St. Augustine.
Survival is the name of the game for a county-record 36 locals grapplers.
Only the top four finishers in each of the 14 weight divisions will qualify for the state's main stage -- the 45th  State Finals at Lakeland Center scheduled for Feb. 19-21.

2A-II: A meat grinder

Perhaps no region in the state will be as tough as 2A-II. Just how arduous is this meet?
Last winter, the Eagles entered with 13 grapplers in the Osceola County event and almost half (six) did not survive the two-day, double-elimination ordeal to advance to states.
This year, weigh-ins are set for 10 a.m. today with wrestling set to begin at noon and run until 9 p.m.
Saturday's semifinals are slated for 10 a.m.
Wrestlebacks follow at 12:30 p.m. while the consolation finals are set for 6 p.m. followed by the championship finals at 7:30 p.m.
Up to 32 teams could be represented in the 2A-II Meet comprising Districts 5-8.
Though Springstead is coming off its county-record 23rd district title, its stiffest competition will come from the state's most legendary program, District 7 champion and defending regional and state champion Brandon, as well as always tough St. Cloud, Lakeland-Lake Gibson and 2A-5 runner-up Dunedin.
Brandon earned its 36th consecutive district crown last Friday at Winter Haven. The Hillsborough County team is also bringing 14 wrestlers.
SHS' fifth-year Head Coach Eric Swensen, whose team collected its sixth tournament title this winter last Saturday in the 2A-5 meet at Dunedin, believes his team is primed for the warfare ahead.
Swensen believes the squad can push an unlimited amount of competitors to Lakeland and reach its secondary goal, back-to-back regional runner-up trophies.
Last winter, SHS posted a collective 34-19 won-lost record at Poinciana.
On the health of the team?
"So far, so good," answered Swensen. "At practice we've worked the boys very hard in preparation for this (regional). I don't think it's a stretch to say that this is the hardest regional in the state. Period. Whoever places top three at Poinciana stands a great chance to place at states."
Overall?
"It's a very aggressive regional," Swensen said. "With Brandon in the mix, every other team pushes itself that much harder. It has to. As a result, you see a lot of kids wrestling perhaps harder than they ever have. This is certainly a quality regional. The main goal is to push 14 kids to states. It can be done, but it'll be hard to achieve."
What about the draws?
"Weight classes 171, 189 and to some extent 160 are absolutely tough weight classes. They're loaded with stud guys," remarked Swensen. "Some of our guys drew some tougher draws. That means they have to survive to perhaps draw a bit better draw next week at Lakeland."
And the issue of youth?
Only three Eagles, seniors Thad Klenovich (35-6 won-lost slate) at 160 pounds and Scott Wern (34-6) at 189, and junior Thomas Ellerbee (28-13) at 152 competed in this meet last year. Klenovich and Wern each placed third in Poinciana in 2008 to reach states. Ellerbee was eliminated after a 1-2 run.
Senior Jessey Lorentsen (37-6, 27 pins) at 171 competed for 3A Mitchell last winter and also reached Polk County.
"We've got some seniors who have drawn some tough brackets," explained Swensen. "But with the exception of those guys, the majority of the team is either freshmen or sophomores. We just don't know how they will react to this kind of field until we get there. All we're asking the kids to do is take care of business like they have all season long."
Attempting to reach the Lakeland Center for the first time will be sophomore Richie Bliss at 103  (37-2),  freshman Sean "Buddha" Redman at 112 (24-18), freshman Cody Ross at 119 (36-7), sophomore Nick Soto at 125 (33-4), sophomore Devean Huff at 130 (19-7), sophomore Colton Zimmermann at 135 (28-11), sophomore Sammy "The Bull" Colon at 140 (20-17), sophomore Shawn Landgraff at 145 (34-10), junior Kenny Cox (35-6) and senior Charles Oquendo (5-2).

Seven Bears

Unlike Springstead, who will be in the thick of the battle for this weekend's regional runner-up trophy, Central High's mat men are directing its focus at being represented at states.
Last winter, Central broke a five-year drought by sending juniors Kenny Supple and Danny May to the Lakeland Center.
Before that breakthrough, the Bears had not qualified anyone to states since 2003 when Bucky Solomon and Sergio Matos competed.
May (13-4) finished second last weekend at Dunedin's 2A-5 meet at 215 while Supple (team-best 28-9) placed third at 130.
Besides May and Supple's attempt to return to states, third-year CHS Head Coach Roy Reyes enters Osceola County with five other qualifiers who have collectively never reached states: sophomore Robbie Monsegur (9-6) at 119, senior Wayne Snell (24-16) at 125, junior Ken Supple (21-15) at 125, freshman Josh Cleveland (6-11) at 140 and senior Shaun Cadoret (27-12)  at 145.
Last winter, CHS struggled posting a collective 12-22 overall slate at Poinciana.

1A-II: at Palm Coast-Matanzas

Last year's 34-team, Class 1A, Region II at Avon Park saw Inverness-Citrus High edge Brooksville-Hernando by eight points, 143.0-135.0, for the title.
The team crown was Head Coach Mike Porcelli's third in a row.
Last week in Citrus County, the Golden Hurricanes qualified a meet-high 13 grapplers by capturing their fourth straight Class 1A, District 5 meet at home.
Standing in the way of a possible regional four-peat for the 'Canes at Palm Coast-Matanzas High this weekend is District 6 champion New Port Richey-Gulf (13 qualifiers), District 7 champion Matanzas (12 qualifiers), District 8 champion Avon Park (10 qualifiers) and dark horse Hernando (9 qualifiers).
Fourth-year Matanzas Head Coach John White believes the team to beat is Citrus.
"Obviously, based on what Citrus has done the past three years, they are the team to beat," forecasted Coach White. "But this weekend they could be challenged. Avon Park and Gulf have several guys coming. And Avon Park is pretty good in the heavier weight classes.
"We had five state qualifiers last year, and we've got one back (Shane Dennis at 152) this year."
What's the main goal?
"We stress to the kids to take it one match at a time," said Coach White. "Personally, we think we've wrestled some of the toughest teams around to get to this point. Hopefully, they won't panic when they get to a critical point in a match this weekend."
Action begins Friday at 12 p.m. in the Pirates' gym along three mats.
Saturday's semifinals are set for 10 a.m. followed by wrestle backs and then the consolation finals (5:30 p.m.) and finals (7:30 p.m.).

Leopards: Nine enter; how many survive?

Hernando High enters the two-day event with nine qualifiers from last Saturday's 1A-5 meet in Citrus County including: senior Brandon Gunderson (29-12) at 103, freshman Jared Young at 119 (10-25), junior Daniel Pritz (35-2) at 135, freshman Zach Pritz (32-8) at 140, senior Max Morrill (24-11) at 145, senior Kenny Day (11-19) at 152,  senior James Davidson (county-best 39-3, also tied for the county best 27 pins) at 171, senior George Smith (35-7) at 189 and junior Dakota Raney (13-16) at 215.
Daniel Pritz, Morrill and Davidson are all returning state qualifiers from 2008. Pritz won this meet last year while Morrill and Davidson each placed runner-up.
None of the other six competed in this meet last winter and are all attempting to reach Lakeland for the first time.
Are the Leopards ready?
"The guys are ready," insisted HHS assistant coach Bill Combs Sr. "We picked up the intensity a few weeks ago in practice to get ready for this (regionals). In the past, we've been the kind of team that peaks at the end of the season and based on how we did last weekend, we're following that pattern again."
Can anyone topple Citrus?
"There is no doubt Citrus has the numbers," explained Combs. "If all their kids win a couple of matches and they push their better kids through, they'll be in great shape.
"But who would have thought we'd have gotten nine going? Nobody," said Combs. "In a tournament this big, sometimes things happen. You can't count out Gulf or Matanzas or even Avon Park (winning it).
"And our older kids have done the job all season long," he added. "This is the meet that separates the men from the boys."

NCT: Six Sharks in the fray

After a disappointing seventh-place finish last weekend at Citrus High, the Nature Coast Technical Sharks hope to regroup starting with a clean slate at Matanzas.
The Sharks will be represented by sophomore Tyler Forand (26-14) at 103, senior David Simonson (21-10) at 119, junior Scott Cronin (25-16) at 125, freshman Mitch Lambert (20-25) at 135, senior Matt Lambert (27-6) at 145 and freshman Jeff Gilbert (23-14) at 215.
Simonson and Cronin are the two lone returning regional qualifiers from 2008.
Simonson went on to finish third and qualify for states. He's the only Shark grappler to ever reach the state championship tournament.
Fifth-year NCT Head Coach Mike Lastra believes the Sharks have three genuine shots at returning to states with Forand, Simonson and Cronin.
"It helps that we've seen a lot of District 6 kids," explained Lastra. "And we've practiced well in order to get ready for regionals."
And the forecast?
"Beating Citrus will be tough," he replied. "They don't have world beaters in their lineup, but they've got young guys that can win a two matches or more. They could win this by only sending 4-5 to states."

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

AT A GLANCE
WHAT - The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A, Region II Wrestling Tournament.
WHO - 32 teams including defending regional champion and 19-time state champion Brandon High, 2008 regional runner-up Spring Hill-Springstead, Lakeland-Lake Gibson, St. Cloud and Dunedin featuring an individual double-elimination format.
WHERE - Kissimmee-Poinciana High gym.
WHEN - Today from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday's action expected to begin at 10 a.m. with the semifinals followed by wrestle backs at 12:30 p.m. Consolation finals set for 5:30 p.m. followed by finals at 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE - Top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to next weekend's three-day, 45th annual Class 2A State Championship Tournament at The Lakeland Center.
WHAT - The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 1A, Region II Wrestling Tournament.
WHO - 34 teams including 3-time defending regional champion Inverness-Citrus High, 2008 regional runner-up Brooksville-Hernando, host and District 6 champ New Port Richey-Gulf, District 7 champ Palm Coast-Matanzas and District 8 champ Avon Park featuring an individual double-elimination format.
WHERE - Matanzas High School gym (three mats).
WHEN - Today from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday's action expected to begin at 10 a.m. with the semifinals followed by wrestle backs at 12:30 p.m. Consolation finals set for 5:30 p.m. followed by finals at 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE - Top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to next weekend's three-day, 45th annual Class 1A State Championship Tournament at The Lakeland Center.

Springstead's 2008 Class 2A, Region II Individual Results
WGT NAME   W L Pins PL
103  Soto, Dustin   4  1  3  3rd
112  Swanton, Schuyler  4  0  2  1st
119  Huff, Skylar   3  1  1  2nd
125  Cook, C.J.   4  0  1  1st
130  Bliss, Steve   3  2  2  -
140  Hughes, Sean   1  2 0  -
145  Ellerbee, Thomas  1  2  1  -
152  Klenovich, Thad  4  1  1  3rd
160  Herr, Andrew   1  2  0  -
171  Wern, Scott   4  1  2  3rd
189  Acosta, Cesar   4  1  2  3rd
215  Delgado, Luis   1  2  0  -
285  Ramirez, Carlos*  0  4  0  -
TOTALS    34  19  15
* Disqualified from tournament for flagrant misconduct, forfeits all matches

Central's 2008 Class 2A, Region II Individual Results
WGT NAME   W L Pins PL
103  Vega, Antohomar  0  2  0  -
119  Snell, Wayne   2  2  1  -
125  Supple, Ken   3  2  1  4th 
130  Zayas, Antonio  0  2  0  -
135  Ramirez, Vince  0  2  0  -
145  Cadoret, Shaun  2  2  0  -
152  Miller, Mike   0  2  0  -
189  May, Daniel   3  1  1  2nd 
215  Brazeau, Nathan  2  2  1  -
TOTALS    12  17  4

Hernando High's 2008 1A-II  Tourney Results
Wgt Name   Won Lost Pins PL
103 Weston, Spencer 1 2 0 - 
125 Pritz, Daniel  4 0 1 1st  
135 Morrill, Max  3 1 1 2nd  
140 Graham, Jesse  4 0 1 1st  
160 Ball, Tim  2 2 1 - 
171 Davidson, James 3 1 2 2nd  
189 Pauliot, Nick  5 1 2 3rd   
215 Rotunda, Taylor 4 1 3 3rd       
TOTALS   26 8 11 - 

Nature Coast's 2008 1A-II Tourney Results
Wgt  Name    W L       Pins PL
112 Simonson, David 5 1 3 3rd  
119 Cronin, Scott  3 2 3 -
130 Jackson, Jeremiah 2 2 0 - 
140  Baker, C.J.  1 2 0 - 
152 Huang, Jimmy  1 2 1 -
215  Nuby, Brandon 3 2 1 - 
285  Baker, JJ  2 2 2 - 
TOTALS   17 13 10 - 

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

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