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Hernando Today

Springstead Still Has Nine Lives

2A-II WRESTLING

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: February 15, 2009

KISSIMMEE - This was supposed to be something of a rebuilding season for Springstead High.

Yet as it comes to a close, the Eagles can boast more state qualifiers than in their previous campaign after this weekend's Class 2A, Region II meet at Kissimmee-Poinciana High.

As expected, Springstead (175.5 team points) finished second to perennial power and defending state champion Brandon (284) for the second year in a row.

Meanwhile, the Eagles improved upon last year's count of seven state qualifiers, sending nine to The Lakeland Center next weekend.

Two of those wrestlers, Thad Klenovich (160) and Scott Wern (189), made their respective finals, with Wern earning a regional championship. Both are headed to states for the second time.

Richie Bliss (103), Cody Ross (119), Nick Soto (125), Colton Zimmerman (135), Shawn Landgraff (145), Jessey Lorentsen (171) and Ken Cox (215) all moved on by reaching the consolation finals.

"I think a lot of people counted us out at the beginning of the year because we lost all those guys (from last season)," Springstead Head Coach Eric Swensen said. "I think a lot of people figured that's it.

"We never let the boys buy into rebuilding. We made a poster that said 'we don't rebuild, we reload.' We really pressed our young guys to step up and held them very, very accountable for everything they do."

Wern wins

Wern registered a 10-3 victory over Shawn Sommerville of Lake Gibson, a 1:10 pin of Celebration's Travis Temple and a 10-2 major decision against Brandon's Mike Ettore in his first three matches.

In the final the senior took care of George Jenkins' Trevor Brown, 16-5, and reveled in the moment afterward.

"It feels awesome," Wern said. "Last year I took third and the kid I beat for districts ended up winning. My parents made a poster and put a picture of the kid that I beat at districts on it and it said 'don't let this happen this year.'

"I wasn't going to let that happen. I was determined to win regionals. Now my goal is states. This is the toughest region. If I can win this region there's no reason I can't win states."

Wern reflected back on his days as a freshman, when he only won one match.

"A lot of hard work and a lot of it's the coaches," Wern said. "They molded me completely. They turned me into a great wrestler. They work with me constantly. They've dedicated their lives to it and I've dedicated the last four years of my life to it. It's all worth it when you win something like this."

"Wern looked dominant," Swensen said. "He's looked dominant the last two weeks. Kids go in patterns of highs and lows. He started real high (at the beginning of the season) and for some reason dipped a little bit.

"I think last week, winning districts was a huge boost for him. He really believed after that. At 189, five of the toughest kids in the state are here and we win it. I'd say Scott is ready to go."

Klenovich benefitted from a first-round forfeit, then took a 5-4 decision over Liberty's Jamil Elisis and won by a 17-2 technical fall versus Nick Piloto of Plant.

In the final, the senior failed in his bid for a regional championship, absorbing a 7-2 defeat to St. Cloud's Frank Cousins.

"I didn't really have any matches except for the final match," Klenovich said. "Tough kid in that match. My head wasn't right.

"It's (states) important. It's what I've worked for all year. Just got to go out with a bang. Wrestle my hardest so I have no regrets."

Six place third

Of the remaining seven Eagle state qualifiers, six of them won their consolation final to take third place.

The sophomore Bliss, who lost in the semifinals to Lake Gibson's Brandon Jorge by a 3:28 pin, rebounded by beating Abe Fernandez of Middleton in 2:37 to earn his initial state berth.

Another underclassman, the freshman Ross, took the same path to clinch his first trip to states, pinning Ryan Finneran from St. Cloud in 2:50 after falling in the semis to Rossi Bruno of Brandon, 2-1.

Bliss captured a 16-4 major decision over Brandon's Keith LeFevre in his final and Ross won 3-1 against Lake Gibson's Austin Nesvacil.

Soto and Lorentsen just missed the championship finals, as well, with semifinal losses. In the consolation bracket, Soto defeated Logan Ennis of Lake Gibson (4-0) and Jeremy Goodloe of Dunedin (8-7).

Lorentsen, who went to states with Mitchell last year, pinned Ryan Kuell of Lake Gibson in his final in 1:38 after getting there via an 8-4 decision over Timothy Witte of Armwood.

Zimmerman survived three consolation matches prior to his 5-2 win over Winter Haven's Sterling Smith in the final. Landgraff did the same before pinning Auburndale's Chance Lane at 4:31.

Only Cox lost in the consolation finals, 3-2 to Seabreeze's Nick Siedelofer. However, like Zimmerman and Landgraff, he won three previous elimination matches.

"We're excited about (states)," Swensen said. "For most of them, it's their first trip there. What we'll tell the kids on Monday is if they were able to place in this region, they should be able to place in the state tournament."

Central shutout

Central sent seven wrestlers to this meet, but the Bears failed to get any into the top four in finishing 20th with 22.5 points.

Three of the Central grapplers, Wayne Snell (125), Kenny Supple (130) and Shaun Cadoret (145), went 3-2, falling a round short of the consolation finals. Danny May went 2-2 at 215, getting eliminated by Cox.

Final Class 2A, Region II Team Standings
PL Team PTS
1. Brandon (BDN) 284.0
2. Springstead (SPG) 175.5
3. Lake Gibson (LG) 129.0
4. Dunedin (DUN) 115.0
5. St. Cloud (SC) 64.0
6. Lakeland-George Jenkins (GJ) 63.5
7. New Smyrna Beach (NSB) 60.0
8. NPR-River Ridge (RR) 56.0
9. Auburndale (AUB) 55.0
10. Tampa-Wharton (WHA) 48.5
11. Lithia-Newsome (NEW) 43.5
12. Daytona Beach-Seabreeze (SEB) 40.0
13. Kissimmee-Poinciana (POI) 36.5
14. Winter Haven (WH) 33.0
15. Tampa-Jefferson (JEF) 32.5
16. Kissimmee-Liberty (LIB) 32.0
17. Seffner-Armwood (ARM) 29.0
18. Tampa-Middleton (MID) 27.0
19. Celebration (CEL) 23.5
20. Central (CEN) 22.5
21. Lake Howell (LH) 20.5
22. Lake Region (LR) 18.5
23. Tampa-Chamberlain (CHA) 18.0
24. Hillsborough (HIL) 15.0
24. Land O' Lakes (LOL) 15.0
26. Tampa-Plant (PLA) 14.0
27. Tampa-Leto (LET) 9.0
28. Wesley Chapel (WC) 4.0
29. Tampa-Freedom (FRE) 3.0
29. Tampa-King (KIN) 3.0
31. Tampa-Blake (BLA) 0.0
31. NPR-Ridgewood (RW) 0.0
31. South Lake (SL) 0.0
31. Tampa Bay Tech (TBT) 0.0
31. Tarpon Springs (TS) 0.0

Class 2A, Region II Individual Finals Results
103 - Jorge (LG) dec. Smith (GJ), 8-3
112 - Renkey (BDN) maj. dec. Gray (ARM), 12-1
119 - Bruno (BDN) pin Brown (LR), 3:59
125 - Liberatore (BDN) tech. fall Betancourt (LIB), 17-1
130 - Glass (BDN) maj. dec. Sermons (WH), 11-3
135 - Grajales (BDN) pin Dobler (NEW), 4:54
140 - Timothy (BDN) dec. Jorge (LG), 5-3
145 - Cozart (BDN) dec. Rex (LG), 3-1
152 - Figaro (BDN) maj. dec. Davidson (AUB), 12-4
160 - Cousins (SC) dec. Klenovich (SPG), 7-2
171 - Talley (DUN) dec. Berridge (BDN), 7-4
189 - Wern (SPG) maj. dec. Brown (GJ), 16-5
215 - Rislin (POI) dec. Newman (GJ), 8-6
285 - Bell (NSB) dec. Agrmonte (DUN), 6-3

Class 2A, Region II Individual Consolation Finals Results
103 - Bliss (SPG) maj. dec. LeFevre (BDN), 16-4
112 - Phillips (LG) dec. McKay (LOL), 5-3
119 - Ross (SPG) dec. Nesvacil (LG), 3-1
125 - Soto (SPG) dec. Goodloe (DUN), 8-7
130 - Cotrell (LG) dec. Rodriguez (WHA), 7-1
135 - Zimmerman (SPG) dec. Smith (WH), 5-2
140 - Hitchcock (RR) inj. default Drake (NEW)
145 - Landgraff (SPG) pin Lane (AUB), 4:31
152 - Vannata (RR) dec. Enamait (NSB), 4-2
160 - Koziel (BDN) dec. Temple (CEL), 4-0
171 - Lorentsen (SPG) pin Kuell (LG), 1:38
189 - Ettore (BDN) dec. Zeedyk (DUN), 4-0
215 - Siedelofer (SEB) dec. Cox (SPG), 3-2
285 - Garret (AUB) dec. Chattin (SC), 6-5

Springstead's Class 2A, Region II Individual Results
WGT Name W L Pins Pl
103 Bliss, Richie 4 1 3 3rd
112 Redman, Sean 3 2 2 -
119 Ross, Cody 4 1 2 3rd
125 Soto, Nick 4 1 1 3rd
130 Huff, Devean 0 2 0 -
135 Zimmerman, Colton 5 1 1 3rd
140 Colon, Sam 2 2 0 -
145 Landgraff, Shawn 5 1 4 3rd
152 Ellerbee, Thomas 2 2 1 -
160 Klenovich, Thad 3 1 0 2nd
171 Lorentsen, Jessey 4 1 3 3rd
189 Wern, Scott 4 0 1 1st
215 Cox, Ken 4 2 1 4th
285 Oquendo, Charles 1 2 1 -
TOTALS 45 19 20

Central's Class 2A, Region II Individual Results
WGT Name W L Pins Pl
119 Monsegur, Robbie 1 2 0 -
125 Snell, Wayne 3 2 0 -
130 Supple, Kenny 3 2 0 -
140 Cleveland, Josh 0 2 0 -
145 Cadoret, Shaun 3 2 0 -
171 Martin, Zach 0 2 0 -
215 May, Danny 2 2 1 -
TOTALS 12 14 1

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

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