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Hernando Today

A Band of Brothers: The Pritz Family

WRESTLING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Hernando High freshman Zach Pritz enters the 45th annual FHSAA State Wrestling Finals on an 11-match winning streak. After Pritz won the blue ribbon at 1A-5 Tourney at Inverness, he captured the 1A-II meet last weekend at Matanzas.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: February 19, 2009

Today's 45th annual Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Wrestling Finals Tournament at The Lakeland Center in Polk County will once again reunite the Sunshine State's elite mat men.
That is certainly the case for a pair of Brooksville brothers: Hernando High junior Daniel Pritz at 135 pounds and freshman Zach Pritz at 140.
Each is courting the sport's most coveted prize - a gold medal on Saturday night. Yet their may be more competition amongst the brothers than there will ever be against any opponent.
The Pritz brothers are attempting to duplicate what another set of Hernando County siblings accomplished in 2003. That's when Billy Combs (third place) and Charley Combs (second) each competed and placed at states.
Here's their story.
 
Pritz Family: 101
 
The Pritz siblings on this stage are a rarity. But behind the scenes there is a tremendous support group in place.
The brothers have several common threads including their devoted parents, Ken and Beth Pritz. Ken served as head wrestling coach at Hernando High for eight seasons in the 1980s. His new role is principal at Hernando High School.
Since 1996, Ken and Beth, have meandered across the state from gym to gym during the winter seasons supporting their five sons (Robbie, Stephen, David, Daniel and Zach) on the mat.
The five boys have a combined 16 years of prep grappling.
The Pritz boys must also be pretty darn good as evidenced by their career numbers.
The four older boys have eclipsed 100-career wins with the Purple and Gold. Each rank among the Top 13 in career wins. So far, the Pritz brothers have combined for 505 career prep wins and 10 state qualifiers.
Robbie, who graduated in 2000, was a two-time state qualifier for the Leopards. More importantly, he is one of only 25 lifetime Hernando County residents to ever be adorned state champion as a senior at 140 pounds under Head Coach Matt Smith and assistant Bill Combs Sr.
Stephen, who graduated in 2003, reached states as a junior and a senior. He was the lone sibling to never win a match at states, finishing 0-4.
Stephen was a member of the 2003 squad that finished as Class 1A State runners-up under Coach Smith.
David, who graduated in 2006, stands atop the school record list with 149 career victories.
He also holds the school record for winning percentage finishing 149-14 lifetime, winning 91.4 percent of his matches.
David was a three-time state qualifier and rare three-time state placer. Across three winters, David finished second, fifth and third on the George Jenkins Arena floor.
If records are meant to be broken, however, look no further than for the last two Pritz brothers.
Daniel enters this weekend's tournament with a career 108-26 won-lost slate. He's on pace to eclipse David's mark for most-ever wins.
He's entering states for the second time. He placed third last winter at 125 pounds and is competing at 135 this season.
Daniel set the Pritz family record as a freshman with a fine 25-14 mark, featuring 19 pins. Considering Hernando County's lone three-time state champion, Addison Chipoletti, went 7-19 as a freshman, indicates how well Daniel competed as a first-year wrestler.
Daniel, 17, recently captured his second straight first-place district blue ribbon and followed that with his second regional championship.
Next year, he'll attempt to achieve something no HHS wrestler has ever done - capture three regional titles.
Yet Daniel's accomplishments have already been shattered by the latest Pritz brother, Zach.
The 15-year-old Zach enters the Polk County meet on an 11-match win skein with an outstanding 36-8 campaign. He's already captured a district championship and added a regional individual title to his resume last weekend at Flagler County.
So, which Pritz brother is the best? Depends who you ask.
 
Papa Pritz
 
How are the parents holding up entering states?
"It's a lot of fun," explained the 50-year-old Ken Pritz. "It's the first time two of the boys have made it (to states) in the same year. It could have happened before when Stephen was a junior but David hurt his elbow (late during his freshman year) and did not get to compete in the state series."
How are their chances?
"It's neat that both are coming as regional champs," replied Ken. "For parents, states are already nerve-racking and now we've got two to look out for. I think Beth and I will be OK, Robbie's already a nervous wreck."
What's their secret to success?
"Both Zach and Daniel were raised around wrestlers and the mats," indicated Ken. "They've both wrestled since they were small. Daniel has come a long way. He's got a different style than Zach. Zach wrestles more like David. Both are very aggressive and both are excellent on their feet. For Zach it's all about his confidence level. Both he and Daniel are beginning to peak at the right time.
"Daniel is more like Robbie. Both are like technicians," added Ken. "At first I thought Daniel's lack of aggression would not suit him. But Robbie thinks he has his own style and it works. Why fidget with it?"
"Daniel is a more laid back, methodical wrestler," explained the 26-year-old Robbie Pritz, who is youth pastor in Brooksville. "He's real explosive. Yet, he makes it look so easy out there. The difference is he is a very calm and confident guy. He really doesn't have to rack up a bunch of points to win matches. He's very aware of the situation on the mat."
What did Daniel learn from last year's loss at states?
"The Wakulla kid was much stronger," said Robbie. "So, Daniel needed to get stronger. And against those types of kids, you need to control the match. It's you either slow him or it's 'Oh, crap, he outworked me.'"
"To me, Zach is like David, they're both mean (on the mats). For both winning is in their heads," said Robbie. "Zach has an attacking personality. He likes to get the first takedown, just like David did."
"Zach is more like me," shared the 21-yar-old David Pritz, who is wrestling for Division I Appalachian State Mountaineers this winter. "He's more aggressive and he likes takedowns. Daniel just isn't that aggressive. He's more a thinker. He's better on top. He's better suited for college wrestling."
What are the brothers' chances on winning?
"Zach could be good enough to win states. Time will tell," replied David. "I think Daniel should win it all this weekend. I haven't been around that much this year, but Daniel is much stronger than what he was last year. He's a done a lot more power lifting.
"I watched the tape of Daniel's loss against the Robinson kid (Zach Boyer)," added David. "That was a fluke. Daniel is a much better wrestler than that. He should beat that guy again if they hook up."
Since that 4-2 loss in the Kiwanis Invitational finals, Daniel has reeled off 32 wins in a row.
"Zach is still young and he's learning," described David. "He's still raw and a little sloppy. I think he can hang with anybody out there and should still place."
What about just reaching the finals?
"Getting to the finals is OK," answered David. "But I can tell you from experience it sucks to lose at finals. Nobody goes that far to lose."
What about the brotherly bond?
"We're always razzing on our brothers," indicated David. "But I'm still pulling for both of 'em. Both those guys have wrestled since they were 5-years-old. They both have got to get their first match at states out of the way and then see what happens."
"Normally, I just drive up and come back and forth," said Robbie. "This year we got a hotel and I ain't leaving. Both my brothers have wrestled their whole lives. I don't know who will win, but I'm fascinated in watching them try."
So is everyone else.
 
By the Numbers: Pritz Family Stats

- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

RK.  NO. NAME   YEARS STATES
1.   149 Pritz, David  2002-06 3 
11.  108 Pritz, Daniel  2006-09 2
12.  107 Pritz, Robbie  1996-00 2 
13.  105 Pritz, Stephen  2000-04 2
??.  36 Pritz, Zach  2008-09 1
-5-  TOTALS 505    16  10 
 
 

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

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