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Hernando Today

All Hands on Deck

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead Head Coach Eric Swensen

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 2, 2009

With the holidays over, its time to get back to work - on the mats.
All four Hernando County prep programs will be in action today at four different venues.
Springstead will be the only program at home as it hosts five teams beginning at 9 a.m. in the Springstead Duals.
The county's other three programs hit the road.
Central High ventures to Inverness for the Rob Hermann Hurricane Cup Duals Tournament, while Nature Coast Technical journeys to St. Petersburg Catholic Duals and Hernando travels to the Wesley Chapel High Wildcat Duals.
Here's a glimpse at each event.
 
SHS: Hosts face stacked deck
 
The Eagles have traditionally been at Brandon's 'Stop the Streak' Tournament this weekend.
But since Homestead-South Dade ended Brandon's streak last winter, the Hillsborough County school is not hosting that event this winter.
To fill the void, Springstead chose five teams that typically attended the Brandon Tourney. The field is like a Who's Who.
Coming up from Dade County is Miami-Columbus guided by Hall-of-Fame Head Coach Jim Husk. The last time SHS faced Husk, he was guiding the fortunes of always-tough Miami-Southridge program.
In the last clash between the mat titans in a dual meet arrived in the 2000-01 season. Future Hall-of-Fame Springstead Head Coach Bob Levija saw his team solve Southridge, 51-25, at Berkeley Prep Duals and then nip Southridge at the now infamous Titusville-Astronaut Duals, 36-35.
Another visitor to the SHS gym will be Bradenton-Manatee. Manatee finished third in 2008's Class 2A State Championship meet.
Lakeland-Lake Gibson, who placed ninth in 2A, is also taking part.
Plant City-Durant and Tampa-Chamberlain round out the field.
Wrestling will take place across three mats from 9 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m.
Springstead is scheduled to tangle against Lake Gibson (9 a.m.) and then face Durant (10:30 a.m.), Columbus (12 p.m.), Chamberlain (1:30 p.m.) and Manatee (3 p.m.).
Despite its youthful line-up, SHS comes in 7-0 dual meets and has captured three tournaments (Ocala-Forest Inv., Brooksville-Kiwanis Inv., Gulf Duals).
 
Eagle Forecast
 
What does SHS Head Coach Eric Swensen expect?
"We've got some of the best teams in the state coming in," responded the fifth-year Head Coach Swensen. "As far as I know, four of the teams are ranked in the Top 10 of their classifications. That's pretty good. I think everybody knows this will not be easy for anybody."
What's the main goal?
"I'd like to see the continued improvement since the Durant Tournament," pointed out Swensen. At Durant, it was like a mini State Championship field. No disrespect to the local teams, but they don't have the depth or the firepower these teams will bring on Saturday."
"I want to see which of our kids step up to the challenge," he added. "Our good guys are gonna have to beat their good guys. These are kids that we see all summer long. There are no secrets, it should be fun."
Unlike some other tourneys, this dual meet event does not offer any trophies to the teams or individuals - only outstanding matches.
SHS will be led by the county's top two grapplers, senior Jessey Lorentzen at 171 pounds (19-2 overall, 16 pins) and sophomore Richie Bliss at 103 (18-1 overall, 13 pins).
 
Bears return to Citrus
 
For a third straight season, Central will journey to Citrus County for the Rob Hermann Hurricane Cup.
On the plus side, CHS has captured 7-of-9 matches at Citrus High the past two winters. In fact, Central finished 3-1 last season to finish runner-up to the host Hurricanes.
According to tourney director and Citrus Head Coach Mike Porcelli today's event will be divided into two pools of five teams. Each school will compete against other in pool play and then cross bracket versus the other pool to complete the state mandated ceiling of five matches in one day.
Pool A features: Inverness-Citrus, Clearwater-Countryside, Englewood-Lemon Bay, Kissimmee-Christian Academy and Crystal River; Pool B features: Orange Park-Fleming Island, Belleview, Groveland-South Lake, Dade City-Pasco and Brooksville-Central.
Wrestling is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and run through 6 p.m.
According to Porcelli, "Each school will choose an individual Outstanding Wrestler recipient and the top three finishing teams will receive trophies."
What's the goal of this event?
"After Jan. 1, everything is serious," declared Coach Porcelli, who has guided his program to a school record back-to-back-to-back regional titles across the last three winters. "The goal is to separate the serious programs from the rest. The better boys step up. As far as I'm concerned after Jan. 1, it's a sprint to the finish line (state finals in Lakeland). The key is to get hot and stay hot for the state series."
After Citrus was undressed 56-9 by Springstead in the finals of the Gulf Duals, are the Hurricanes ready to win their own tournament again?
"I'm not about excuses, but we had four starters out for a variety of reasons at Gulf," remarked Porcelli. "We had to fill gaps with JV kids. Could we have wrestled Springstead a lot closer? Sure. But we've got everybody back in place for this weekend."
Central comes in not being on the mats in three weeks - or since its 'flat' performance at Brooksville-Kiwanis Inv.
CHS was supposed to compete at the rugged Oviedo Ironman Tournament during the break but opted out when their practice schedule facility (CHS cafeteria) was not available during the holidays.
"Not going to the Ironman pushed us back," explained Central Head Coach Roy Reyes. "But the practices at Hernando have gone well. Initially there was a (mental) letdown by not going to Oviedo.
"Our health is much improved," added Reyes. "And we'll have (2008 state qualifier) Danny May (hamstring) back this weekend and that helps us across the board."
What about junior Vince Ramirez, who opted out of competing in his final consolation at Kiwanis?
"He's had surgery (shoulder) and wears a brace and he's competed OK," described Reyes. "But he understands from here on out, he needs to start opening up his arsenal. For him to make states it's about positioning and conditioning. He's got all the other tools."
The Bears will be led by Ramirez and senior Ken Supple, who are both 12-2 overall.
 
Could the Sharks be Spoilers?
 
In Pinellas County, St. Petersburg Catholic will host 10 teams in a dual meet format.
The expected field features: Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, New Port Richey-Gulf, Tampa-Alonso, Tampa Jesuit, Tampa-Berkeley Prep, Lakeland-McKeel Academy, Largo-Indian Rocks Christian, St. Petersburg-Admiral Farragut, St. Petersburg High and host St. Pete. Catholic.
NCT is coming off an impressive 4-1 performance at the recent Gulf Duals. The Sharks missed winning their pool by losing to Belleview, 42-34.
What's the goal this weekend?
"We know coming in Jesuit and Belleview are both tough," shared Head Coach Mike Lastra. "But this isn't a local tournament. We'll see some different wrestlers and different styles.
"This begins the second half of the season," he added. "Some of our guys have to focus on going a full six minutes and learning not to give up pins. The key is duals is if you stay off your back, you stay in the match."
NCT is led by 2008 state qualifier David Simonson, who enters 14-1 with nine pins, followed by Rockkhem "The Dream" Greene and Matt Henn both at 11-3 overall.
 
Hernando at Wesley Chapel
 
HHS was expected to compete this weekend at the rugged Clay High Rotary Invitational in Green Cove Springs. But in a scheduling snafu, that tourney has been pushed back to next weekend.
And since HHS has already committed to next week's Springstead Invitational, it could not do both.
Fortunately in the 11th hour, Hernando was able to enter the third annual Wesley Chapel High Wildcat Duals sponsored by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
According to the Wildcats' acting Head Coach Abel Robinson, there will be 10 teams in the East Pasco County event including: host Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Wiregrass Ranch, Sunlake, Land O'Lakes, Ridgewood, Mitchell, St. Pete.-Northside Christian, Hudson and Brooksville-Hernando.
According to Robinson the top two seeds will be Sunlake and Hernando.
Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. along three mats and should be completed by 4 p.m.
An overall Outstanding Wrestler Award will be selected as well as individual awards (based on most points scored) for the top wrestler in each of the 14 weight divisions. Trophies will also be presented to the top two teams.
HHS assistant coach Bill Combs Sr. said this weekend's event has taken a backseat to the team's health.
"We're pretty beat up," said Combs. "Coach (Joe) McLain and I are both still sick and so are several of the guys. A lot of them are getting over colds and sickness. It (flu bug) hit us hard. A lot of guys have missed practice because of it."
HHS is paced by 2008 state qualifier senior James Davidson, who is 17-2 with 13 pins, followed by senior George Smith at 16-3 with nine pins.
 
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at
acastro@hernandotoday.com.
 
AT A GLANCE
 
WHAT: Springstead Duals Tournament.
WHO: Six teams will wrestle each other in a round robin format featuring: Lakeland-Lake Gibson, Bradenton-Manatee, Miami-Columbus, Plant City-Durant, Tampa-Chamberlain and host Spring Hill-F.W. Springstead.
WHERE: Springstead High's gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m.
AT STAKE: No individual or team trophies.
 
WHAT: St. Petersburg Catholic Duals Tournament.
WHO: Ten teams will be divided into two five-team pools and then be cross bracketed after pool action. The field includes: Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, New Port Richey-Gulf, Tampa-Alonso, Tampa Jesuit, Tampa-Berkeley Prep, Lakeland-McKeel Academy, Largo-Indian Rocks Christian, St. Petersburg-Admiral Farragut, St. Petersburg High and host St. Pete. Catholic.
WHERE: St. Pete. Catholic gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling begins at 9 a.m.
 
WHAT: Rob Hermann Hurricane Cup Tournament.
WHO: Ten teams will be divided into two five-team pools and then be cross bracketed after pool action. The field includes Pool'A': Inverness-Citrus, Clearwater-Countryside, Englewood-Lemon Bay, Kissimmee-Christian Academy and Crystal River; Pool 'B': Orange Park-Fleming Island, Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Groveland-South Lake and Dade City-Pasco.
WHERE: Citrus High gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling runs from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
AT STAKE: Each school will choose an individual Outstanding Wrestler and the top three finishing teams will receive trophies.

WHAT: Third annual Wildcat Duals Tournament.
WHO: Ten teams will be divided into two five-team pools and then be cross bracketed after pool action. The field includes Pool'A': Inverness-Citrus, Clearwater-Countryside, Englewood-Lemon Bay, Kissimmee-Christian Academy and Crystal River; Pool 'B': Orange Park-Fleming Island, Belleview, Brooksville-Central, Groveland-South Lake and Dade City-Pasco.
WHERE: Wesley Chapel High gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
AT STAKE: An overall Outstanding Wrestler Award will be selected as well as individual awards (based on most points scored) for the top wrestler in each of the 14 weight divisions. Trophies will also be presented to the top two teams.
 
 

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

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