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Hernando Today

Leopards Limp To Fourth

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: January 3, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - Considering the limited resources Hernando High had to deal with, the Leopards could feel somewhat fortunate to reach the third-place final Saturday afternoon.

Competing in the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Duals at Wesley Chapel High, Hernando fell to Mitchell in that final, 42-28, to finish in fourth and 3-2 for the tournament.

The Leopards, now 5-6 in dual action, sent just 11 grapplers to the mat, several of them junior varsity call-ups, leaving 112 pounds, 125 and 130 unmanned.

"We came in limping," Hernando Head Coach Joe McLain said. "We have a few JV kids, first-time wrestlers. No excuses, but it's a good experience for them. For the more experienced wrestlers, they had good matches and did well."

Fortunately for the Leopards, many of the teams they faced in this nine-team tournament were in similar situations.

They won a combined 14 bouts by forfeit over five matches, and there were seven double forfeits. Hernando defeated Zephyrhills twice by the same score (52-18) and Wesley Chapel (42-30).

A third-round lost to eventual tournament champ Sunlake (57-22) placed the Leopards second in Pool A and pitted them against Pool B runner-up Mitchell.

Three individual champs

Three Hernando wrestlers were named tournament champions in their respective weight classes: Daniel Pritz (140), Zach Pritz (145) and James Davidson (171). Each went 5-0.

Davidson had the most impressive victory of the day when he took down Mitchell's Justin Buis in 11 seconds. That surpassed a 16-second pin by teammate George Smith over Zephyrhills' Cody Jones.

"Me and my friend George made a bet," Davidson said. "He had a pin in 16 seconds. I said I'd pin someone faster and so I went out there and did it."

The senior and 2008 state qualifier admitted he did more work warming up than in actual matches. Aside from a 49-second pin of Sunlake's Josh Ellis, he benefitted from three forfeits.

The Pritz brothers enjoyed a similarly light day of competition. Junior Daniel Pritz recorded a pin, two decisions and won by a pair of forfeits. Zach, a freshman, won by pin, major decision and three forfeits.

"Not good," Daniel Pritz said in evaluating his performance. "I haven't wrestled all week so I'm out of shape. I'm happy I won but I could have done a lot better."

"I did decent but I should have done better," Zach Pritz said. "I'm kind of out of shape because I haven't wrestled in a week because I was sick. I went undefeated. It's pretty cool.

"I need to get in shape and earlier I was feeling pretty conditioned, so I have to keep working hard in practice and keep picking it up."

One other wrestler went 5-0 for the Leopards, Brandon Gunderson at 103 pounds. He wrestled four actual bouts, notching two pins. Shane Malvesti (135) and Smith (189) both went 4-1.

"Right now we're getting started getting ready for districts," McLain said. "Of course it's difficult over the holiday break. It's time to get back next week and focus on February."

Fraternal Order of the Eagles Duals Team Results
at Wesley Chapel

1st round
Pool A
Sunlake 66, Wesley Chapel 18
Hernando 52, Zephyrhills 18
103 - Brandon Gunderson (HER) dec. Nate Van Dam, 13-6
112 - Jasper Starnes (ZEP) won by forfeit
119 - Nick Hynes (ZEP) pin Jared Young, 1:24
125 - Double forfeit
130 - Double forfeit
135 - Shane Malvesti (HER) won by forfeit
140 - Daniel Pritz (HER) won by forfeit
145 - Zach Pritz (HER) won by forfeit
152 - Kenny Day (HER) pin Elton Darraugh, 3:04
160 - Blaine Day (HER) won by forfeit
171 - James Davidson (HER) won by forfeit
189 - George Smith (HER) pin Cody Jones, 0:16
215 - Jacob Behm (HER) pin Eric O'Berry, 1:21
285 - Brandon Smith (ZEP) pin Austin Neff, 0:24
Records: Hernando (3-4), Zephyrhills (n/a).

Pool B
Mitchell bye
Wiregrass Ranch 53, Ridgewood 12
Land O' Lakes 44, St. Pete-Northside Christian 32

2nd round
Pool A
Sunlake 63, Zephyrhills 18
Hernando 42, Wesley Chapel 30
103 - Gunderson (HER) won by forfeit
112 - Daniel Gancei (WC) won by forfeit
119 - Young (HER) pin Josh Coll, 2:36
125 - Double forfeit
130 - Double forfeit
135 - Malvesti (HER) pin Chad Fee, 3:38
140 - D. Pritz (HER) pin Austin Fee, 1:29
145 - Z. Pritz (HER) won by forfeit
152 - Nick Popillillo (WC) pin K. Day, 2:38
160 - Jeremy Henderson (WC) pin B. Day, 1:15
171 - Davidson (HER) won by forfeit
189 - Smith (HER) won by forfeit
215 - Brendan Ferguson (WC) pin Behm, 2:30
285 - Chris Piere-Charles (WC) pin Neff, 0:53
Records: Hernando (4-4), Wesley Chapel (3-12).

Pool B
Northside Christian bye
Mitchell 78, Ridgewood 0
Wiregrass Ranch 48, Land O' Lakes 36

3rd round
Pool A
Wesley Chapel 30, Zephyrhills 24
Sunlake 57, Hernando 22
103 - Gunderson (HER) pin Wesley Wood, 0:13
112 - Vincent Scalise (SL) won by forfeit
119 - Jake Himes (SL) pin Young, 0:44
125 - Ryan McMillan (SL) won by forfeit
130 - Sean Hart (SL) won by forfeit
135 - Luke Peterson (SL) pin Malvesti, 2:35
140 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. A.J. Bellavia, 16-7
145 - Z. Pritz (HER) pin Daniel Hadad, 2:25
152 - Donovan Cooper (SL) pin K. Day, 1:45
160 - Deven Johnson (SL) pin B. Day, 1:04
171 - Davidson (HER) pin Josh Ellis, 0:49
189 - Garrett Baker (SL) dec. Smith, 7-2
215 - Chris Withington (SL) pin Behm, 1:01
285 - Jordan Myers (SL) pin Neff, 0:32
Records: Hernando (4-5), Sunlake (18-8).

Pool B
Land O' Lakes bye
Northside Christian 45, Ridgewood 12
Wiregrass Ranch 40, Mitchell 36

4th round
Pool A
Sunlake 66, Wesley Chapel 18
Hernando 53, Zephyrhills 18
103 - Gunderson (HER) maj. dec. Van Dam, 17-8
112 - Starnes (ZEP) won by forfeit
119 - Hynes (ZEP) pin Young, 2:22
125 - Double forfeit
130 - Double forfeit
135 - Malvesti (HER) won by forfeit
140 - D. Pritz (HER) won by forfeit
145 - Z. Pritz (HER) won by forfeit
152 - K. Day (HER) pin Darraugh, 1:30
160 - B. Day (HER) won by forfeit
171 - Davidson (HER) won by forfeit
189 - Smith (HER) pin Jones, 0:44
215 - Behm (HER) pin O'Berry, 0:45
285 - Smith (ZEP) pin Neff, 0:45
Records: Hernando (5-5), Zephyrhills (n/a).

Pool B
Wiregrass Ranch bye
Land O' Lakes 48, Ridgewood 24
Mitchell 44, St. Pete-Northside Christian 31

5th round
Pool A
All teams receive bye

Pool B
Wiregrass Ranch bye
Northside Christian 30, Wiregrass Ranch 30
(Northside Christian wins by Criteria F: total number of first points)
Mitchell 48, Land O' Lakes 24

6th round (cross bracket)
(Championship)
Sunlake 42, Wiregrass Ranch 29

Northside Christian 42, Zephyrhills 18
Wesley Chapel 36, Land O' Lakes 30
Mitchell 42, Hernando 28
103 - Gunderson (HER) pin Chris Sorrak, 0:29
112 - Hunter Sickles (MIT) won by forfeit
119 - Jarret Frisbie (MIT) pin Young, 1:36
125 - David Hayes (MIT) won by forfeit
130 - Double forfeit
135 - Malvesti (HER) pin Jake Shellenberger, 4:24
140 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Vasili Kostakis, 6-5
145 - Z. Pritz (HER) maj. dec. Paul Bassous, 19-10
152 - Shea Taylor (MIT) pin K. Day, 1:58
160 - Garrett Andrasick (MIT) pin B. Day, 5:35
171 - Davidson (HER) pin Justin Buis, 0:11
189 - Smith (HER) dec. Ryan Cassidy, 13-11
215 - Ryan Brosnan (MIT) pin Behm, 0:55
285 - Leigh Andre (MIT) pin Neff, 0:41
Records: Hernando (5-6), Mitchell (4-2).

Hernando at Fraternal Order of the Eagles Duals Tourney Results
WGT Name W L Pins
103 Gunderson, Brandon 5 0 2
119 Young, Jared 1 4 1
135 Malvesti, Shane 4 1 2
140 Pritz, Daniel 5 0 1
145 Pritz, Zach 5 0 1
152 Day, Kenny 2 3 2
160 Day, Blaine 2 3 0
171 Davidson, James. 5 0 2
189 Smith, George 4 1 2
215 Behm, Jacob 2 3 2
285 Neff, Austin 0 5 0
TOTALS 35 20 15

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

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