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Great Eight is Plenty
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Published: January 11, 2009
SPRING HILL - Last winter, a senior-dominated F.W. Springstead High team needed eight placers to earn its first repeat since 2001 at the Springstead Invitational.
On Saturday morning, SHS reeled off 10-of-11 semifinal victories and followed by collecting eight gold medals in 10 finals matches in the evening to three-peat in the 19th annual Fosters Roofing-sponsored Springstead Invitational.
In the process, the host Eagles finished with a tournament record 255.5 points eclipsing Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Levija's 2001 win that secured 253.5 points. The final margin of victory is also believed to be the highest-ever in the Mariner Blvd. event.
As expected Tampa-Jesuit was second, a distant 104.5 points behind SHS, while Brooksville-Hernando finished third (117.5 points) and Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical placed ninth overall (86.5 points).
HHS, which went 22-24 overall, had five placers including three in the finals featuring junior Daniel Pritz at 135, sophomore Zach Pritz at140 and senior James Davidson at 171. Seniors Shane Malesti, and Max Morrill at 152 each placed fourth.
Daniel Pritz, who placed third here in 2008, was the lone Leopard to earn a gold medal by toppling Springstead sophomore Colton Zimmerman in the finals, 8-4.
NCT, which went 24-28 overall, posted three fourth-place finishers featuring junior Scott Cronin at 125, and seniors Shayne Gracteroly at 171 and Rockkhem Greene at 189.
The Sharks' all-time winner and 2008 state qualifer, senior David Simonson at 119, suffered a (right) high ankle sprain on Friday and did not return Saturday.
SHS seniors: two golds, one silver
Team successes did not overshadow the efforts of SHS' three seniors: Thad Klenovich, Jessey Lorentsen and Scott Wern, who competed in their final home matches.
Klenovich was the tourney's lone repeat champion from 2008 by going 4-0 at 160 pounds with two pins. Klenovich improved to 25-3 by posting a 14-7 major decision over Sunlake's Deven Johnson in the finals. Klenovich enters next week's tourney in Bunnell at 99-47 lifetime at SHS.
In perhaps the most exciting finals' match, Lorentsen notched a one-point escape with 17 seconds left and held on to stave off the outstanding comeback efforts Davidson to win the gold medal at 171 pounds, 10-9.
Davidson, who was nearly pinned in the first period, gamely fought back to tie matters at 9-all late in the third period. Davidson, a 2008 state qualifier, dipped to 25-3 overall.
With the win, Lorentsen climbed to a county-best 27-2 won-lost slate. He also registered two pins to up his county-leading total to 19.
Wern just missed earning a gold medal, dropping a 3-2 decision at the 189 pounds finals to Sunlake's Jarrett Baker. Wern went 3-1 in the tourney with two pins to slip to 22-4 overall.
Young guns
The Eagles' overall youthful lineup captured 41-of-49 bouts (84 percent) across the two-day event, collecting a meet-high 20 pins.
More importantly, six of the Eagles' eight champions gave a glimpse of the future by amassing their first-ever first-place titles at home including: sophomore Richie Bliss at 103, freshman Cody Ross at 119, sophomore Nick Soto at 125, sophomore Devean Huff at 130, sophomore Shawn Landgraff at 145, and junior Kenny Cox at 215.
The first-ever Springstead Inv. champs posted a collective 24-0 total featuring 11 pins.
Setting the pace was Bliss, who stretched his win streak to seven matches in a row and 20-of-21 by going 4-0 behind a tournament-high four pins.
Bliss stuck Tampa-Jesuit's Mike Popp (pronounced Pope) in 2:46 to garner his fourth gold medal of the season.
"I thought I wrestled great this weekend," exclaimed the 16-year-old Bliss, who improved to 25-2 after a quiet 8-3 campaign as a freshman. "I know I have to do more in the room to do better on the mats. I really think I should be doing a lot better than where I'm at."
Ross impressed many of the area coaches with a perfect 4-0 run with two pins in what was believed to be the toughest weight class.
After two early pins, the No. 3 seeded Ross downed Zephyrhills' two-time state qualifier and No. 2 seed, junior Nick Hynes in the semifinals, 7-3.
Hynes had previously defeated Ross at the Gulf Duals, 9-4.
Ross followed up that win by defeating the No. 1 seed and highly touted, Gulf's Anthony Ayers, for the second time this season, 7-2.
For his efforts, Ross received the tourney's Outstanding Wrestler Award for lightweights. Kathleen High's Psalms Radway at 152 earned the honor among the tourney's top seven weight divisions.
What was it like winning at home for the first-time ever?
"It's nice," said Ross (24-5), who extended his current win skein to eight matches in a row. "But I'm just looking to get better. Since the beginning of the season I'm opening my attack more."
How difficult was the tourney?
"It was not as hard as Durant, I'd say medium," explained the 14-year-old Ross. "We're gonna have a lot tougher tournaments next week (Flagler Palm Coast) and then at Ippolito."
Though Ross competed in the tourney's toughest bracket, many fans and coaches believed Soto's finals' win was the most impressive.
The No. 2 seeded Soto posted two pins and a 12-2 major decision to reach the finals against Tampa-Jesuit senior and 2008 state placer, David Gonzalez. Gonzalez (18-4 overall) had previously strafed Soto in the Kiwanis finals, 10-2. That loss was Soto's worst-ever this winter.
But on Saturday night, Soto never trailed in securing a key 8-4 decision.
The win was Soto's ninth in a row, improving to 23-3. Not bad for a guy who went 5-3 as a freshman.
What was the difference Saturday night?
"I came in a lot more prepared," frankly stated the 16-year-old Soto. "My partner, Cody (Ross) really pushed me in practice and (assistant coach) Louis Kachirubas helped me counter his favorite move."
How big was the win?
"It feels pretty good," smiled Soto. "I've never lost that bad to someone, so yeah, it meant a lot. And the guy is hard to score on. I feel like the rest of the team. We all need to start pulling matches and begin to train harder for states."
Like Soto, Huff also stretched his current win streak to nine matches in a row.
Huff, who has been out of town since the Gulf Duals, returned to action with a 4-0 slate.
His semifinal match might have been tougher than his final.
The No. 1 seeded Huff needed 12 seconds to notch a two-point takedown to edge Gulf's Nick Calafiore, 10-8. In the finals, Huff never trailed in blanking Jesuit's Anthony Cimino, 5-0.
The tourney win was not only Huff's first at home but also the first in his prep career.
"It (win) tastes pretty good right now," shared the 17-year-old Huff. "I kinda got the monkey off my back. I had two weeks off before this tournament, so I really pushed myself in practice once I got back.
"Could I have wrestled a little better? Sure," shrugged Huff, who is 16-4 overall. "I could always use the conditioning. I think I was like everybody else on our team. We all wanted to win for the seniors. They deserved this today."
2009 Springstead Invitational Team Standings:
PL Team CLASS PTS
1. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 2A-5 255.5
2. Tampa-Jesuit (TJ) 1A-9 151.0
3. Brooksville-Hernando (HER) 1A-5 117.5
4. New Port Richey-Gulf (GF) 1A-6 109.0
5. NPR-Mitchell (MIT) 3A-6 108.0
6. Land O'Lakes-Sunlake (SNL) 1A-6 107.0
7. Auburndale (AUB) 2A-7 99.0
8. Land O'Lakes (LOL) 2A-5 93.0
9. Brooksville-Nature Coast (NCT) 1A-5 86.5
10. New Port Richey-River Ridge (RR) 2A-5 73.0
11. Dunnellon (DUN) 1A-5 71.0
12. Crystal River (CR) 1A-5 65.0
13. Seffner-Armwood (ARM) 2A-7 63.0
13. Lakeland-Kathleen (KATH) 1A-9 63.0
15. Tampa-Jefferson (JEFF) 2A-8 60.0
16. Dade City-Pasco (PAS) 1A-6 51.5
17. Zephyrhills (ZEP) 1A-6 40.0
18. Hudson (HUD) 1A-6 32.0
19. Wesley Chapel (WC) 2A-5 28.0
20. Tampa-Hillsborough (HILL) 2A-8 21.0
21. NPR-Ridgewood (RW) 2A-5 4.00
Past Springstead High Tournament Champions
Date Name Champion Pts.
2009 Fosters Roofing Springstead 255.5
2008 Springstead Springstead 216.5
2007 Brijbag Invitational Springstead 197.0
2006 Brijbag Invitational Tampa-Jesuit 222.5
2005 MasadaHealthcare Chamberlain 175.5
2004 MasadaHealthcare Hernando 202
2003 MasadaHealthcare Hernando 209
2002 Dr. Batista Springstead 193
2001 Dr. Batista Springstead 253.5
2000 Oak Hill Hospital Springstead 196
1999 Nations Bank Springstead 209
1998 Barnett Bank Springstead 232
1997 Barnett Bank Springstead 212.5
1996 Barnett Bank Tampa-Jesuit 170.5
1995 Barnett Bank Springstead 170.5
1994 Barnett Bank Pasco 157.5
1993 Barnett Bank Springstead 181.5
1992 Springstead Inv. Palatka 156.5
1991 Springstead Inv. Springstead 145
2009 Springstead Invitational Finals
103 - Bliss (SPG) pin Popp (TJ), 2:46.
112 - Boudreau (TJ) dec. McKay (LOL), 7-3.
119 - Ross (SPG) dec. Ayers (GF), 7-2.
125 - Soto (SPG) dec. Gonzalez (TJ), 8-4.
130 - Huff (SPG) dec. Cimino (TJ), 5-0.
135 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Zimmerman (SPG), 8-4.
140 - Kostakis (MIT) dec. Z. Pritz (HER), 4-2.
145 - Landgraff (SPG) dec. Lane (AUB), 8-6.
152 - Radway (KATH) dec. Jackson (GF), 5-1.
160 - Klenovich (SPG) dec. Jackson (SNL), 14-7.
171 - Lorentsen (SPG) dec. Davidson (HER), 10-9.
189 - Baker (SNL) dec. Wern (SPG), 3-2.
215 - Cox (SPG) dec. Brass (CR), 10-6.
285 - Velez (JEFF) pin Cruz (CR), 0:29.
2009 Springtead Invitational Consolation Finals
103 - Cox (AUB) dec. Perry (ARM).
112 - O'Connor (GF) pin Gamezs (PAS), 2:23.
119 - Hynes (ZEP) dec. Gray (ARM), 6-3.
125 - Engle (LOL) dec. Cronin (NCT), 7-5.
130 - Calafiore (GF) won by inj. default over Malvesti (HER)
135 - Alizzi (TJ) pin Peterson (SNL), 0:23.
140 - Drake (PAS) dec. Stack (LOL), 10-4.
145 - Hitchcock (RR) pin Bassous (MIT), 4:10.
152 - Taylor (MIT) pin Morrill (HER), 3:44.
160 - Penton (AUB) major dec. Henderson (WC), 17-8.
171 - Witte (ARM) pin Gracteroly (NCT), 3:50.
189 - Gandy (DUN) dec. Greene (NCT), 8-2.
215 - Whittington (SNL) dec. Lamoureux (TJ), 10-6.
285 - Garret (AUB) pin Burns (HUD), 1:10.
2009 Springstead Invitational Awards
Outstanding Wrestler Lightweights - Cody Ross (SPG)
Outstanding Wrestler Heavyweights - Psalms Radway (KATH)
Springstead at Springstead Individual Results
Wgt Name Won Lost Pins PL
103 Bliss, Richie 4 0 4 1st
112 Redman, Sean 0 2 0 -
119 Ross, Cody 4 0 2 1st
125 Soto, Nick 4 0 2 1st
130 Huff, Devean 4 0 1 1st
135 Zimmerman, Colton 2 1 0 2nd
140 Colon, Sammy 3 2 1 -
145 Landgraff, Shawn 4 0 1 1st
152 Ellerbee, Tommy 2 2 2 -
160 Klenovich, Thad 4 0 2 1st
171 Lorentsen, Jessey 4 0 2 1st
189 Wern, Scott 3 1 2 2nd
215 Cox, Ken 3 0 1 1st
TOTALS 41 8 20 -
Hernando at Springstead Individual Results
Wgt Name Won Lost Pins PL
103 Gunderson, Brandon 1 2 1 -
112 Payne, Dezoni 2 2 1 -
119 Young, Jared 0 2 0 -
125 Worsley, Sonny 0 2 0 -
130 Malvesti, Shane 3 2 2 4th
135 Pritz, Daniel 4 0 2 1st
140 Pritz, Zach 3 1 1 2nd
145 Day, Kenny 1 2 1 -
152 Morrill, Max 3 2 0 4th
160 Day, Blaine 0 2 0 -
171 Davidson, James 3 1 2 2nd
189 Smith, George 2 2 2 -
215 Raney, Dakota 0 2 0 -
285 Worsley, Tim 0 2 0 -
TOTALS 22 24 12 -
Nature Coast at Springstead Individual Results
Wgt Name Won Lost Pins PL
103 Forand, Tyler 2 2 2 -
112 Chandler, Blake 1 2 1 -
119 Simonson, David 1 2 1 -
125 Cronin, Scott 3 2 0 4th
130 Lambert, Mitch 3 2 1 -
135 Richardson, Steven 1 2 1 -
140 McManus, Mack 0 2 0 -
145 Lambert, Matt 2 2 1 -
152 McCarty, Luke 1 2 1 -
160 McCabe, Ryan 1 2 1 -
171 Gracteroly, Shayne 3 2 2 4th
189 Greene, Rockkhem 3 2 1 4th
215 Gilbert, Jeff 2 2 2 -
285 Caldwell, Sean 1 2 1 -
TOTALS 24 28 15 -
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.
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