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Hernando Today

Lady Eagles Earn Three-Peat

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 14, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - F.W. Springstead will three-peat after all.
The Lady Eagle lifters earned its third straight Hernando County championship trophy Wednesday night at the crowded Hernando High weight room by staving off a late Leopard rush, 52-43.
Though Hernando (4-4) came up a little short in the supreme upset bid, it also toppled previously unbeaten Nature Coast Technical, who finished third with 38 points. Four-time county champ Central High finished fourth with 17.
There were two major keys for Head Coach Mike Garofano's Lady Eagles (7-0).
First, 14-of-15 lifters etched points in all nine weight classes they represented.
Secondly, SHS tied Hernando for the most first-place finishes (4) while tying NCT for the most second-place efforts (3).
"I'm excited for the girls," explained Hernando High's first-year Head Coach Shawn Bingham. "We calculated this meet several ways and I knew it'd be close. We knew what we had to do (to win). It was just a dogfight. We beat two good teams (NCT, Central) and almost got the other (Springstead). A point here or there would have been the difference."

Eagles Rule

Springstead remained unbeaten behind four county champions: senior Lindsay Kuhn at 101, senior Karlee Burrows at 154, junior Olivia D'Acunto at 169 and junior Jennifer Rosino at 183. Kuhn, Burrows and D'Acunto were repeat champs from last winter while Rosino is a first-year champ.
Kuhn edged 2006 county champ, Hernando senior Emily Calamari, by 10 pounds (200-190).
"It was pretty hard to repeat," explained the 17-year-old Kuhn. "The key was I had my mind set on winning even though Calamari kept pushing me. What's even better, I reached a PR (personal record) today."
Burrows bested her closest competitor, NCT's Amanda Lehman by 25 pounds (255-230) for the gold medal.
"I'm like Lindsay, it was pretty hard to defend it," admitted the 17-year-old Burrows. "But I worked very hard and I really wanted it. I got a PR in my bench (125)."
What's next?
"I want to get better," added Burrows. "On both my cleans and my bench before sectionals. And yes, going out this way as a senior is pretty nice."
In one of the better matchups, D'Acunto's 130-125-—255 total edged NCT's Veronica Bichouti's 130-115-—245 total.
"Yeah, it was a little harder to win this time," suggested the 17-year-old D'Acunto. "The NCT girl kept checking what I was doing."
Why the success?
"I do the workouts that Coach Garofano gives us," she said. "He gave me confidence to do my best."
Rosino had a close shave edging Central's Kim Forte by five pounds for her first individual title, 260-255.
"It's just a good feeling," smiled the 18-year-old Rosino. "I know I've worked my butt off and I've listened to what the coaches said. I have one goal left this season; I want to go to states and represent the county."

Leopards: four champs, too!

Hernando High's efforts were led by four individual champions: senior Melinda Blount at 129, senior Victoria Ketchum at 139, junior Jasmine Sharpe at 199 and junior Ava Baylor at heavyweight.
Sharpe earned a repeat title by besting Springstead's Frances Pagan, 300-260.
"I thought it was harder to win last year," frankly stated the 17-year-old Sharpe, the county's lone returning state qualifier from 2008. "I thought I did pretty well. I got a PR, but I'm thinking higher. I'd like to get a 315 at sections and qualify for states again."
Melinda Blount, the younger sister of former Leopard standout athlete Valerie Blount, said her sister's advice enabled her to solve Central's Lucky Hamilton, 245-235.
"Since I left basketball, I committed to weightlifting," commented the 17-year-old Blount. "And my sister has always had that helping spirit. I did well today, including a 125 in my cleans, but I can go higher."
Ketchum edged NCT's Casey Pelaez (250-240) for first place.
"I was so nervous, I was praying to God for his strength," said the 17-year-old Ketchum. "Even though we didn't win; we worked real hard to get second. Whether we were stronger than Springstead doesn't matter, it's still an honor to this well and get second."
Baylor etched the meet's highest total with a 160-150—-310 total, topping teammate Sharvae Bennett by 25 pounds.
"It feels good to win," smiled the 17-year-old Baylor. "But I really haven't been pushed. I just got to keep working because I know the competition is gonna get much better. I want to go as far as I can until I can't go any further."

Rounding out the champs

The highlight for the Sharks was senior and four-year starter Marissa Perez breaking through for first place at 119 pounds by nipping Springstead's Brittany Morgan, 225-220.
"Finally," she said afterward. "I went up 10 pounds from my previous best. I'm a little disappointed that we lost, but we're headed in the right direction.
"My last team goal is to get to states."
Central, which only brought 10 lifters, was paced by senior Hailey Goodwin's narrow nod at 110. Actually, Goodwin and Springstead senior Caroline Monzo each tied at 210 pounds lifted. But since Goodwin weighed in 1.2 pounds less, she took home first place.
"It was exciting," shared the 17-year-old Goodwin. "I didn't do so well on my bench. I've got one goal left; to make states."

Final Hernando County Championship Meet Team Results:
1. ***Springstead (SPG) 52, 2. Hernando (HER) 43, 3. Nature Coast Technical (NCT) 38, 4. Central (CEN) 17.

Final Hernando County Championship Meet Individual Results: (Top 5 placer; Points based on 6-4-3-2-1)
101 – 1. *Kuhn (SPG) 90-110—-200, 2. Calamari (HER) 95-95–-190, 3. Toles (SPG) 90-85--175.
110 – 1. Goodwin, Hailey (CEN) 100-110—210, 2. Monzo (SPG) 100-110—210, 3. Morales (NCT) 85-105—190, 4. Amarchand (NCT) 95-95—190, 5. Jeffords (SPG) 95-90—185.
119 – 1. Perez (NCT) 100-125--225, 2. Morgan (SPG) 95-125—220, 3. Tucker (CEN) 100-115—215, 4. Gaffney (NCT) 115-95—205, 5. Erica Maldonado (HER) 95-
129 – 1. Blount (HER) 120-125—-245, 2. Hamilton (CEN) 120-115—235, 3. Dragunchuk (SPG) 110-125—235, 4, Thomas (HER) 115-114—230, 5. Maybee (NCT) 110-110—220.
139 – 1. Ketchum (HER) 120-130--250, 2. Pelaez (NCT) 95-145—240, 3. Harper (HER) 115-125—240, 4. Killory (SPG) 115-115—230, 5. daniels (NCT) 90-125—215.
154 – 1. *Burrows (SPG) 125-130—255, 2. Lehman (NCT) 110-120—230, 3. O'Neal (SPG) 115-105—220, 4. Johnson (NCT) 100-115--215, 5. Hayden (HER) 100-110-210.
169 – 1. *D'Acunto (SPG) 130-125—255, 2. Bichouti (NCT) 130-115-245, 3. Parson (SPG) 100-95—195.
183 – 1. Rosino (SPG) 135-125—260, 2. Forte (CEN) 135-120—255, 3. Curley (NCT) 115-110—225, 4. Proctor (HER) 95-110—205, 5. Marks (SPG) 95-105—200.
199 – 1. *Sharpe (HER) 155-145--300, 2. Pagan (SPG) 140-120—260, 3. Diaz (NCT) 130-125—255, 4. Duquette (HER) 115-115—230.
HWT – 1. Baylor (HER) 160-150–310, 2. Bennett (HER) 155-130—-285, 3. Rinier (NCT) 135-105-240.
Records – Springstead (6-0), Nature Coast Technical (5-2), Hernando (4-4), Central (0-7).
*** Denotes three-peat
* Denotes repeat county champion

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
http://media2.tbo.com/mediamanager/2009/jan/15/327...
http://media2.tbo.com/mediamanager/2009/jan/15/328...
http://media2.tbo.com/mediamanager/2009/jan/15/328...

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

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