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Hernando Today

As Season Winds Down, Intensity Picks Up

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

In perhaps the best match last Saturday night, Springstead senior Jessey Lorentsen built an early 9-2 cushion by nearly pinning Hernando senior and fellow 2008 state qualifier, James Davidson. Davidson, however, rallied to tie matters at 9-all before Lorentsen managed a 1-point escape late in the third period to capture the 171-pound finals at the Springstead Invitational, 10-9.

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By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: January 15, 2009

Three weekends remain until the state series begins in earnest for area grapplers.
This weekend, all four Hernando County mat programs will venture to four different ventures across the state.
Here's a peek at each event.
 
Eagles enter mini state tourney
 
The North Suncoast's most storied mat program, F.W. Springstead, is certainly not bashful. The young Eagles will again prove it with this weekend's visit to Bunnell for the 23rd annual Flagler Palm Coast High Rotary Club Invitational Tournament followed by next week's meat grinder at Brandon High's Tony Ippolito Memorial Tournament.
SHS, fresh off its fourth tournament championship this winter at last week's Springstead Invitational, clearly understands what they're getting into beginning with Friday's two-day, staggering 32-team affair in Flagler County.
The expected 32-team field includes: Spring Hill-Springstead, Jacksonville-Bartram Trail, JAX-Bishop Kenney, JAX-Bolles School, JAX-Raines, Tallahassee-Chiles, JAX-Fletcher, Orange Park, DeLand, Deltona, Deltona-Pine Ridge, New Smyrna Beach, St. Cloud, Daytona Beach-Seabreeze, Satellite Beach-Satellite, Port St. Lucie-Treasure Coast, Winter Springs, Orlando-Dr. Phillips, Orlando-Timber Creek, Sarasota, Kissimmee-Osceola, Melbourne-Palm Bay, Tallahassee-Chiles, Orange Park-Fleming Island, Gainesville, Palatka, Green Cove Springs-Clay, St. Johns-Creekside, Crescent Beach-Menendez, Jensen Beach, Tampa-Tampa Bay Christian Academy, Palm Coast-Matanzas, host Bunnell-Flagler Palm Coast.
Palm Coast High's current Athletic Director and wrestling Hall of Famer Steve D'Augustino forecasts the chase for the team crown between "Kissimmee-Osceola, Clay, DeLand, Palm Bay, Winter Springs, Sarasota and Palm Coast."
"We've been the favorite in every tournament since Durant," pointed out Springstead's fifth-year Head Coach Eric Swensen, following his 17th tournament win last weekend. "That ends this weekend. We need to step up and get challenged. Believe me, we will.
"I see Flagler as a mini-state tournament," described Swensen. "It's a diverse field with some of the best Class 1A, 2A and 3A teams around."
The Eagles report no serious injuries since last weekend's action at home.
Entering Friday's meet, eight of the county's Top 10 grapplers wear SHS singlets led by senior Jessey Lorentsen at 171 (27-2 won-lost record, featuring a county-best 20 pins) and sophomore Richie Bliss at 103 (25-2, 19 pins) and senior Thad Klenovich at 160 (25-3, 10 pins).
 
Leopards: top seed at Sunlake
 
Hernando, fresh off its fine third-place finish at the Springstead Inv., journeys into Pasco County on Saturday for the first-ever, six-team Seahawks Duals Tournament at Land O'Lakes-Sunlake High.
The expected 6-team prep field includes: Brooksville-Hernando, Tampa-Spoto, Tampa-Middleton, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and host Sunlake.
The tournament begins at 10 a.m. and will run until approximately 6 p.m. Admission is $5.
The top two teams receive trophies; top undefeated wrestlers in each weight class will receive a medal.
The Seahawks first-year Head Coach Matt McDermott is also the school's athletic director and served many years as an assistant to Kevin Epifano at Zephyrhills High School.
What is Coach McDermott's goal this weekend?
"You always want to win," insisted McDermott. "And we've been pretty solid in dual meets. We're 20-8 so far. The tournament's top seed is Hernando. Even though we beat 'em at Wesley Chapel (57-22), they were missing some guys. I think it'll be a lot closer this time. It's always been kinda a friendly rivalry with Hernando over the years. They want to win and so do I. It's a friendly rivalry, the way it should be."
Second-year Leopard Head Coach Joe McLain believes last Saturday's effort at Springstead was a step in the right direction for his young mat men.
"I really wasn't expecting placing third with so many rookies," commented McLain. "But our veteran kids are starting to come through. We fought through some illness and I think we made a right step toward districts."
Coach McLain lauded the efforts his finalists at SHS: junior Daniel Pritz, freshman Zach Pritz and senior James Davidson. 
"Going into Springstead my brother and I really had practiced much," admitted the 17-year-old Daniel Pritz, who captured his first gold medal of the season at 135. "Because we'd been so sick. I'm still not in shape. I realize because of it, I wrestled real cautious (in Saturday night's finals)."
Entering the Sunlake meet, Davidson leads the team at 25-3 slate featuring a team-best 17 pins followed by senior George Smith at 22-6 with 13 pins.
 
Sharks off to Poinciana Duals
 
Nature Coast Technical was hot and cold last weekend in Spring Hill.
On the plus side, the Sharks were in second place with 18 wins in 24 bouts through Friday night. But on Saturday, NCT slumped to 6-22 to place ninth overall in the 21-team Springstead Invitational.
On the plus side, NCT finished among the Top 10 teams and more importantly had three grapplers place fourth - its best-ever performance at SHS.
On the down side, NCT dropped three huge semifinal matches to begin the slide. Just as important, the Sharks again failed to push anyone into Saturday night's finals.
That meltdown was on Head Coach Mike Lastra's mind heading into this weekend's two-day Poinciana Duals in Osceola County.
"I can't take away any positives," explained Coach Lastra about the Springstead Invitational. "We were shooting for a Top 5. And I'm sick and tired of moral victories. Once you set the bar, you know what you have to do. You can't expect ninth place when you want a Top 5 finish.
"Sure, we lost some tough matches," Lastra recalled. "But the semifinals is a huge points round. We got more wins than Hernando did and they finished third. The reason is easy -- those big semifinal matches."
Senior Rockkhem Greene felt Saturday's experience would help.
"My goal was to get a top-four finish, and I got that," said the 18-year-old Greene. "David (Simonson) hurt his ankle and that hurt us and Matt (Lambert) dropped a couple real close matches. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't do better. But overall, compared to before, we did a good job."
On Friday, NCT journeys to the two-day, 14-team, third annual Poinciana Duals.
The expected 14-team prep field includes: Pool 'A' - Tarpon Springs-East Lake, Haines City, Cypress Creek, Land O'Lakes, Groveland-South Lake, Kissimmee-Gateway and Kissimmee-Christian Academy; Pool 'B' - Lakeland-George Jenkins, Dunnellon, New Port Richey-Gulf, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Gainesville-Buchholz, Melbourne-Florida Air, and host Kissimmee-Poinciana.
According to Poinciana assistant head coach Eric Wells, he expects the top teams to be East Lake, Buchholz and George Jenkins.
"I think we have a chance to finish first in our pool depending on what we do against Gulf," commented Lastra. "We're gonna take 16-18 kids."
Simonson (16-7 overall) will make the trip, but his status is uncertain. He did not practice Monday or Tuesday. If he cannot go, look for Carter Bolesta (2-6) to replace him in the lineup.
Going into the meet, Greene and senior Shayne Gracteroly pace the squad with 17-7 slates.
 
Bears at Falcon Duals
 
Coming off its seventh-place finish at Naples-Barron Collier followed by Monday night's lackluster 45-30 loss to Lecanto, Central is physically beat up.
How much so?
Four starters did not compete against the Panthers Monday night.
CHS enters Saturday's eighth annual, eight-team Dunedin Duals without one of its top guns - junior Vince Ramirez (shoulder). Ramirez is 20-4 this winter.
The Pinellas County meet is expected to have an 8-team prep field including: Pool 'A' - Bradenton-Manatee, Clearwater-Countryside, Palm Harbor University and Fort Myers; Pool 'B' - Dade City-Pasco, Brooksville-Central, Sufferin, NY and host Dunedin High.
Dunedin's sixth year Head Coach Mark Allison explained this weekend's goal.
"I'd like to see us go either 1-2 as a team," he said. "But we want to make sure we get through the weekend injury free and by facing good head-to-head matches."
Dunedin is the tourney's defending champ but always-tough Manatee is clearly the team to beat on Saturday.
"At this point, staying healthy is our main emphasis," explained Central Head Coach Roy Reyes after a rash of injuries. "We do expect (Wayne) Snell (possible concussion) back and Patrick (Scott), who tweaked a shoulder.
"Manatee is the best team at Dunedin and it'll be nice to see a good out-of-state team without traveling," added Reyes. "We'll also see Dunedin which is important for district seeds. We've already seen Pasco and we may get another shot at Palm Harbor. They beat us in the finals of the Bear Duals."
With Ramirez out, senior Shaun Cadoret leads the Bears at 20-7 overall with senior Kenny Supple right behind at 18-4.
 
Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.
 
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 1st Annual Seahawk Duals Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 6-team prep field includes: Brooksville-Hernando, Tampa-Spoto, Tampa-Middleton, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch and host Land O'Lakes-Sunlake.
WHERE: Sunlake High's gymnasium.
WHEN: Tournament begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and runs until approximately 6 p.m.
AT STAKE: Top two teams receive trophies, top undefeated wrestlers in each weight class  will receive a medal.
 
WHAT: 23rd  annual Flagler Palm Coast Rotary Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 32-team field includes: Spring Hill-Springstead, Jacksonville-Bartram Trail, JAX-Bishop Kenney, JAX-Bolles School, JAX-Raines, Tallahassee-Chiles, JAX-Fletcher, Orange Park, DeLand, Deltona, Deltona-Pine Ridge, New Smyrna Beach, St. Cloud, Daytona Beach-Seabreeze, Satellite Beach-Satellite, Port St. Lucie-Treasure Coast, Winter Springs, Orlando-Dr. Phillips, Orlando-Timber Creek, Sarasota, Kissimmee-Osceola, Melbourne-Palm Bay, Tallahassee-Chiles, Orange Park-Fleming Island, Gainesville, Palatka, Green Cove Springs-Clay, St. Johns-Creekside, Crescent Beach-Menendez, Jensen Beach, Tampa-Tampa Bay Christian Academy, Palm Coast-Matanzas, host Bunnell-Flagler Palm Coast.
WHERE: Flagler Palm Coast High gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling begins at 1 p.m. on Friday and runs through 10 p.m. Semifinals set for 10 a.m. Saturday followed by wrestle backs. Consolations finals at 6 p.m. Finals set for 7:30 p.m.
AT STAKE: Top three teams receive trophies, top individual placers in each weight class receives a medal, T-shirt and a photo and one Outstanding Wrestler Award will be selected. There will also be award for Most Falls (heavyweights) and Most Falls (lightweights) named after former the Martin County grappler Micah Weatherley.
 
WHAT: 3rd annual Poinciana Duals Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 14-team prep field includes: Pool 'A' - Tarpon Springs-East Lake, Haines City, Cypress Creek, Land O'Lakes, Groveland-South Lake, Kissimmee-Gateway and Kissimmee-Christian Academy; Pool 'B' - Lakeland-George Jenkins, Dunnellon, New Port Richey-Gulf, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Gainesville-Buchholz, Melbourne-Florida Air, and host Kissimmee-Poinciana.
WHERE: Poinciana High's gymnasium (6 mats).
WHEN: Wrestling begins at 1 p.m. on Friday and runs through 10 p.m. Saturday actions begins at 10 a.m. with the completion of pool play and then the championship bracket.
AT STAKE: Top five teams receive trophies, Outstanding Wrestler Awards given to top lower weight, middleweight and heavyweight grapplers. Also, a team sportsmanship award will be presented.
 
WHAT: 5th annual Dunedin Duals Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 8-team prep field includes: Pool 'A' - Bradenton-Manatee, Clearwater-Countryside, Palm Harbor University and Fort Myers; Pool 'B' - Dade City-Pasco, Brooksville-Central, Sufferin, NY and host Dunedin High.
WHERE: Dunedin High's gymnasium.
WHEN: Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. Teams will wrestle within its round robin pool and then cross bracket for final two matches.
AT STAKE: Top two teams receive trophies, each school will select an Outstanding Wrestler  recipient.

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

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