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Hernando Today

Springstead Polishes Off Perfect Season

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: January 21, 2009

SPRING HILL - In their final meet before things get truly serious, the Springstead Lady Eagles assured themselves of one more team accomplishment Wednesday night in their home weight room.

Springstead bested Lecanto High, 59-31, in its final dual meet of the season, securing an undefeated slate for the now three-time defending county champion.

The Lady Eagles won't compete again until Jan. 31 at the Section V qualifier at Belleview High.

"You always like to go undefeated," Springstead Head Coach Mike Garofano said. "That's always a goal heading into the season. Lecanto got us last year. They were real strong last year and we've got a real strong team this year.

"Hopefully we're one of those teams that reloads; plug in a few pieces and pick up where we left off."

The Lady Eagles (4-0) captured first place in 7-of-10 weight classes, and second place in the same amount to go along with three thirds.

Lecanto (5-3), the dominant program in Citrus County the past several seasons, has gone through some growing pains this year with a relatively inexperienced crew.

Head Coach Bob LeCours and his assistant coach had both spent the weekend attending the Presidential Inauguration festivities as part of a school trip.

The party, which included a few lifters, didn't arrive home until 5:30 a.m. the morning of the meet because of a flight delay the previous evening.

"The girls really haven't had four days to lift," LeCours said. "They came in pretty much cold turkey. I can see by the smiles on their faces that there were good lifts for some and poor lifts for some, but that's to be expected.

"Mike (Garofano) continually does a heck of a job with his kids. His numbers are good, his kids work hard and I think they're a little older than we are."

Overcoming injuries

Garofano complimented the perseverance of two key lifters who suffered injuries during the meet, Caroline Monzo and Victoria Boccio.

Monzo injured her back on her final bench press and could not compete in the clean-and-jerk. Her bench of 110 had put her well in front at 110 pounds, with the next closest competitor benching 85.

Boccio clipped her chin with the bar during a clean attempt but returned to finish out her final two lifts and finished second at 119 (105-95 – 200).

At 101, Lindsay Kuhn (90-105 – 195) and Courtney Toles (100-90 –190) gave Springstead the top two spots, one of five weight classes in which the Lady Eagles finished 1-2.

Brittany Morgan (95-125 – 220) and Liz Pallone (95-100 – 195) pulled it off at 129, as did Jenn Draganchuk (115-130 – 245) and Katelin Killory (120-115 – 235) at 139.

Karlee Burrows (125-130 – 255) and Samantha Kundrat (105-95 – 200) claimed first and second at 154 and Jennifer Rosino (135-125 – 260) and Adreanna Marks (100-105 – 205) did the same at 199.

Olivia D'Acunto's 130-115 – 245 at 183 and Frances Pagan's 135-120 – 255 at unlimited accounted for the other Springstead firsts.

"I think the middle weight classes really did well today. That was key," Garofano said. "Jenn Draganchuk got her best total of the season. Hopefully we're starting to peak for sectionals in a week and a half. Courtney Toles had her best total of the season at 190.

"A lot of the girls, not just the ones getting first, have really improved a lot. I'm really proud of them, they're working hard.

"Some of these girls are our future. We're trying to get them going. We've got some shoes to fill with some of these seniors leaving next year and they're doing well."

Springstead (SPG) 59, Lecanto (LEC) 31
101 – 1. Kuhn (SPG) 90-105 – 195, 2. Toles (SPG) 100-90 – 190, 3. Grant (LEC) 80-85 – 165.
110 – 1. Magee (LEC) 80-100 – 180, 2. Alvarez (LEC) 85-85 – 170, 3. Garcia (SPG) 80-85 – 165.
119 – 1. Snyder (LEC) 105-105 – 210, 2. Boccio (SPG) 105-95 – 200, 3. Jeffords (SPG) 100-95 – 195.
129 – 1. Morgan (SPG) 95-125 – 220, 2. Pallone (SPG) 95-100 – 195, 3. Steed (LEC) 85-95 – 180.
139 – 1. Draganchuk (SPG) 115-130 – 245, 2. Killory (SPG) 120-115 – 235, 3. Smith (LEC) 95-105 – 200.
154 – 1. Burrows (SPG) 125-130 – 255, 2. Kundrat (SPG) 105-95 – 200, 3. Middleton (LEC) 95-95 – 190.
169 – 1. Palmore (LEC) 125-105 – 230, 2. O'Neal (SPG) 115-95 – 210, 3. Lackie (SPG) 110-85 – 195.
183 – 1. D'Acunto (SPG) 130-115 – 245, 2. Thomas (LEC) 110-125 – 235, 3. Moran (LEC) 95-95 – 190.
199 – 1. Rosino (SPG) 135-125 – 260, 2. Marks (SPG) 100-105 – 205, 3. Lisiecki (LEC) 110-90 – 200.
UNL – 1. Pagan (SPG) 135-120 – 255, 2. Paveglio (LEC) 100-95 – 195, 3. Pyers (LEC) 95-95 – 190.
Records – Lecanto (5-3), Springstead (4-0).

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

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