Rams sheared by Springstead, 61-6

NEW PORT RICHEY - Most coaches at the beginning of the season look for improvement from their team's first and second victories. That is not the case with Springstead wrestling Head Coach Eric Swensen. In Wednesday night's easy 61-6 win over Ridgewood, Swenson had no interest in talking about the future.

"No, every match is important. We train all summer and it's not a learning curve or learning experience," said Swensen. "These guys want to compete now. I want to win now, not two months from now. I just don't buy into that philosophy."

On the night, the Eagles easily captured the rare duel meet as they earned five forfeits from Ridgewood and received pins from Nick Soto, Thomas Ellerbee, Thad Klenovich and Carlos Ramirez.

With 112-pounder Schuyler Swanton out, Springstead continued to juggle its line-up.

Steven Bliss, who normally wrestles at 130 pounds, bumped to 135 and 125-pound C.J. Cook bumped up to 130.

Despite all that, the Eagles got three pins on the night while Huff edged Dean Stupar 4-2, and Cesar Acosta earned a technical decision over Aaron Jackson, 16-0.

The Eagles also used some inexperienced wrestlers as Anthony Urso at 112, Mike Greco at 171, Ken Cox at 215 and Ellerbee at 145 all started this year on the junior varsity and wrestled in the Hernando Junior Varsity tournament.

"We had some people graduate so we're trying to do the best we can with the line-up we have," Swenson said Wednesday. "It was a good night for the kids we had. I would have liked to see some of the other kids wrestle a little better."

Springstead had come off a seventh-place finish in the Durant Invitational last week, and Swensen said that without some of his better wrestlers, it was going to be hard.

"We knew the Durant Tournament was going to be tough. But when you lose 25 or 30 points with Swanton out, we would have been knocking on the door of Kissimmee Osceola for fourth place," said Swensen. "It wasn't a good tournament for our new guys, but I would have liked more of our experienced guys in the final."

SPRINGSTEAD 61, RIDGEWOOD 6

103 - Dustin Soto (SPG) won by forfeit.

112 - Anthony Urso (SPG) won by forfeit.

119 - Skylar Huff (SPG) dec. Dean Stupar, 4-2.

125 - Nick Soto (SPG) pin John Glenny, 3:01.

130 - C. J. Cook (SPG) won by forfeit.

135 - Allyn Williamson (RW) dec. Steven Bliss (SPG), 9-3.

140 - Sean Hughes (SPG) won by forfeit.

152 - Thomas Ellerbee (SPG) pin Austin Bailey, 1:01.

160 - Double forfeit.

171 - Preston Dameron (RW) dec. Mike Greco, 15-8.

189 - Cesar Acosta (SPG) tech. fall Aaron Jackson, 16-0.

215 - Ken Cox (SPG) won by forfeit.

285 - Carlos Ramirez (SPG) pin Keith McCarthy, 1:40.