Graham: Third Time Not a Charm

LAKELAND - According to veteran Hernando High assistant wrestling coach Bill Combs Sr. no one really cares what you do at Kiwanis Invitational.
Or the Springstead Invitational, or the Miami Challenge, or Oviedo Tournament, for that matter.
Same goes for the Brandon Graves Tourney or the Ippolito Tourney.
The singular focus in prep wrestling in Florida, according to Combs, is the State Finals.
To that end, the Purple and Gold's title dreams were not met.
Despite sending a six-man squad to the 44th annual State Championships with a blend of veterans and youth, the Leopards departed Polk County late Saturday night with a mixed report card.
Sure, for the fifth time in six seasons and eight times across the past 14 years, Hernando High finished amid the state's Top 10 programs, placing ninth overall with 56 points.
As expected, Fort Myers-Riverdale crushed the assembled 76-team field by amassing 183 points for its first-ever 1A State Championship.
On the individual side, HHS did not return home empty-handed. The Leopards posted a collective 14-10 won-lost slate, featuring three pins.
In the process, the Leopards recorded three state placers: senior Jesse Graham (2nd) at 140 pounds, sophomore Daniel Pritz (3rd) at 125 and senior Nick Pauliot (5th) at 189.
Graham, Pauliot and Pritz became the 43rd, 44th and 45th Leopards to ever place at states out of 98 lifetime HHS career qualifiers.

Graham's dream ends

Graham's (county-best and career-best 46-3 won-lost record) title hopes ended in Saturday night's finals with a setback to Riverdale senior Mikah Fellows (41-1), 6-3.
Graham, a four-year varsity letterman, had never previously clashed with Fellows. Fellows never trailed leading 2-0 after two minutes and 6-2 after four minutes.
The key? Fellows recorded two takedowns against Graham; the first two Graham had permitted all season.
Graham had dedicated his season to his 20-year-old brother Chuck, who died in his sleep during the summer.
"Two is always stronger than one," explained Graham, who was hoping to deliver Hernando High's county-record 13th state champion.
The loss to Fellows snapped Graham's 12-match win skein and closed the books on his prep career at 131-37 lifetime. He finishes in a tie for fourth career-wise at HHS with Michael Combs. David Pritz holds the school record with 149 career wins.
"He was an unbelievable wrestler," declared first-year HHS Head Coach Joe McLain. "Jesse will be greatly missed. I thought he was a state champion. He came into the match well-prepared. He came in focused. He and Daniel (Pritz) are the two hardest working guys in practice. I guess it just wasn't his night."
What will HHS miss most?
"Jesse has all the intangibles," replied McLain. "He's a good student, a good friend, a good classmate, and a good teammate. All the kids admire him for his leadership capabilities. We're gonna miss what he brought to this program; it's something a coaching staff can't deliver.
"But you know, no matter what happened tonight," added McLain. "Jesse will still be a successful person. You watch he'll be a great role model no matter what he does in the future."

Pritz: takes third

Pritz's state title dreams ended the night before in the semifinals as Wakulla's talented freshman Tre McCullough earned a 9-2 decision. In Saturday night's finals, McCullough's title hopes were quickly dashed by Riverdale senior Scott Sentes behind a first-period pin.
Dropped into Saturday's loser's round, Pritz battled back from a 2-1 deficit after two periods to eliminate Jacksonville-University Christian sophomore Ariel Bosque, 10-5.
Pritz, who had solved Bosque at the Clay Invitational and in his first-round match in Lakeland, advanced to the consolation finals against another familiar face, Tampa-Jesuit junior David Gonzales.
In his final match of the season, Pritz mangled Gonzales, 12-6. The win was Pritz's third in three matches against Gonzales.
The win closed out a remarkable second season for Pritz.
A year ago, he finished 25-14 and was erased at regionals after going 0-2.
This time, in his first-ever trip to states, he finished 4-1 overall and placed third behind an outstanding 44-10 slate. Since dropping two matches at Golden Gate Duals tournament, Pritz concluded the season on a tear with 13 wins across his final 14 matches.
"Yeah, I wanted the season to end with a win," shrugged the 16-year-old Pritz. "It (win) felt good."
What happened Friday night?
"I didn't come here to get third," he explained. "On Friday, the kid (McCullough) was bigger, stronger, faster. No excuses. He beat me fair and square."
How was the first state visit?
"It was cool," answered Pritz. "I'll admit I was nervous until after my first match, then I settled down."
Is third place motivation enough for next year?
"Oh yeah," he answered. "I've got credentials. Now, I've got to go for gold."
Any regrets?
"I just wish I was a little stronger," summed up Pritz. "I'm a 112-pounder, who bumped up to 125. I'm not as strong as a lot of the guys I wrestle. I wasn't as strong as I should have been."
On Pritz, "The kid did everything we've asked him to do," described McLain. "He has a lot of same great personal attributes Jesse possesses. You can expect to see him in the finals in the future. It was a big deal for him to place third."

Pauliot: places fifth

Pauliot, who did not place at states in 2007 going 2-2, finished 4-2 overall this time to finish fifth.
The second-year Leopard letterman competed three times in the loser's bracket on Saturday.
His first match may have been the most satisfying.
Twice before Pauliot had tangled with Sunlake junior Jarrett Baker. Baker, who had never wrestled before this winter after relocating from Pennsylvania, was educated by former Hernando High Head Coach Matt Smith -- who now teaches at Sunlake.
Baker had previously defeated Pauliot 10-9 and 12-9.
But the third clash was different as Pauliot led from the opening whistle to secure an 11-2 major decision.
Next, Pauliot tangled with Tampa-Jesuit's Chris Kavoulikis, but the Hillsborough County grappler posted a 3-0 decision.
In his final prep match against Tampa-Robinson's Ellis St. John, Pauliot concluded his career on a positive note with a 10-3 decision.
With the win, Pauliot finished 26-8 this winter and concluded his two years at HHS at 64-22 overall.
Afterward, Pauliot not only savored his state medal, but the win over Baker.
"It (beating Baker) was awesome," said the 17-year-old Pauliot. "The first match could have gone either way. The second match, I let a 7-point lead slip away. This was my biggest win this year because it got me into the medal round. Plus, beating Baker made it sweater."
Is he OK with fifth?
"Hey, it's better than sixth," he smiled. "I wanted it more. You always want to win, but I'm not a guy who wrestles year 'round. I made states twice without wrestling year 'round, that's pretty hard. Yeah, I'm satisfied with what I got, but I still think I could haven taken first."
On Pauliot, "Nick really stepped up for us," explained McLain. "He worked really hard to get this far."

Sharks: blanked

Nature Coast technical junior David Simonson's state run ended Saturday morning behind a 4-2 setback to Zephyrhills sophomore Nick Hynes at 112.
"I want to use this (going 2-2 at states) as motivation for next season," shared the 16-year-old Simonson. "I'm not happy. I didn't do what I wanted to do -- place at states."
"David (Simonson) did great to reach states," remarked fourth-year NCT Head Coach Mike Lastra. "He came within one win of placing here, that's great. Still, it hurts to lose when you came this far.
"Hynes is a good wrestler, but we did not capitalize on all our opportunities," added Lastra. "David's goal is to come back here and win 112 next year. We achieved our goal of pushing someone to states; our next goal is to get someone to place at states."
NCT assistant coach Ed LaRose commented on Simonson's run, "He set the standard for our school. He's the kid that's always been there for us. Other kids follow him. He's put Nature Coast wrestling on the map.
"Now, he's got to get back here and return hungry," added LaRose. "Next year, starts right now."

1st Round Results:
112 - Simonson (NCT) won by forfeit Rojas (CARG).
125 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Bosque (UNIV), 6-5.
135 - Morrill (HER) dec. Williams (SFTM), 7-4.
140 - Graham (HER) pin Wainwright (SUW), 1:59.
189 - Vanscoy (GAIN) dec. May (CEN), 8-7.
171 - Martinez (PACE) major dec. Davidson (HER), 10-2.
189 - Pauliot (HER) dec. Dunn (RIVRD), 9-3.
215 - Rotunda (HER) major dec. Williams (FERN), 17-6.

2nd Round Results:
171 - Davidson (HER) dec. Rutherford (GFBZ), 6-2.

3rd Round Results:
112 - Laxton (SUW) major dec. Simonson (NCT), 9-1.
125 - D. Pritz (HER) pin Harris (PACE), 2:43.
135 - Day (BOLL) pin Morrill (HER), 3:00.
140 - Graham (HER) major dec. Cordova (CLEW), 11-3.
189 - Major (KEY) tech. fall Pauliot (HER), 17-2.
215 - Dunn (RIVRD) dec. Rotunda (HER), 8-5.

4th Round Results:
112 - Simonson (NCT) dec. Watson (COCB), 7-6.
135 - Fowler (LW) major dec. Morrill (HER), 15-5.
171 - Bonvillian (EST) pin Davidson (HER), 2:33.
189 - Pauliot (HER) pin Cannon (BRR), 1:19.
215 - Kelly (AMC) won by forfeit over Rotunda (HER).

5th Round Results (semifinals):
125 - McCullough (WAK) dec. D. Pritz (HER), 9-2.
140 - Graham (HER) major dec. Bizzozzaro (MAT), 14-6.

6th Round Results:
112 - Hynes (ZEP) dec. Simonson (NCT), 4-2.
189 - Pauliot (HER) major dec. Baker (SNL), 11-2.

7th Round Results:
125 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Bosque (UNIV), 10-5.
189 - Kavouklis (TJ) dec. Pauliot (HER), 3-0.

8th Round Results:
125 - D. Pritz (HER) dec. Gonzales (TJ), 12-6.
189 - Pauliot (HER) dec. St. John (ROB), 10-3.

9th Round Results (Championships):
140 - M. Fellows (RIVRD) dec. Graham (HER), 6-3.

Hernando at Lakeland 44th 1A State Finals Results
Wgt. Name W L Pins PL
125 Pritz, Daniel 4 1 1 3rd
135 Morrill, Max 1 2 0 -
140 Graham, Jesse 3 1 1 2nd
171 Davidson, James 1 2 0 -
189 Pauliot, Nick 4 2 1 5th
215 Rotunda, Taylor 1 2 0 -
TOTALS 14 10 3 -

Nature Coast at Lakeland 44th 1A State Finals Results
Wgt. Name W L Pins PL
112 Simonson, David 2 2 0 -
TOTALS 2 2 0 -

Class 1A State Championship Team Standings
PL Hometown-School Points
1. Fort Myers-Riverdale (RIVRD) 185.0
2. Jupiter Christian (JUC) 83.0
3. Green Cove Springs-Clay (CLY) 78.5
4. Live Oak-Suwannee (SUW) 74.0
5. Ft. Laud.-Cardinal Gibbons (CAG) 69.5
6. Miami-Monsignor Pace (MPAC) 66.0
7. Inverness-Citrus (CIT) 61.5
8. Dade City-Pasco (PAS) 57.0
9. Brooksville-Hernando (HER) 56.0
10. Crawfordville-Wakulla (WAK) 54.5
Others:
48. (tie)Nature Coast Technical (NCT) 5.00