Four Years, Four Different Champs; Is Repeat Title Performance in the Offing?

Across the past four mat seasons, there have been four different team champions (Hernando, Chamberlain, Tampa Jesuit and Springstead) at the conclusion of the Springstead Invitational.
One issue entering the start of today's two-day, 20-team prep tourney in Spring Hill is can the host Eagles hoist the tallest trophy in their own backyard for a second straight year?
They haven't achieved the feat since fourth-year Head Coach Eric Swensen arrived.
But they've progressed to the point where they're the team to beat again beginning at 2:30 p.m. today.
The expected 20-team field includes: two-time champion Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Central, two-time champion Tampa-Jesuit, Seffner-Armwood, Tampa-Newsome, Tampa-Chamberlain, Tampa-Hillsborough, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Hudson, New Port Richey-Mitchell, NPR-Gulf, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Land O'Lakes, Crystal River, Dunnellon, The Villages and host and 10-time champion Spring Hill-Springstead.
Wrestling will continue until just after 9:30 p.m. across three mats. Two winner's and two loser's rounds are expected to be completed.
Saturday's action beings at 10 a.m. with the semifinals followed by wrestlebacks.
Consolation finals are expected to begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the tourney finals.
The top three teams will receive trophies along with the top medalists in each of the 14 weight divisions.
Two Outstanding Wrestler Awards will also be presented.

The hunted

Coach Swensen doesn't blink as his team will be hunted - and not the hunter - this weekend.
"No offense to other tournaments, but we're coming off the Graves Tournament," admitted Swensen. "That's a national tournament. I think, deep down, our guys are a little more confident going into this week after wrestling at Brandon last week.
"There's a big difference in competing at national tournaments compared to competing against local teams," he insisted. "But make no mistake, our guys want to win. I'd like to see all 13 of our guys wrestling on Saturday. I'd like to see 9-10 guys place -- that's our goal."
Swensen sees Hernando, Armwood, Hudson and River Ridge in the title hunt.
Last winter, Springstead had nine placers and went 6-for-6 in the finals to topple Tampa-Jesuit by 15 points, 197-182.
However, five Eagle seniors, including four tournament champions, return this year.
Cesar Acosta (24-7) finished third in this event last winter. He'll be joined by tourney champs Schuyler Swanton (15-2), Skylar Huff (28-6), C.J. Cook (28-6) and Steven Bliss (22-7).
In fact, Swanton is seeking his third straight Springstead Inv. gold medal.

Sharks: optimistic

Nature Coast Technical, which tied for last place last year, is optimistic.
Despite narrowly losing to visiting Central on Wednesday, 37-33, the Sharks believe they can crack the Springstead Inv. Top 10.
"It (Springstead) should be a good tournament, it always has been," explained NCT Head Coach Mike Lastra. "For us, everybody's ready to go. We made some strides finishing seventh at Land O'Lakes. We'd like to finish in the Top 10 this weekend - that's our goal. We want to continue to improve. We're excited about the opportunity to compete. We're taking a full boat (14 wrestlers) to Springstead."

AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 18th annual Springstead Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 20-team prep field includes: two-time champion Brooksville-Hernando, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Central, two-time champion Tampa-Jesuit, Seffner-Armwood, Tampa-Newsome, Tampa-Chamberlain, Tampa-Hillsborough, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Hudson, New Port Richey-Mitchell, NPR-Gulf, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Land O'Lakes, Crystal River, Dunnellon, The Villages and host and 10-time champion Spring Hill-Springstead.
WHERE: Springstead High's gymnasium.
WHEN: Two-day tournament begins today at 2:30 p.m. Saturday action is expected to begin with semifinals at 10 a.m. Consolation finals at 5:30 p.m. followed by the finals at 6:30 p.m.
SPECIAL: Attendees at the Springstead Inv. can take their paid admission ticket to Elite Turbo Tan for one (1) free single tanning session.

2007 Springstead Invitational Team Standings:
PL Team CLASS PTS
1. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 2A-5 197.0
2. Tampa-Jesuit (TJ) 1A-9 182.0
3. Valrico-Bloomingdale (BLM) 3A-5 159.5
4. New Port Richey-Gulf (GF) 1A-6 107.0
5. Brooksville-Hernando (HER) 1A-5 99.5
6. Tampa-Chamberlain (CHAM) 2A-8 95.5
7. Land O'Lakes (LOL) 2A-5 93.5
8. Dade City-Pasco (PAS) 1A-6 86.0
9. Seffner-Armwood (ARM) 2A-7 74.5
10. NPR-Ridgewood (RW) 2A-5 65.0
11. Crystal River (CR) 1A-5 61.0
12. NPR-Mitchell (MIT) 3A-6 60.0
13. Zephyrhills (ZEP) 1A-6 56.0
14. Hudson (HUD) 1A-6 55.0
15. NPR-River Ridge (RR) 2A-5 53.0
16. The Villages (VILL) 1A-5 52.5
17. Wesley Chapel (WC) 2A-5 48.0
18. Dunnellon (DUN) 1A-5 36.0
19. Brooksville-Nature Coast (NCT)1A-5 30.0
19. Tampa-Hillsborough (HILL) 2A-8 30.0

Past Springstead High Tournament Champions
Date Name Champion Pts.
2007 Brijbag Invitational Springstead 197.0
2006 Brijbag Invitational Tampa-Jesuit222.5
2005 MasadaHealthcare Chamberlain 175.5
2004 MasadaHealthcare Hernando 202
2003 MasadaHealthcare Hernando 209
2002 Dr. Batista Springstead 193
2001 Dr. Batista Springstead 253.5
2000 Oak Hill Hospital Springstead 196
1999 Nations Bank Springstead 209
1998 Barnett Bank Springstead 232
1997 Barnett Bank Springstead 212.5
1996 Barnett Bank Tampa-Jesuit170.5
1995 Barnett Bank Springstead 170.5
1994 Barnett Bank Pasco 157.5
1993 Barnett Bank Springstead 181.5
1992 Springstead Inv. Palatka 156.5
1991 Springstead Inv. Springstead 145

2007 Brijbag Invitational Finals
103 - Swanton (SPG) pin Conner (BLM), 0:11
112 - Bliss (SPG) dec. Stupar (RW), 7-1
119 - Huff (SPG) dec. Fleming (RR), 9-7 (OT)
125 - Cook (SPG) dec. A. Frigari, 13-11 (OT)
130 - Holder (TJ) dec. Clasby (ARM), 4-3 (2 OT)
135 - R. Perez (TJ) pin Neal (CR), 3:16
140 - Rushing (LOL) dec. Graham (HER), 9-3
145 - Hansen (SPG) dec. Spranger (TJ), 3-1
152 - Paladini (BLM) dec. Spano (CHAM), 5-2
160 - Kuhn (HER) dec. Germano (HUD), 6-3
171 - Lynn (TJ) major Moyer (VILL), 8-4
189 - Heagney (SPG) dec. Kavouklis (TJ), 9-4
215 - Stroud (PAS) dec. Blevins (LOL), 4-1
285 - Lazaro (TJ) dec. Tindell (HUD), 6-3

2007 Brijbag Invitational Consolation Finals
103 - Biondo (RR) pin Gray (ARM), 5:45
112 - Jones (CR) pin Ortiz (WC), 3:10
119 - Greening (CHAM) pin Gonzalez (TJ), 5:53
125 - Holding (GF) major dec. Pritt (CHAM), 16-7
130 - Calafiore (GF) dec. Benitez (PAS), 5-0
135 - C. Figari (BLM) dec. Kweller (LOL), 7-4
140 - Hovenga (RW) pin Crespo (BLM), 3:13
145 - Whitaker (BLM) dec. Finlay (PAS), 4-3
152 - Turner (WC) pin Ford (TJ), 1:25
160 - C. Acosta (SPG) dec. Oliver (GF), 4-3
171 - Longneck (GF) dec. Larentsen (MIT), 6-1
189 - Pauliot (HER) major dec. Wayson (BLM), 10-2
215 - Rotunda (HER) dec. Reynolds (SPG), 5-4
275 - Hand (ZEP) won by default Nunez (HILLS)

2007 Brijbag Invitational Awards
Outstanding Wrestler Lightweights - (tie) Schuyler Swanton, Skylar Huff (SPG)
Outstanding Wrestler Heavyweights - Kyle Paladini (BLM)

- Compiled by TONY CASTRO

Springstead at Springstead Individual Results
Name Wgt Won Lost Pins PL
Swanton, Schuyler 103 4 0 4 1s
Bliss, Steven 112 4 0 2 1st
Huff, Skylar 119 4 0 1 1st
Cook, C.J. 125 4 0 3 1st
Hughes, Sean 130 1 2 0 -
Raines, Kevin 135 0 2 0 -
Rodriguez, Roberto140 1 2 0 -
Hansen, Keith 145 3 0 1 1st
Klenovich, Thad 152 3 2 1 -
Acosta, Cesar 160 4 1 2 3rd
Wern, Scott 171 0 2 0 -
Heagney, Mike 189 4 0 3 1st
Reynolds, Jarrod 215 3 2 1 4th
Ramirez, Carlos 285 2 2 2 -
TOTALS 37 15 20 -

Hernando at Springstead Individual Results
Name Wgt Won Lost Pins PL
Weston, Spencer 103 1 2 1 -
Pritz, Daniel 112 2 2 1 -
Durham, Brenden 119 0 2 0 -
Malvesti, Shane 125 1 2 0 -
Bishop, Chris 130 0 2 0 -
Morrill, Max 135 0 2 0 -
Graham, Jesse 140 3 1 2 2nd
Ball, Tim 145 1 2 1 -
Spinella, Anthony 152 0 2 0 -
Kuhn, Brandyn 160 3 0 1 1st
Davidson, James 171 2 2 2 -
Pauliot, Nick 189 4 1 2 3rd
Rotunda, Taylor 215 5 1 3 3rd
Miele, Stan 285 0 2 0
TOTALS 22 23 13 -

Nature Coast at Springstead Individual Results
Name Wgt Won Lost Pins PL
Fuzz, Anthony 103 1 2 0 -
Simonson, David 112 3 2 2 -
Cronin, Scott 119 0 2 0 -
Sandifer, Jared 125 0 2 0 -
Lambert, Matt 130 2 2 0 -
Baker, CJ 135 0 2 0 -
Mendez, Maurice 140 0 2 0 -
Gracteroly, Shane 152 1 2 1
Martin, Jacob 160 1 2 1 -
Williams, Preston 189 0 2 0 -
Lehman, Lee 215 1 2 1 -
Baker, JJ 285 1 2 1 -
TOTALS 10 24 6 -