Injuries Sink Hernando in Second Day of Titan Duals

cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com

NAPLES - As Hernando High prepared to leave Titans Arena Saturday night at Naples-Golden Gate High School, it took solace in the fact that it had scored more points than anyone else on defending state champion Naples-Palmetto Ridge.
Unfortunately, that point total was seven. So it went on the second day of the Titan Duals, where the injury-depleted Leopards stumbled to 0-4 after a 2-0 performance on Friday.
"Considering we didn't fill all the weight classes, we did fairly good. Especially in a dual tournament," Hernando Head Coach Joe McLain said. "I think scoring the most points against Palmetto Ridge in the tournament so far (was a positive).
"Other than that, it was pretty tough to come into a dual tournament undermanned. We went into Pool A. That was the toughest pool."
Rotunda, Ball out
Though Hernando (6-5 overall) got a boost in the return of state qualifier Nick Pauliot, who missed the Springstead Invitational the previous weekend while serving a suspension, it lost two other pivotal grapplers.
Taylor Rotunda, the top-ranked 215-pound wrestler in the state, didn't even make the trip nursing an injury. Senior Tim Ball, at 152 pounds, couldn't finish this tournament after getting hurt early in the second day.
The Leopards used Fernando Gomez in Rotunda's spot, but had holes at 103 and 119. Once Ball went down, that left Hernando with just an 11-man line-up.
Still they found themselves in the top pool because they went perfect during Friday's opening round preceding pool play. Hernando easily handled Immokalee, 56-18, and host Golden Gate, 51-30.
The competition level rose considerably on Saturday as the Leopards got blanked by the quartet of Miami-Monsignor Pace (46-21), North Port (51-25), Ft. Lauderdale-Archbishop McCarthy (50-27) and Palmetto Ridge (61-7).
Of course, all four of those teams finished in the top 10 in the state last year within their classification. Palmetto Ridge claimed the Class 1A state crown.
Though North Port would tally 15 against Palmetto Ridge in the tournament's final match, prior to that Hernando's showing looked impressive.
Palmetto Ridge (29-1 overall) shutout both Cypress Lake (83-0) and Monsignor Pace (62-0), and did nearly the same to North Ft. Myers (75-3) and Archbishop McCarthy (77-4).
Hernando managed two wins in its dual with the champs, Daniel Pritz (125) taking a 14-6 major decision over Joel Perez and Pauliot (189) earning a 12-8 nod over Troy Miller. Pauliot was the lone Leopard to finish 6-0.
Jesse Graham failed to win his 140-pound match against Palmetto Ridge's Anthony Phillips in a battle of two returning state placers. Phillips came in third at 119; Graham fifth at 140.
Graham, a senior, lost for only the second time all season, falling 9-4. He finished 5-1 in the tournament.
"I think I wrestled pretty good all the way until the last match," Graham said. "I wasn't shooting. I wasn't doing anything. I don't know what was wrong with me. I wasn't wrestling like I can.
"Palmetto Ridge is an all-around great school. I didn't know much about (Phillips). He was good, definitely strong."
James Davidson (171) also went 5-1, his lone loss a 14-7 decision against Clynt Hadley of Palmetto Ridge. Pritz, Max Morrill (135) and Gomez all went 4-2.
"I'm not happy by any means. At least from this we recognized a lot of things we need to work on prior to districts," McLain said. "Against Palmetto Ridge they showed a lot of guts. They were not intimidated. The boy showed a lot of guts. I felt they handled that pretty well."

Titan Duals Team Results
Friday's results
Archbishop McCarthy 60, La Belle 24
Lemon Bay 57, Naples 20
North Port 75, Ida Baker 6
Mariner 42, Port Charlotte 30
Hernando 56, Immokalee 18
Golden Gate 48, Estero 36
Palmetto Ridge 83, Cypress Lake 0
North Ft. Myers 53, La Belle 23
Monsignor Pace 60, South Ft. Myers 18
Gulf 51, Key West 18
Archbishop McCarthy 48, Lemon Bay 30
North Port 56, Mariner 12
Hernando 51, Golden Gate 30
Palmetto Ridge 75, North Ft. Myers 3
Monsignor Pace 54, Gulf 24
Naples 43, La Belle 27
Ida Baker 60, Port Charlotte 24
Estero 42, Immokalee 39
Golden Gate 46, Cypress Lake 12
South Ft. Myers 55, Key West 14
 
Pool A
North Port 49, Archbishop McCarthy 24
Monsignor Pace 46, Hernando 21
Palmetto Ridge 77, Archbishop McCarthy 4
North Port 51, Hernando 25
Palmetto Ridge 62, Monsignor Pace 0
Archbishop McCarthy 50, Hernando 27
North Port 39, Monsignor Pace 28
Palmetto Ridge 61, Hernando 7
Monsignor Pace 48, Archbishop McCarthy 24
Palmetto Ridge 49, North Port 15
 
Pool B
Mariner 39, Lemon Bay 37
North Ft. Myers 40, Golden Gate 36
Gulf 50, Lemon Bay 26
Mariner 54, Golden Gate 27
Gulf 33, North Ft. Myers 32
Lemon Bay 58, Golden Gate 16
North Ft. Myers 40, Mariner 38
Gulf 53, Golden Gate 24
Lemon Bay 37, North Ft. Myers 33
Gulf 44, Mariner 22
 
Pool C
Naples 41, Ida Baker 33
South Ft. Myers 50, Estero 25
Naples 45, Port Charlotte 33
Estero 46, Ida Baker 24
South Ft. Myers 48, La Belle 29
Naples 50, Estero 30
South Ft. Myers 55, Ida Baker 17
Estero 36, Key West 30
South Ft. Myers 60, Naples 21
Immokalee 45, Ida Baker 35
 
Pool D
La Belle 42, Port Charlotte 30
Key West 46, Immokalee 30
Cypress Lake 39, La Belle 30
Immokalee 41, Port Charlotte 34
Cypress Lake 36, Key West 30
Immokalee 37, La Belle 22
Port Charlotte 36, Key West 33
Immokalee 38, Cypress Lake 26
Key West 42, La Belle 36
Port Charlotte 39, Cypress Lake 22
 
Friday's results
Hernando 56, Immokalee 18
103 - Herrera (IMA) won by forfeit
112 - Weston (HER) dec. Lopez, 13-11
119 - Moran (IMA) won by forfeit
125 - Pritz (HER) inj. default Gomez
130 - Bishop (HER) tech. fall Tedder, 21-4
135 - Morrill (HER) pin Gorosquieta, 5:04
140 - Graham (HER) tech. fall Vidaurei, 22-7
145 - Montez (IMA) pin Day, 1:40
152 - Ball (HER) pin Mervilus, 1:35
160 - LaMort (HER) pin Dukes, 1:20
171 - Davidson (HER) maj. dec. Borrego, 14-3
189 - Pauliot (HER) won by forfeit
215 - Gomez (HER) won by forfeit
285 - Hostetter (HER) pin Cruz, 0:37
Records: Immokalee (n/a), Hernando (5-1).
 
Hernando 51, Golden Gate 30
103 - Clermont (GG) won by forfeit
112 - Morris (GG) pin Weston, 1:12
119 - Milner (GG) won by forfeit
125 - Pritz (HER) dec. Blasucci, 5-2
130 - Bishop (HER) pin Alvarez , 4:49
135 - Morrill (HER) pin Hernandez, 3:42
140 - Graham (HER) won by forfeit
145 - Day (HER) won by forfeit
152 - Ball (HER) won by fofeit
160 - Ortiz (GG) pin LaMort, 2:28
171 - Davidson (HER) won by forfeit
189 - Gomez (HER) won by forfeit
215 - Pauliot (HER) pin Kleinmeyer, 1:55
285 - Gonzalez (GG) pin Hostetter, 3:48
Records: Golden Gate (10-5), Hernando (6-1).
 
Saturday's Pool Play results
Monsignor Pace 46, Hernando 21
103 - Nelson (MP) won by forfeit
112 - Quintana (MP) pin Weston, 0:39
119 - Rivera (MP) won by forfeit
125 - Pritz (HER) maj. dec. Harris, 16-3
130 - Fernandez (MP) pin Bishop, 3:44
135 - Morrill (HER) dec. Frazier, 8-2
140 - Graham (HER) tech. fall Nunez, 23-8
145 - Dickens (MP) maj. dec. Day, 11-2
152 - Blanco (MP) inj. default Ball
160 - LaMort (HER) dec. Harris, 9-6
171 - Davidson (HER) dec. Martinez, 11-4
189 - Pauliot (HER) dec. Scott, 9-3
215 - Sennet (MP) pin Gomez, 5:06
285 - Bruno (MP) pin Hostetter
Records: Miami-Monsignor Pace (11-0), Hernando (6-2).
 
North Port 51, Hernando 25
103 - Ware (NP) won by forfeit
112 - Bigness (NP) pin Weston, 1:16
119 - Martin (NP) won by forfeit
125 - Buros (NP) pin Pritz, 4:24
130 - Grems (NP) pin Bishop, 3:32
135 - Morrill (HER) pin Goldstein, 5:59
140 - Graham (HER) tech. fall Weekes, 17-1
145 - Mentzer (NP) pin Day, 0:57
152 - Rawlings (NP) won by forfeit
160 - Segal (NP) dec. LaMort, 9-7
171 - Davidson (HER) maj. dec. Van De Bogart, 14-3
189 - Pauliot (HER) maj. dec. Wier, 15-5
215 - Gomez (HER) pin Grajalez, 4:55
285 - Virtue (NP) pin Hostetter, 1:12
Records: Sarasota-North Port (19-2), Hernando (6-3).
 
Archbishop McCarthy 50, Hernando 27
103 - Benni (ABM) won by forfeit
112 - Fitzpatrick (ABM) pin Weston, 0:49
119 - Pearce (ABM) won by forfeit
125 - C. Borchetta (ABM) maj. dec. Pritz, 10-2
130 - Bishop (HER) pin Mims, 2:00
135 - G. Borchetta (ABM) maj. dec. Morrill, 15-2
140 - Graham (HER) pin Burns, 1:19
145 - Larson (ABM) pin Day, 2:11
152 - Jennings (ABM) won by forfeit
160 - Castillo (ABM) pin LaMort, 4:57
171 - Davidson (HER) pin Fagan, 5:04
189 - Pauliot (HER) pin Kupka, 1:05
215 - Gomez (HER) dec. Kelly
285 - Piedra (ABM) pin Hostetter, 2:58
Records: Archbishop McCarthy (12-4), Hernando (6-4).
 
Palmetto Ridge 61, Hernando 7
103 - Garcia (PR) won by forfeit
112 - Singletary (PR) pin Weston, 2:10
119 - Gayer (PR) won by forfeit
125 - Pritz (HER) maj. dec. Perez, 14-6
130 - Tanguna (PR) pin Bishop, 5:50
135 - Saxton (PR) tech. fall Morrill, 16-1
140 - Phillips (PR) dec. Graham, 9-4
145 - Thompson (PR) pin Day, 1:45
152 - Dehnz (PR) won by forfeit
160 - Mastro (PR) pin LaMort, 2:20
171 - Hadley (PR) dec. Davidson, 14-7
189 - Pauliot (HER) dec. Miller, 12-8
215 - Gamret (PR) maj. dec. Gomez, 14-2
285 - Rainwaters (PR) pin Hostetter, 1:36
Records: Palmetto Ridge (28-1), Hernando (6-5).
 
Hernando at Titan Duals Tourney Results
WGT Name W L Pins
112 Weston, Spencer 1 5 0
125 Pritz, Daniel 4 2 0
130 Bishop, Chris 3 3 1
135 Morrill, Max 4 2 3
140 Graham, Jesse 5 1 1
145 Day, Kenny 1 5 0
152 Ball, Tim 2 1 1
160 LaMort, Dillon 2 4 1
171 Davidson, James 5 1 1
189 Pauliot, Nick 5 0 1
189 Gomez, Fernando 1 0 0
215 Gomez, Fernando 3 2 1
215 Pauliot, Nick 1 0 1
285 Hostetter, Casey 1 5 1
TOTALS 38 31 12