Eagles' unbeaten skein on the line

So far, 64 different teams have attempted to solve the state's No. 1 ranked Class 2A team, F.W. Springstead.
The Eagles have responded with a spotless 64-0 won-lost mark.
In the process, sixth-year Head Coach Eric Swensen's troops have captured four tournaments in four tries.
But standing in the way beginning Monday in Seminole County is a severe test.
Springstead's second "major" takes places in two gymnasiums at Oviedo High.
The 8th annual Zac Jarzynka Iron Man Tournament pits 32 teams (including Springstead) in the largest individually bracketed tournament of the season.
According to tournament coordinator Tom Coffman this year's Seminole County event features 14 out-of-state programs including: Bremen, GA; Camden, GA; Kennesaw Mountain, GA; Lowndes, GA; Miller Grove, GA; Walton, GA; Hoover, AL; St. Anthony's, NY; Cuyahoga Heights, OH; Palmerton, PA; Hayfield, VA; Ocean Lakes, VA; Salem, VA; Imperial, CA;  and 18 Florida programs including: Spring Hill-Springstead, Miami-Columbus; Lakeland-Lake Gibson; Miami-Braddock; Naples-Palmetto Ridge; Orlando-Dr. Phillips; Winter Springs; St. Petersburg-Northside Christian; Harmony; Cypress Creek; Palm Beach-Dwyer; Punta Gorda-Charlotte; Titusville-Astronaut; Tampa-Berkeley Prep; Orlando-University; Southwest Miami; Lynn Haven-Mosley; and host Oviedo High.
The defending tourney champion is Wentzville, Missouri's Holt High.
The tourney begins Monday at noon and will run until approximately 8 p.m.
Tuesday's action begins at 9:30 a.m. The finals are set for 7 p.m.
Team trophies will be presented to the top four teams and medals for top six placers. There will also be Outstanding Wrestler awards for lightweights, middleweights and heavyweights.
Why the difficult terrain during the holidays?
"Our goal is to make a tournament as tough as possible," explained Coffman. "We design a tournament that we (Oviedo, fourth in Class 3A last winter) can be beat in."
What draws in so many teams?
"Having so much quality competition," noted Coffman. "For some teams our tournament also serves as a mini-vacation in Florida. Everyone's on break, so nobody's missing school. It's a chance to visit our part of Florida and wrestle two days of tough competition."
What's Oviedo's chances? The Seminole County squad enters with eight state qualifiers from last winter, including four state placers.
"We don't really care about winning," said Coffman. "Our goal is to have kids wrestle as hard as they can. Hopefully, by doing all the right things, you get better for the state series."
Overall picture?
"With Springstead, Lake Gibson, Palmetto Ridge and us, it'll serve as a preview of the upcoming 2A State Championship," predicted Coffman. "With all those teams here it'll be something for the fans. We see it as an early gauge (for states)."
 
Eagles 101
 
Before entering Oviedo, Coach Swensen and assistant coach Sal Basile were pleased with how the team performed in capturing last weekend's two-day Gulf Duals. It was the Eagles' fourth team title in New Port Richey in five years.
SHS posted a collective 73-10 won-lost slate, featuring 42 pins. The Eagles had eight starters go unbeaten at Gulf.
"We were pleased with how we wrestled at Gulf," summed up Coach Swensen, who is 13-0 dual meets this season. "We were real aggressive in the semifinals against Gulf and the finals against Citrus. The boys had a lot of energy. But it'll be a different approach mentally at Oviedo."
In the Eagles' only other visit to Oviedo in 2007, SHS posted a 43-28 won-lost mark with a paltry 13 pins good for seventh place in the then 27-team field.
SHS did have seven placers led by Schulyar Swanton and Cesar Acosta's third-place finishes.
Only two grapplers, seniors Thomas Ellerbee, who went 1-2, and Kenny Cox, who went 0-3, return to Oviedo.    
What's the mindset this time?
"Our No. 1 goal is to wrestle six minutes match against high caliber wrestlers," said Swensen. "We know we can cradle someone, but we don't know how good we are. We've been able to turn it on in the semifinals and finals. But our kids have to be able to flip the switch against quality guys in round one, round two, etc.
"Bottom line, we want to see how we respond in tight matches," added Swensen. "In this field, everybody's first match is huge. You don't want to lose (the first match) and then dig out from the loser's bracket."
Health-wise, Swensen admitted SHS is in good shape except for junior Virgil Toms at 125. The third-place finisher in Class 2A last winter has been plagued by a sore shoulder and will not be in the lineup.
Instead, freshman Joe Russo (1-1), will take Toms' place. Also, SHS will be filling 13 weight classes, with no one at 112.
So how will the Eagles fare?
"There's a lot of unknowns with the out-of-state teams," said Swensen. "It's hard to say how we'll do because we don't know much about the out-of-state kids.
"But if you're the California team and you're flying across the country to this, you must be pretty good. On the surface, this field is comparable to Durant. In fact, it's probably a little tougher."
Springstead enters the tournament with nine of the county's Top 10 grapplers including: Nick Soto (22-0 overall with a county-high 17 pins), Cody Ross (21-0), Richie Bliss and Ellerbee (21-3), Sean Redman (20-3), John Dreggors (19-2), Shawn Landgraff (19-3), Sammy "The Bull" Colon (18-2) and Andrew Herr (17-3).
 
AT A GLANCE
WHAT - 8th annual Zac Jarzynka Iron Man Tournament.
WHO - Thirty-two team field features 14 out-of-state programs including: Bremen, GA; Camden, GA; Kennesaw Mountain, GA; Lowndes, GA; Miller Grove, GA; Walton, GA; Hoover, AL; St. Anthony's, NY; Cuyahoga Heights, OH; Palmerton, PA; Hayfield, VA; Ocean Lakes, VA; Salem, VA; Imperial, CA;  and 18 Florida programs including: Spring Hill-Springstead, Miami-Columbus; Lakeland-Lake Gibson; Miami-Braddock; Naples-Palmetto Ridge; Orlando-Dr. Phillips; Winter Springs; St. Petersburg-Northside Christian; Harmony; Cypress Creek; Palm Beach-Dwyer; Punta Gorda-Charlotte; Titusville-Astronaut; Tampa-Berkeley Prep; Orlando-University; Southwest Miami; Lynn Haven-Mosley; and host Oviedo High. Defending tourney champion is Wentzville, Missouri's Holt High.
WHERE - Oviedo High School's two gyms, 601 King St., Oviedo, FL 32765.
WHEN - Monday, Dec. 28-Tuesday, Dec. 29. Monday's action begins at noon and runs until 8 p.m. Tuesday's action begins at 9:30 a.m. Finals at 7 p.m.
AT STAKE - Team trophies for the top four teams and medals for top six placers. There will also be OSW (Outstanding Wrestler Awards) for lightweights, middleweights and heavyweights.
 
Springstead's 2007 Oviedo Tournament Results
WGT  Name    W L Pins PL 
103  Soto, Dustin   4 2 1 5th  
112  Swanton, Schuyler  6 2 2 3rd
119  Huff, Skylar   6 2 2 5th
125  Cook, CJ   5 3 1 7th
130  Bliss, Steven   3 2 1 -
135  Huff, Devean   2 2 2 -
140  Hughes, Sean   1 2 0 -
145  Ellerbee, Tom   1 2 0 -
152  Klenovich, Thad   5 2 1 4th
171  Wern, Scott   1 2 0 -
189  Acosta, Cesar   5 1 0 3rd
215  Cox, Ken   0 3 0 -
285  Ramirez, Carlos   4 3 3 4th
TOTALS     43 28 13 -