The Florida High School Athletic Association's redistricting last winter led to a new landscape statewide.
Beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, two of this past decade's most successful mat programs, Citrus High and F.W. Springstead, tangle in the state series for the first time in years for the Class 2A, District 7 title in the Panthers' gymnasium at Lecanto High.
Sure five other teams will also be on hand, including Brooksville-Central, Hudson, Land O'Lakes, New Port Richey-Ridgewood and host Lecanto. But all eyes will be on the anticipated titanic clash between Citrus High's grapplers from Inverness and the Eagles from Spring Hill.
The top four wrestlers from each weight class will advance to the Feb. 12-13, 29-team, Class 2A, Region II Meet hosted by Lakeland-Lake Gibson.
'Canes vs. Eagles
The Citrus Golden Hurricanes are riding the crest of their recent success. Head Coach Mike Porcelli's troops have collected four straight district titles and five lifetime.
Head Coach Eric Swensen's Eagles are ranked No. 2 in Class 2A. SHS, who has captured 6-of-8 tournaments, enters the meet seeking its sixth straight district title and the North Suncoast's staggering 24th overall.
Lecanto Head Coach Scott Roberts was asked to describe 2A-7.
"Basically we're hosting a duel between Citrus and Springstead with some other teams mixed in," he frankly stated. "Both teams have very solid wrestlers. Those two will take home the top two trophies. There are no trophies for third."
The Panthers are paced by senior and 2009 state qualifier Sam Arcadipane at 130 pounds, who enters 35-4 overall.
Though the Eagles are prohibitive favorites, make no mistake about it, the 'Canes aren't going away quietly into the night.
"We're ready to go," emphasized Coach Porcelli, whose team finished 33-3 in dual meets and captured four tournaments. "There is no doubt Springstead's the best, but we're going after it. Our kids know we have to turn it up. Win or lose Saturday, I think you'll see our kids give maximum effort."
SHS defused the 'Canes in their only head-to-head meetings the last two years during the finals of the Gulf Duals in 2008 (56-9) and again at Gulf in 2009 (56-21).
How healthy are the 'Canes?
"We're coming in 100 percent," said Porcelli. "We're not banged up and there's no sickness. We only start two seniors. We'll start five freshmen, so it's a young team overall. I like our future. Our upcoming eighth-grade and freshman classes should be very talented."
What does Porcelli expect on Saturday?
"Saturday is the start of a three-week process," reminded Porcelli. "Remember, this week and next week are just qualifiers for the show. For us to have a chance, we have to keep the matches close. What helps is our kids are in phenomenal shape.
"We have to keep the pressure on them," added Coach Porcelli. "We're not gonna recreate the wheel; to win, we've got to catch lightning in a bottle."
Eagles: no letdowns wanted
As far as Coach Swensen is concerned, the Eagles' eight previous tournaments and 13-0 dual meet record has simply been a precursor leading up to Saturday; a sort of dress rehearsal.
"I think Coach Roberts is pretty accurate, I see Saturday as a battle between us and Citrus," said the sixth-year skipper Swensen. "We've seen the other teams. We haven't seen Central. They haven't been to anything local. But we've told our kids all year, we have a chance to win a state championship. To do that, we've got to wrestle well on Saturday."
How serious is the threat from Citrus?
"I respect what Citrus does," said Swensen. "They wrestle year-round just like we do and we see their kids all the time in the offseason. They're doing things the right way. And give Mike (Porcelli) credit, they always seem to peak at the end of the year."
What's the state of the Eagles?
"We're healthy, that's a start," said Coach Swensen. "Our goals have been lofty all year. We don't plan on stopping at Lecanto. We don't want any letdowns. Our No.1 goal is to do what we've done all year."
SHS will enter with a 14-man squad.
Since the Jan. 22-23 Ippolito Tournament the lineup features three obvious changes.
Juniors Colton Zimmermann and Sammy "The Bull" Colon will switch places. Zimmermann will compete at 140 while Colon will compete at 145.
Also, sophomore Thomas Gupton, who went 3-2 at the Ippolito Tourney at Brandon, has replaced Andrew Herr at 189. Herr was ruled academically ineligible just prior to the Ippolito Meet.
"Andrew is a little bigger than Thomas," noted Swensen. "Gup is really a 171-pounder wrestling up, but he's a scraper and he listens very well. Gup was one win away from the medal round at Ippolito. That says a lot. This will be a great experience for him."
The county's top seven grapplers are all from Springstead.
SHS is led by sophomore Cody Ross, who heads to Lecanto with a stout 39-1 won-lost slate at 135. Senior Thomas Ellerbee is 39-10 at 160.
Five Eagles seek repeat district titles this weekend including junior and defending state champion Richie Bliss (38-3, with a county-high 27 pins) at 103, junior Nick Soto (35-0) at 130, Ross, Zimmermann (27-6) and junior Shawn Landgraff (35-6) at 152.
Soto, who sat out the Ippolito event due to a tweaked knee at Flagler, is 100 percent.
Bears: third-best team?
Unlike Springstead, which competed in rugged, high-profile tournaments all season, Central High took a road less traveled. The Bears competed in a mostly dual meet-oriented schedule and finished with an outstanding 25-6 won-lost slate.
The burning question is whether the level of competition the Bears faced all season long sufficiently prepared them for the rigors of the state series.
According to the Bears' fourth-year skipper Roy Reyes, his 14-man lineup is preparing to take its entire squad to regionals.
"As a coach, if you don't feel that way, you're doing your program a disservice," said Reyes, who was the only Hernando County mentor not represented at states in 2009. "You've got to create your own reality. Kids have got to believe in you. If you preach anything else, your cutting your program short."
How will the Bears fare?
"We're also 100 percent healthy," admitted Reyes, a former Florida state runner-up. "Knock on wood, we've been real fortunate so far. Injuries haven't been a factor."
What's the key on Saturday?
"Everybody starts 0-0 on Saturday," pointed out Reyes. "You have to go in with confidence, but remember, it's double elimination. If you fall short in one match, you can still come back. We've trained hard. I believe our guys are ready."
CHS did not have a district champ last winter at Dunedin. CHS' last district champ was Nathan Brazeau at 215 pounds in 2008.
The Bears are led by junior Robbie Monsegur at 119 at 32-4 while freshman Josh Marquez at 103 is 31-4 with a team-high 20 pins.
AT A GLANCE
WHAT - Class 2A, District 7 Wrestling Tournament.
WHO - Seven teams including Brooksville-Central, Hudson, Inverness-Citrus, Land O'Lakes, New Port Richey-Ridgewood, 23-time district champion Spring Hill-Springstead and host Lecanto.
WHERE - Lecanto High gym.
WHEN - Saturday, Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per session.
AT STAKE - Top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to Feb. 12-13's two-day, 29-team, Region II Meet hosted by Lakeland-Lake Gibson.
02-07-09: Springstead @ Dunedin 2A-5 Wrestling Tournament Results:
Springstead Individual Results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
103 Richie Bliss 3 0 3 1st
112 Sean Redman 2 1 1 2nd
119 Cody Ross 3 0 1 1st
125 Nick Soto 2 0 1 1st
130 Devean Huff 1 1 1 2nd
135 Colton Zimmermann 2 0 1 1st
140 Sammy Colon 2 1 2 2nd
145 Shawn Landgraff 2 0 0 1st
152 Thomas Ellerbee 2 1 2 3rd
160 Thad Klenovich 2 0 1 1st
171 Jessey Lorentsen 2 1 2 2nd
189 Scott Wern 2 0 1 1st
215 Ken Cox 3 1 2 3rd
285 Charles Oquendo 2 1 2 2nd
TOTALS 30 7 20
Final Class 2A, District 5 Wrestling Tournament Results:
1. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 263.5; 2. Dunedin (DUN) 231; 3. New Port Richey-River Ridge (RR) 106; 4. Brooksville-Central (CEN) 77; 5. Land O'Lakes (LOL) 52; 6. Wesley Chapel (WC) 38; 7. Tarpon Springs (TS) 23; 8. Groveland-South Lake (SL) 13; 9. New Port Richey-Ridgewood (RID) 9.
2009 2A-5 Championship Round
103 - Steve Bliss (SPG) maj. dec. Ray Khemraj (DUN), 12-1.
112 - John McKay (LOL) dec. Sean Redman (SPG), 6-4.
119 - Cody Ross (SPG) tech. fall Dakota Rodgers (DUN), 17-0.
125 - Nick Soto (SPG) pin Jeremy Goodloe (DUN), 3:26.
130 - Austin Prince (DUN) dec. Devean Huff (SPG), 10-8.
135 - Colton Zimmerman (SPG) dec. Kane Plate (DUN), 7-2.
140 - Sean Hitchcock (RR) pin Sam Colton (SPG), 3:29.
145 - Shawn Landgraff (SPG) dec. Shaun Cadoret (CEN), 6-3.
152 - John Cannizzaro (DUN) dec. Landon Vannata (RR), 8-3.
160 - Thad Klenovich (SPG) pin Sergio Zamufio (DUN), 0:34.
171 - Antonio Talley (DUN) maj. dec. Jessey Lorentsen, (SPG) 10-2.
189 - Scott Wern (SPG) dec. Justin Zeedyk (DUN), 3-2.
215 - Gideon Levy (DUN) pin Danny May (CEN), :36.
285 - Luis Agramonte (DUN) pin Charles Oquendo (SPG) , 1:38.
2009 2A-5 Consolation Round
103 - Jesse Barker (RR) pin Shawn Stark (LOL), 3:45.
112 - Shaun Shakoor (DUN) dec. Manny Mercado (RR), 11-5.
119 - Andrew Agazarm (RR) dec. Robbie Monsegur (CEN), 7-1.
125 - Wayne Snell (CEN) dec. Kevin Engle (LOL), 5-4.
130 - Kenny Supple (CEN) pin Andrew Allisondratis (TS), 2:39.
135 - Brennan Stack (LOL) pin Brandon Bates (RID), 2:34.
140 - Jake Cannizzaro (DUN) pin Josh Cleveland (CEN) 2:23.
145 - Tyler Smith (DUN) maj. dec. Earl Burns (RR), 15-7.
152 - Thomas Ellerbee (SPG) pin Jeremy Henderson (WC), 3:41.
160 - Sergio Zamudio (DUN) pin Josh Dale (SL) 1:42.
171 - Jake Horning (RR) tech. fall Zach Martin (CEN), 19-1.
189 - Brendan Ferguson (WC) maj. dec. Austin Schwartz (RR), 15-5.
215 - Ken Cox (SPG) tech. fall Cody Embry (LOL), 16-0.
285 - Kameron Romaelle (TS) pin Donovan Berardi (RR), 0:51.
02-07-09: Central @ Dunedin Class 2A-5 Tournament Results
Central Individual results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
112 - Edward D'Angelo 0 2 0 -
119 - Robbie Monsegur 1 2 1 4th
125 - Wayne Snell 3 1 1 3rd
130 - Kenny Supple 3 1 2 3rd
135 - Dan Merced 0 2 0 -
140 - Josh Cleveland 1 2 0 4th
145 - Shaun Cadoret 1 1 0 2nd
152 - Zach Gehrke 0 2 0 -
160 - Antonio Zayas 0 2 0 -
171 - Zach Martin 2 2 2 4th
189 - Puerto Rico Nieves 0 2 0 -
215 - Danny May 1 1 0 2nd
285 - Patrick Scott 0 2 0 -
TOTALS 12 22 6
Final 2008 Class 2A, District 5 Team Standings
PL Team PTS
1. Springstead (SPG) 237.0
2. Dunedin (DUN) 165.0
3. River Ridge (RR) 146.0
4. Central (CEN) 117.0
5. Ridgewood (RW) 56.0
6. Land O' Lakes (LOL) 46.0
7. South Lake (SL) 36.0
8. Wesley Chapel (WC) 18.5
9. Tarpon Springs (TS) 5.0
Springstead's 2008 Class 2A, District 5 Individual Results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
103 Soto, Dustin 2 0 2 1st
112 Swanton, Schuyler 3 0 2 1st
119 Huff, Skylar 3 0 2 1st
125 Cook, C.J. 2 0 1 1st
130 Bliss, Steve 2 0 2 1st
135 Landgraff, Shawn 1 2 0 -
140 Hughes, Sean 2 1 1 3rd
145 Ellerbee, Thomas 1 1 0 2nd
152 Klenovich, Thad 3 0 2 1st
160 Herr, Andrew 1 2 1 4th
171 Wern, Scott 2 0 0 1st
189 Acosta, Cesar 2 0 1 1st
215 Delgado, Luis 2 1 2 3rd
285 Ramirez, Carlos 3 0 1 1st
TOTALS 29 7 17
Central's 2008 Class 2A, District 5 Individual Results
Wgt Name W L Pins PL
103 Vega, Anto 0 2 0 4th
112 Supple, David 0 2 0 -
119 Snell, Wayne 3 1 2 3rd
125 Supple, Ken 2 1 1 2nd
130 Zayas, Antonio 1 1 0 3rd
135 Ramirez, Vince 2 1 1 2nd
140 Sieber, Robbie 0 2 0 -
145 Cadoret, Shaun 3 1 1 3rd
152 Miller, Mike 1 2 1 4th
160 Adams, Tom 0 2 0 -
189 May, Daniel 2 1 1 2nd
215 Brazeau, Nathan 3 0 1 1st
TOTALS 17 16 8
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