Springstead remains in title hunt

F.W. Springstead and Central High were on opposite ends of the spectrum after the first day of the 29-team, Class 2A, Region II Tournament.
The No. 2-ranked Eagles had a respectable showing Friday at Lake Gibson High School.
Four teams are within 8½ points of the lead.
After nine hours and four rounds of competition, SHS stood third overall with 77.5 points, 4½ points better than Dunedin.
The host Braves led after the opening day with 81.5 points, three more than the Class 2A's currently No. 1-ranked Oviedo High.
Oviedo enters Saturday's action with 10 grapplers in the semifinals while Lake Gibson has eight.
Springstead went 22-9 overall, featuring 13 pins.
The Eagles, who entered with 14 competitors, will return Saturday with 11.
Only freshman Stephen Pavao at 112 pounds, first-year sophomore Thomas Gupton at 189 and sophomore Casey Quinn at 171 will not return to the double-elimination affair.
Quinn finished 1-2 while Pavao and Gupton each finished 0-2.
The Eagles remain in the title hunt with eight grapplers in Saturday's 10 a.m. semifinals featuring senior Kenny Cox at 215, juniors Richie Bliss at 103, Virgil Toms at 125, Nick Soto at 130, Colton Zimmermann at 140, Sammy Colon at 145 and Shawn Landgraff at 152, and sophomore Cody Ross at 135.
SHS, which is seeking its first-ever regional crown since 2001, goes head-to-head against Oviedo in two semifinals matches at 135 and 140.

Central: Un-Bearable day

CHS suffered a long day capturing 8-of-35 matches with three pins.
All told, 13-of-14 Bears were eliminated with only junior Anthony Marquez returning with a 2-1 won-lost record, featuring two pins at 112.
How did Head Coach Roy Reyes evaluate the day that began with 13 losses in the opening 14 bouts.
"We've got to get better for next year," insisted the fourth-year skipper Reyes. "We have eight regional qualifiers coming back next year. At the end only one wrestler is truly happy.
"It's a great group of guys," added Coach Reyes. "When you don't win, it's kinda bittersweet. But we've still got some firepower coming back."


2A-II Wrestling Tournament Results:
PL SCHOOL PTS.
1. Lakeland-Lake Gibson (LG) 81.5
1. Oviedo (OVI) 78.5
3. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 77.5
4. Dunedin (DUN) 73.0
5. Inverness (CIT) 50.0
6. Orlando-Edgewater (EDGE) 36.5
7. Harmony (HAR) 33.5
8. Kissimmee-Liberty (LIB) 33.0
9. New Port Richey-River Ridge (RR) 27.0
9. Bartow (BART) 27.0
11. Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch (WGR) 26.5
12. Land O'Lakes-Sunlake (SNL) 26.0
13. St. Cloud (STC) 23.0
14. New Port Richey-Mitchell (MIT) 22.0
15. Zephyrhills (ZEP) 20.5
16. Celebration (CELE) 17.0
16. Brooksville-Central (CEN) 17.0
18. Lakeland-Kathleen (KATH) 16.0
19. Winter Haven (WH) 15.0
20. Lake Alfred-Lake Region (LR) 13.0
21. Sebring (SEB) 12.5
22. Land O'Lakes (LOL) 11.5
23. Davenport-Ridge Community (RC) 10.0
24. Lecanto (LEC) 8.00
24. Orlando-Oak Ridge (OR) 8.00
26. Haines City (HC) 7.00
26. Tarpon Springs (TS) 7.00
28. New Port Richey-Ridgewood (RW) 4.00
29. Hudson (HUD) 0.00

Springstead Individual Results
WGT NAME W L PINS PL
103 Bliss, Richie 2 0 1 -
112 Pavao, Stephen 0 2 0 -
119 Redman, Sean 2 1 1 -
125 Toms, Virgil 2 0 2 -
130 Soto, Nick 2 0 2 -
135 Ross, Cody 2 0 1 -
140 Zimmermann, Colton 2 0 1 -
145 Colon, Sammy 2 0 0 -
152 Landgraff, Shawn 2 0 1 -
160 Ellerbee, Thomas 2 1 0 -
171 Quinn, Casey 1 2 0 -
189 Gupton, Thomas 0 2 0 -
215 Cox, Ken 2 0 1 -
285 Dreggors, John 2 1 2 -
TOTALS 23 9 13 -

Central Individual Results
WGT NAME W L PINS PL
103 Marquez, Josh 0 2 0 -
112 Marquez, Anthony 2 1 2 -
119 Monsegur, Robbie 1 2 0 -
125 Supple, David 1 2 0 -
130 Cleveland, Josh 0 2 0 -
135 Walton, Luke 1 2 0 -
140 Merced, Daniel 0 2 0 -
145 Lane, Justin 0 2 0 -
152 Nieves, Puerto Rico 0 2 0 -
160 Gehrke, Zach 1 2 0 -
171 Martin, Zach 0 2 0 -
189 Lantigua, Luis 1 2 0 -
215 Scott, Patrick 0 2 0 -
285 Williamson, Bradley 1 2 1 -
TOTALS 8 27 3 -