Cronin, Pritz make history

If you go by sheer numbers, this weekend wasn't the most impressive for Hernando County wrestlers.
Between Nature Coast and Hernando, 18 qualified for the regional tournament. Of that lot, five pushed their way through to the state tournament at The Lakeland Center.
Despite those numbers, there was much to be said about the Class 1A, Region II Tournament this weekend at Palm Coast-Matanzas.
Nature Coast's Scott Cronin (125 pounds), Mitchell Lambert (140) and Greg Jarque (285) will join Hernando's Daniel and Zach Pritz as state qualifiers.
Cronin became the Sharks' first regional champ, while Daniel Pritz collected his school-record third consecutive region title and became Hernando High's career wins leader (151). The record was held by his older brother David Pritz (149).
"It's the best feeling in the world, actually," Cronin said moments after collected an 8-4 victory against Poinciana's Benson Bazilmon. "Hopefully being the first state placer (will feel better). That's what I'm trying to do."
New Port Richey-Gulf collected its first-ever team regional title, scoring 162 points. The Buccaneers were followed by Matanzas (115.5), Lake Highland Prep (108.5) and Orlando Bishop Moore (96).
Nature Coast finished seventh with 83 points, while Hernando was 10th with 65 points.
As for the Pritz brothers, considering what they go through during practice, it's only fitting they both will represent Hernando High.
"We push each other in the wrestling room," said Daniel Pritz, who has a 39-1 record entering the state tournament. "We fight at least once a week just from wrestling. So every workout we have together we push each other."
That pushing may pay dividends when the two hit the mat Friday morning in Lakeland.

Class 1A, Region II Tournament at Palm Coast-Matanzas
TEAM SCORES
1. Gulf, 162; 2. Matanzas 115.50; 3. Lake Highland Prep, 108.50; 4. Orlando Bishop Moore 96; 5. Mulberry, 89; 6. Cocoa Beach, 83.50; 7. Nature Coast, 83; 8. Space Coast, 81; 9. Astronaut 74; 10. Hernando 65; 11. Cocoa, 63; 11. (tie) Rockledge, 63; 13. Auburndale, 60; 14. Avon Park, 56; 15. Dunnellon, 53; 16. McKeel, 34; 17. Tenoroc, 32; 18. Poinciana, 27; 19. Crystal River 22; 19. (tie) Titusville, 22; 21 Trinity Catholic, 21; 22. Pasco, 18.50; 23. Atlantic, 18; 24. Lake Wales, 14; 25. Frostproof, 11; 26. Villages, 9; 27. Wesley Chapel, 7; 28. Satellite, 6; 29. Heritage, 5.50; 30. Anclote, 4; 31. Florida Air, 0; 31. (tie) Lake Nona, 0; 31. (tie) Taylor, 0.

Finals
103-Spengler (LHP) p. Daniels (CB) 3:13; 112-Baldwin (LHP) tech. fall White (SC), 17-2; 119-Ayers (G) p. M. Watson (CB) 1:44; 125-Cronin (NC) dec. Bazilme (POI), 8-4; 130-N. Watson (CB) dec. Hoppel (TPC), 8-2;135-Coats (AUB) dec. Worthen (MUL), 3-2; 140-Jackson (DUN) dec. Blabey (COC) 6-4; 145-D. Pritz (HER) p. Lane (AUB) 3:07; 152-Jackson (G) dec. Z. Pritz (HER), 6-3; 160-Hubbard (AP) dec. McDaniel (MAT) 8-1; 171-Desroches (ROC) p. Torres (AP) 5:49; 189-Isola (BM) dec. Rogers (MAT), 9-5; 215-Myers (COC) p. Withers (SC) 3:43; 285-Rowland (BM) dec. Olinger (MUL), 13-6.

Consolation Finals
103-Fuentes (MUL) p. White (MAT) 1:47; 112-Carpenter (G) dec. Gamez (P), 10-4; 119-Santiago (BM) dec. Gallaway (ROC), 11-4; 125-Nieves (MAT) dec. Johnson (AUB) 8-1; 130-Infante (MAT) maj. dec. Parker (MUL), 14-2; 135-Mears (LHP) p. O'Connor (G) 4:48;140- Goff (AST) dec. Lambert (NC), 4-2;
145-Laska (LHP) dec. Dugger (SC), 7-2; 152-Diaz (TEN) dec. Maya (ROC), 9-2;160- Delgado (DUN) dec. Mesagno (G), 6-4; 171-Ritter (G) dec. Garcia (BM), 4-2; 189-Perez (TIT) p. Leon (MCK) 2:50; 215-Stephenson (AST) p. Palasky (G) 2:06; 285-Kruse (G) p. Jarque (NC) :43.

NCT Individual Results
WGT NAME W L PINS PL
103 Nguyen, Sean 0 2 0 -
112 Forand, Tyler 3 2 0 -
119 Anthony, Robert 1 2 1 -
125 Cronin, Scott 4 0 2 1st
130 Richardson, Steven 1 2 0 -
135 Bolesta, Carter 2 2 1 -
140 Lambert, Mitchell 3 2 2 4th
145 McCarty, Luke* 0 0 0 -
152 Nuby, Brenton 2 2 2 -
160 Carasquillo, Carlos 2 2 1 -
171 Holloman, Peter 1 2 0 -
189 Gilbert, Jeff* 0 0 0 -
285 Jarque, Greg 4 2 4 4th
TOTALS 23 20 13 -
* Injured prior to meet/did not compete

Hernando High Individual Results
WGT NAME W L PINS PL
125 Young, Jared 3 2 1 -
135 Ayers, David 1 2 0 -
145 Pritz, Daniel 4 0 2 1st
152 Pritz, Zach 3 1 3 2nd
189 Raney, Dakota 1 2 0 -
215 Pascullo, Nicholas 0 2 0 -
285 Neff, Austin 2 2 1 -
TOTALS 14 11 7 -