NCT, Springstead should remain class of county

In the end, the 2011 track and field season in Hernando County belonged to the Central High girls.

More specifically, Lady Bear teammates Tikiera Relaford and Raqurra Ishmar were the headliners, claiming a combined three state championships.

But the underlying storyline was the rise of the Springstead program as a whole.

The girls bested Nature Coast Technical for the county championship, though that wasn't too surprising. That the boys nearly did the same, however, raised some eyebrows.

For three seasons the Sharks dominated the local scene with three county titles, along with two district crowns and a district runner-up finish.

They made it four county crowns in a row last year, but the Eagles came agonizingly close to ending that run, losing 109-105 after Nature Coast mounted a significant comeback at the county meet.

Yet the Sharks failed to advance anyone to states, while Springstead junior Thomas Watson went in the 400.

So can the Eagles continue to gain ground on Nature Coast as the 2012 campaign gets under way?

"We're going to look to make a very similar run that we did last year. We lost some senior talent, but we've found new kids to come in and bring some good stuff to the table," Springstead boys coach Brandon Wright said.

The Eagles still have Watson, fresh off earning Hernando Today Player of the Year honors. He finished a modest 14th at states in the 400, his 53.33 falling well short of his season best of 50.92.

"I expect for him to go back to states and hopefully get a medal this year," Wright said. "He's definitely a leader in demeanor and attitude. It rubs off on the younger kids."

They'll have to replace graduates Will Hall, a county champ in the long and high jumps, and Lou Wendelstedt, a two-time All-County pick and regional qualifier in the 400.

Those two, plus Watson, were also part of Springstead's regional qualifying 4x400.

Junior Dylan Pendlebury, an All-County pole vaulter, does remain in the fold as part of a field events group Wright anticipates as a strength.

The 2011 Coach of the Year for the boys additionally believes his team should improve in running events.

"I think we're very well-rounded, very strong and we're coming back," Wright said. "That's the team goal we've discussed, we want the county championship. That's our big target. The mentality we almost have is county or bust."

Nature Coast has other ideas, of course, both for the county and beyond.

"Right now just re-establish ourselves is what we have to do," Nature Coast boys coach Ryan Wilson said. "People on the team now understand it's not given to them.

"I think we definitely have the talent to (bounce back). We have a lot more speed out there than last year. We can reestablish ourselves if they believe what we tell them as coaches."

The Sharks can no longer lean on the sprinting of Ja'Juan Story, a state medalist in 2010, but do have veterans in juniors Matt Breida and Frank Villaizan, and senior Patrick Suarez.

Wilson feels Central transfer Jacquez Kincade, a junior who last season went to regionals in the 200 for the Bears, and junior Dominique Rawlins will help fill the void left by Story.

But the backbone for the Sharks remains the distance runners, paced by junior Cody Van Natter and senior Tyler Moore, All-County picks in 2011.

In cross country this past fall, Nature Coast claimed district and regional titles, and placed fifth in the state.

"It's one of the hardest-working groups I've ever been around," Wilson said of the distance crew. "They'll always carry us. I just hope the sprinters and field events hold their own."

Springstead's girls suffered some serious personnel hits through graduation, losing distance runners Mikayla Bogulski and Sasha Spalding.

Those two also helped form the 4x800 and 4x400 relays that have become the Lady Eagles' bread and butter under girls coach Joel Myers.

Yet with the return of senior Kailey Genrich and sophomores Wilena Little and Ty'Rhonza Harris, combined with promising freshman Erin Blackwell, Myers remains optimistic.

"I'm kind of excited," Myers said. "We've got talent. It's young talent, but I think we'll be pretty decent."

Myers noted that Little, a state qualifier in the 200, "is in 10 times the shape she was last year.

"It's a good crew. I think we'll contend for the county again if the youngsters come through."

The Lady Sharks don't necessarily have any superstars, but overall depth has girls coach Ed LaRose thinking big.

"We're going after the district," LaRose said. "We're going for it. In a couple weeks we'll have a better idea if that's a realistic goal.

"At the district level it's about how well you're spread out. So far it looks like we'll be able to do that."

CENTRAL BEARS

Boys

Head coach: Brad Henderson (1st year)

District: 3A-6

2011 highlights: 4th in county, 9th in district, NTS in region.

Key losses: Jacquez Kincade, Charlie Stanley.

Key returnees: Quadavis Battle (Jr.), Andre Gallo-Crespo (Jr.), Zach Hall (Sr.), Dan Richardson (Sr.), Jacob Stough (Sr.).

Coach's outlook: "We're trying to build Central back into what it used to be. We're starting from scratch. But we have a great outlook; have fun every day we're out there."

Girls

Head coach: Jenn Adams (1st year)

District: 3A-6

2011 highlights: 3rd in county, 3rd in district, 6th in region, 5th at state (Tikiera Relaford, 1st in high jump; Raqurra Ishmar 1st in shot put, 1st in discus, DNS in long jump).

Key losses: Mallori Brooks, Raqurra Ishmar, Tikiera Relaford.

Key returnees: Samantha Evans (So.), Shanise Frazier (So.), Christianna Mony (Jr.).

Key newcomers: none.

HERNANDO LEOPARDS

Boys

Head coach: Rodney Byrd (2nd year)

District: 2A-6

2011 highlights: 3rd in county, 9th in district, 25th in region, NTS at states (Quentin Adams, 16th in 100).

Key losses: William Alderman.

Key returnees: Quentin Adams (Jr.), Robert Hill Bronson (Jr.), Bradley Geisler (Jr.), Tyrail Hawkins (Jr.), Brandon Owens (Sr.), Terrance Owens (Sr.), Andrew Tumaniszwili (Sr.).

Key newcomers: none.

Coach's outlook: "As always, we're going to run them hard and everything else will take care of itself."

Girls

Head coach: Shawanda McCullough (1st year)

District: 2A-6

2011 highlights: 4th in county, 9th in district, 26th in region.

Key losses: Lakia Brown.

Key returnees: Victoria Alderman (Jr.), Tabatha Loose (Jr.), Paris Madrey (Sr.), Ebone Plummer (Jr.), Kendall Raney (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Aliyah Ousley (Fr.), Jasha Patrick (Fr.), Amy Tang (Fr.).

Coach's outlook: "The biggest thing with the girls is that they improve."

NATURE COAST SHARKS

Head coach: Ryan Wilson (6th year)

District: 2A-6

2011 highlights: 1st in county, 4th in district, 23rd in region.

Key losses: Ja'Juan Story, Jeff Van Natter.

Key returnees: Matt Breida (Jr.), Kevin Ciccone (Jr.), James Harkless (So.), Wyatt Hessler (Jr.), Lance Ledoux (Sr.), Tyler Moore (Sr.), Ryan Pelaez (Jr.), Patrick Suarez (Sr.), Cody Van Natter (Jr.), Frank Villaizan (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Greg Jarque (Sr.), Jacquez Kincade (Jr.), Dominique Rawlins (Jr.), Robert Wadsworth (Sr.).

Coach's outlook: "Right now just re-establish ourselves is what we have to do. People on the team now understand it's not given to them.

Girls

Head coach: Ed LaRose (5th year)

District: 2A-6

2011 highlights: 2nd in county, 7th in district, NTS in region.

Key losses: Rachel Brockhoff, Cymone Peterson.

Key returnees: Brianna Baugher (Jr.), Ashley Chevalier (Jr.), Alyssa Deligio (Jr.), Alicia Gentz (So.), Amy Holmes (Sr.), Brianna Horn (So.), Tatiana Lasanta (Sr.), Courtney Liddle (Sr.), Aysha McCants (So.), Mackenzie Medler (Sr.), Mary Thomson (So.).

Key newcomers: Nicole Brennan (Sr.), Bronte Cameron (Fr.), Zavana Schmit (So.).

Coach's outlook: "We're going after the district. We're going for it. In a couple weeks we'll have a better idea if that's a realistic goal."

SPRINGSTEAD EAGLES

Head coach: Brandon Wright (2nd year)

District: 3A-6

2011 highlights: 2nd in county, 5th in district, 25th in region, NTS at states (Thomas Watson 14th in 400).

Key losses: Will Hall, Lou Wendelstedt.

Key returnees: James Amodie (So.), Bobby Harris (So.), Ethan Kemp (Jr.), Dylan Pendlebury (Jr.), Zach Romblad (Jr.), Thomas Watson (Sr.).

Key newcomers: Deon Hannah (So.), Abraham Paulding (Jr.), Devante Valentine (So.).

Coach's outlook: "I think we're very well-rounded, very strong and we're coming back. That's the team goal we've discussed, we want the county championship. That's our big target. The mentality we almost have is county or bust."

Girls

Head coach: Joel Myers (6th year)

District: 3A-6

2011 highlights: 1st in county, 6th in district, 9th in region, NTS at states (Mikayla Bogulski 11th in 800; Wilena Little 14th in 200; Sasha Spalding 16th in 300 hurdles; Kailey Genrich, Ty'Rhonza Harris, Sasha Spalding, Mikayla Bogulski, 13th in 4x800).

Key losses: Mikayla Bogulski, Maria Garcia, Brittany Gosine, Sasha Spalding.

Key returnees: Farley Barnett (Sr.), Kailey Genrich (Sr.), Ty'Rhonza Harris (So.), Wilena Little (So.), Ashley Vonada (Jr.).

Key newcomers: Erin Blackwell (Fr.), Salina Bravo (Fr.), Emmalee Harris (Fr.).

Coach's outlook: "It's a good crew. I think we'll contend for the county again if the youngsters come through."

WEEKI WACHEE HORNETS

Head coach: Mark Lee (1st year)

District: 2A-9

2011 highlights: 5th in county, 13th in district.

Key losses: none.

Key returnees: Steven James (Jr.), Jesse Laurenti (So.).

Key newcomers: Xavier Jones (So.), Hiram Matos (So.).

Coach's outlook: "We want to get our times and distances improved with each meet and peak at the end of the year."

Girls

Head coach: Amy Deschweinitz (2nd year)

District: 2A-9

2011 highlights: 5th in county, 13th in district.

Key losses: Kelly Senker.

Key returnees: Teressa Crisahtani (So.), Shannon Forgit (So.), Jennifer Gouldey (So.).

Key newcomers: Caitlyn Munson (Fr.), Kaitlyn Reardon (Fr.).

Coach's outlook: "I think we'll show improvement over last year. We're very focused and dedicated to performing well."