Wrestling 302199992

LAKELAND –
Unlike the past two winters, there would not be five Springstead Eagles crowned as state wrestling champions late Saturday night at Jenkins Arena.

Instead, Springstead leaned on its county record of eight state placers to notch 171.5 points and outdistance Lakeland-Lake Gibson for the second straight year – this time by 79.0 points.

The previous record was seven state placers by the 2009-10 and 2010-11 Eagle teams.

The Spring Hill mat men fell just short of toppling the county record for most points at states (185.5) set last winter at The Lakeland Center.

Most importantly in the 48th annual tourney, SHS captured 32-of-47 bouts (68 percent), setting a new county record, to become Hernando County’s first-ever back-to-back state champion in any sport.