no-more-pipe-dreams-ar-274971

WRESTLING
The North Suncoast’s finest mat program, F.W. Springstead High School, doesn’t have to brow beat folks to take note of their program.
If there are any novice fans out there, just look at their resume.
SHS Athletic Director Bob Levija secured a county-record 18 district championships in 21 seasons and two third-pace finishes at states.
He’s in the wrestling Hall of Fame.
After a two-year lull, enter the Eagles’ current Head Coach Eric Swensen.
All Swensen and his assistant coaches, Sal Basile and Chris Soto have done, is enable the Spring Hill crew to post five district titles in five years.
No other sport in this area (Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter) has etched 23 district crowns in 28 winters. So what’s been missing all these years?
No Hernando County team has ever carted home the tallest trophy — the State Championship.
Hernando High came the closest finishing as Class 1A state runners-up in 2003 — under ex-Springstead alumnus Matt Smith and assistant Bill Combs Sr.
Since last winter, the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has changed the landscape with redistricting.
Gone are perennial Class 2A powerhouses Brandon High, Bradenton-Manatee along with Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas. All three program have been shipped to Class 3A to battle the likes of Miami-South Dade and Company.
Class 2A’s loss is someone’s gain. Hello, Springstead.
Not that the coast is clear with Palmetto Ridge, Fort Myers-Riverdale, Gainesville and Lakeland-Lake Gibson still looming. But at least Visine isn’t needed.
The Eagles have a legitimate shot with its current roster, experience, ultra-competitive schedule and coaching prowess to tote home the county’s first state title in 46 years on Feb. 20 at The Lakeland Center.
How legit?
Nature Coast Technical’s sixth-year Head Coach Mike Lastra never blinked when asked how talented is Springstead this year.
“I’d like to wrestle Springstead every year,” said Lastra, a former state qualifier from Central High. “Even if we get shutout, they will bring people and fill the gym. And our kids will see how high the bar is raised in this sport.
“This team may have the closest shot at winning states,” added Coach Lastra. “Swensen’s current team is out-of-sight. No offense to Coach Levija or to any of his old teams. They’ve had studs for years. Heck, Coach Levija is in the Hall-of-Fame, but this current Springstead team is extremely young and extremely talented.”

Eagles 101

One would think it would be difficult to replicate last winter’s Eagle success when Springstead captured six tournaments. Plus, SHS finished runner-up in their own Duals Tournament to Miami-Columbus (40-37) and in the arduous Class 2A, Region II Meet to Brandon.
Lineup wise, SHS will be without 2009 state runner-up Scott Wern (41-7), state placers Jessey Lorentsen (44-10, 30 pins), Thad “Boomer” Klenovich and junior Devean Huff (19-9), who opted not to return.
Despite the loss of three state qualifiers, don’t shed any tears. The Eagles’ roster includes 11 lettermen who are back, including five with 40-plus wins including: defending state champion, junior Richie Bliss (45-3), sophomore and state runner-up Cody Ross (43-9), senior Kenny Cox (40-10), junior Shawn Landgraff (40-13) and junior Nick Soto (40-7).
Additional firepower comes from senior Thomas Ellerbee (30-15), junior Colton Zimmerman (34-14), sophomore Sean “Buddha” Redman (27-20) and junior Sammy “The Bull” Colon (22-19).
Additionally, the Eagles received some unexpected help from some moving vans. New roster additions include former Ocala-Forest standout, junior Virgil Toms, who finished third in 2009, ex-Citrus High grappler and 2009 state qualifier, John Dreggors, and New Hampshire move-in, sophomore Casey Quinn.
Plus, the Eagles will welcome back senior heavyweight Christian Quinones, who injured his knee during football season last year and did not compete, along with freshmen Steve Carnes and Stephen Pavo.
The Eagles open up their schedule at 6:30 p.m. tonight against Kissimmee-Liberty in a rare Friday dual meet prior to this weekend’s Levija Junior Varsity Tournament.
“The boys are committed and they work very hard,” explained Coach Swensen, who enters the season 68-12 overall in dual meets to compliment his 19 tournament championships. “We’ve trained like we always have in the offseason. The kids are every dedicated. Do they believe the hype (of winning states)? We mention it all the time.”
What about the meat grinder schedule?
“We’ll go back to Durant in a couple weeks, even without Brandon, it’s a mini-state tournament,” pointed out Coach Swensen. “Then we’ll go local for a while before we pick it back up at Oviedo. This year, that’s all individual tournament with teams from all over the U.S.
“In January after our tournament, we’ll go back to Flagler and Brandon against some heavy competition to get ready for the state series.”
What separates the Eagles from a possible state title?
“Our health is No. 1,” expressed Coach Swensen. “If we go into the state series healthy, we have the firepower and the experience to do some damage. Of course, we haven’t been 100 percent healthy (entering districts) since I’ve been here. So our health is a huge concern. And of course, having a little luck along the way never hurts.”
Interestingly, SHS opens the season with two starters nursing injuries.
Cox recently suffered a meniscus (knee) injury and is expected to miss the first month of the season and Colon also tweaked a knee and he is not expected to compete against Liberty.
“At least they (injuries) happened early in the season,” sighed Coach Swensen.

Sharks 101

Last winter, Nature Coast Technical’s program appeared to turn the corner.
In 2008-09, the Sharks went 21-14 overall in duals and captured their first-ever meet at The Villages.
A huge milestone was sending two grapplers to the Class 1A State Championship in Polk County behind junior Tyler Forand and senior Scott Cronin.
The bad news is the Sharks will miss the services of Shayne Gracteroly (35-9), Matt Lambert (30-8), Rockkhem Greene (29-12) and 2008 state qualifier David Simonson (24-12).
The good news is Forand (32-17) and Cronin (29-19) are back, along with sophomores Jeff Gilbert (26-16) and Mitch Lambert (22-27).
Also on the plus side, seniors John Carbone at heavyweight, Justin Murray at 215 are expected to compete. Look for juniors Brenton Nuby at 160 and Luke McCarty at 150, while sophomore Peter Holoman anchors 171.
According to Coach Lastra, several Sharks including sophomore Carter Boltesta (7-14) wrestled in over 70 matches during the offseason in preparation for this winter’s campaign.
“I know Springstead trains really hard during the offseason,” said Lastra of his team’s improvements. “We didn’t go to Iowa like they did, but our guys wrestled their tails off. Right now, Gulf is our primary goal. They’re one of the best teams in 1A.
“Looking at districts, with all the kids we’ve got coming back, we should be competing for first place.”
What’s the key?
“I agree with Coach Swensen,” declared Coach Lastra. “We need to be healthy. We had three starters not able to wrestle last year in districts. We need to keep the same tempo up all season. Also, I think we have to wrestle with some swagger. If we wrestle in districts like we’re capable of, we could win it. I really like this team’s chances of making some noise.”

Leopards 101

It’s been a busy off-season on the Bell Avenue campus. Joe McLain stepped down after two years and was replaced by former Central High standout Sergio Matos.
But Matos found fulltime employment elsewhere and left.
Enter first-year Head Coach Ben Mendoza. Mendoza competed at Ridgewood High under former skipper Pete Smith.
Unfortunately, Mendoza faces an uphill battle with a near empty cupboard.
Hernando High lost three state qualifiers to commencement exercises including two-time state qualifiers James Davidson (45-7) and Max Morrill (28-14), and 2009 state qualifier Brandon Gunderson (35-16).
Additionally, HHS will miss the services of regional qualifier George Smith (37-9).
On the plus side, state placer and senior Daniel Pritz needs 38 wins to supplant his older brother David Pritz for most career wins at HHS (149), while another 2009 state qualifier, sophomore Zach Pritz, won more matches (37) than either Daniel or David did as talented freshmen.
The stout Pritz brothers are the heart and soul of the team.
But after those two, HHS is pinning its hopes on four grapplers who’ve never posted a winning campaign: senior Spencer Weston (9-20 in 2007-08) returns after not competing last winter, senior Dakota Raney (11-18), sophomore Jared Young (10-28), and sophomore Sonny Worsley (3-15).
“We always look toward districts and beyond,” noted longtime HHS assistant coach Bill Combs Sr. on describing the young and inexperienced Leopards. “In February, everybody starts off 0-0. Even with all the young guys we have this year, we’ll be alright come districts.”

Bears 101

After qualifying two wrestlers for states in 2008, Central High’s mat program regressed last winter.
The Bears were the lone county program not to qualify anybody for states. That gnaws at former two-time state qualifier and Bear alumnus, Head Coach Roy Reyes.
CHS went 7-9 last winter with their highlight coming in week one’s win at the home during the Solomon Classic.
But like the Leopards, the Bears’ cupboard is nearly bare.
Kenny Supple (31-11), Danny May (15-6), Shaun Cadoret (30-14), Wayne Snell (27-18) are gone.
And there’s the uncertain status of senior Vince Ramirez (wrestled last season for Central, transferred to Springstead at the end of last year, returned to Central after requiring extensive shoulder surgery). Ramirez has not been medically cleared to compete for CHS.
CHS does have 15 first-year grapplers on its roster plus two move-ins: Louis Antigua, who wrestled in Georgia, senior Erick Rivera, who competed in Pennsylvania last winter.
“We’re young and overall inexperienced,” summed up Coach Reyes, who is 27-16 lifetime at CHS. “We do have some guys who have had some mat experience. Zach (Martin), Rob (Monsegur) and David (Supple) are our captains. These kids have made a lot of progress.
“My assistant coaches Kenny Supple and Danny May have really helped in showing the young guys what needs to be done to compete at the varsity level,” explained Reyes. “We went from a district that there were two favorites and everyone chasing them to the same thing this year with Springstead and Citrus,” commented Coach Reyes. “I am excited about the team chemistry. It may be the best (chemistry) I’ve ever had here from 103 (pounds) to heavyweight.”

AT A GLANCE
Central Bears
Head Coach – Roy Reyes (4th Year: 27-16 lifetime)
District – 2A-7.
Key returnees – David Supple (15-8 won-lost record), David Merced (14-9), Zach Martin (11-15).
Key losses – Kenny Supple (31-11), Danny May (15-6), Shaun Cadoret (30-14), Wayne Snell (27-18), and the uncertain status of senior Vince Ramirez (wrestled last season for Central, transferred to Springstead at the end of last year, returned to Central after requiring extensive shoulder surgery). P.S. Ramirez has not been medically cleared to compete for CHS.
New Additions – Louis Antigua, who wrestled in Georgia, senior Erick Rivera, who competed in Pennsylvania last winter along with 15 first-year grapplers.
Outlook – “We went from a district that there were two favorites and everyone chasing them to the same thing this year with Springstead and Citrus,” commented Coach Reyes. “I am excited about the team chemistry. It may be the best (chemistry) I’ve ever had here from 103 (pounds) to heavyweight.”

Hernando Leopards
Head Coach – Ben Mendoza (1st Year)
District – 1A-8.
Returning starters – State placer and senior Daniel Pritz needs 38 wins to supplant his older brother David Pritz for most career wins at HHS (149), while another 2009 state qualifier, sophomore Zach Pritz, won more matches (37) than either Daniel or David did as talented freshmen.
Key losses – Two-time state qualifiers James Davidson (45-7) and Max Morrill (28-14), and 2009 state qualifier Brandon Gunderson (35-16) and regional qualifier George Smith (37-9).
New Additions – Two-time letterman Spencer Weston returns to the mats after not competing last winter.
Outlook – “We always look toward districts and beyond,” explained HHS assistant coach Bill Combs Sr. on describing the young and inexperienced Leopards. “In February, everybody starts off 0-0. Even with all the young guys we have this year, we’ll be alright come districts.”

Nature Coast Technical Sharks
Head Coach – Mike Lastra (6th Year: 37-70 lifetime)
District – 1A-8.
Returning starters – 2009 state qualifiers: junior Tyler Forand (32-17) and senior Scott Cronin (29-19), along with sophomores Jeff Gilbert (26-16) and Mitch Lambert (22-27).
Key losses – Shayne Gracteroly (35-9), Matt Lambert (30-8), Rockkhem Greene (29-12) and 2008 state qualifier David Simonson (24-12).
New Additions – Seniors John Carbone at heavyweight, Justin Murray at 215. Look for Brenton Nuby’s return to the mats at 160, Luke McCarty at 150, and sophomore Peter Holoman at 171.
Outlook – Sharks have the depth to overtake the Leopards in 1A-8, but question remains do they have enough moxy in critical matches to surpass favored New Port Richey-Gulf for the district championship.

Springstead Eagles
Head Coach – Eric Swensen (6th Year: 68-12 lifetime)
District – 2A-7.
Returning starters – Eleven letterman are back including five with 40-plus wins including: defending state champion, junior Richie Bliss (45-3), sophomore and state runner-up Cody Ross (43-9) senior Kenny Cox (40-10), junior Shawn Landgraff (40-13) and junior Nick Soto (40-7). Additional firepower with senior Thomas Ellerbee (30-15), junior Colton Zimmerman (34-14), sophomore Sean “Buddha” Redman (27-20) and junior Sammy “The Bull” Colon (22-19). Key losses – 2009 state runner-up Scott Wern (41-7), state placers Jessey Lorentsen (44-10, 30 pins) and Thad “Boomer” Klenovich and junior Devean Huff (19-9), who opted not to return.
New Additions – Move-in from Ocala, Virgil Toms, who finished third in 2009, move-in from Inverness and 2009 state qualifier John Dreggors and New Hampshire move-in, sophomore Casey Quinn.
Outlook – Coach Swensen I seeking his sixth district title in six seasons. But in the bigger picture this Eagle team benefits from no longer facing the likes of Brandon and Bradenton-Manatee in its Class 2A region or at states.