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Eagles: A Three-Peat on Their Minds

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead High senior Thad Klenovich (8-2 overall, 5 pins) enters this weekend’s 28-team Brooksville-Kiwanis Invitational as a returning champion.

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By TONY CASTRO-SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: December 11, 2008

This weekend's 27th annual Brooksville-Kiwanis Club Invitational Wrestling Tournament is expected to draw a tourney-record 28 schools from seven counties (Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, Marion and Sumter).

Last year's event drew a then-record 26 teams.

The event begins at 3 p.m. today at Hernando High's Michael A. Imhoff Gymnasium. The two-day tourney features over 200 wrestlers, in one of the North Suncoast's premier competitions.

After today's weigh-ins and scratch meeting, the meet is scheduled to include two winner's rounds and up to two loser's rounds along four mats.

The expected 28-team field includes: 12-time Kiwanis champion Spring Hill-Springstead, Ocala-West Port, Tampa-Jesuit, Tampa-Robinson, Tampa-Freedom, Tampa-Jefferson, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Central, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Hudson, New Port Richey-Mitchell, NPR-Gulf, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Lakeland-Lake Gibson, Crystal River, Lecanto, Belleview, Dunnellon, Citra-North Marion, Ocala-Trinity Catholic, The Villages, Winter Haven and host Brooksville-Hernando.

On the second day, Saturday's opening round begins at 10 a.m. with the semifinals.

Wrestlebacks are set for 12:30 p.m., followed by the consolation finals (for third and fourth place) at 5:30 p.m. and the championship finals set for 6:30 p.m.

The top four finishers in each weight class earn medals while the top five teams will receive trophies.
Individual awards will be also be presented to the tourney's Outstanding Wrestler, the Fastest Pin, Most Pins in the Least Amount of Time and the Outstanding Referee.

The forecast

The heavy favorite is (envelope please) F.W. Springstead, who has captured this event 12 times in 20 years.

The Eagles, under fifth-year Head Coach Eric Swensen, would like to tie the tourney record set by Springstead's Hall-of-Fame Head Coach Bob Levija, whose teams captured this event across a three-year period three different times (1988-90, 95-97, 99-01).

The Eagles defeated runner-up Inverness-Citrus by 76.5 points last winter. This year, the Golden Hurricanes opted not to return.

Both Hernando and Lake Gibson, who finished third and fourth respectively last winter, each have three returning state qualifiers. Look for both programs in the title chase.

According to NCT Head Coach Mike Lastra, however, there is only one team to beat.

"To me Springstead is the clear favorite," he declared "They go year-round. They'll be tough to stop. Not having Citrus there opens up a lot of weight classes."

NCT: outlook

For the Sharks, who went 17-28 at Kiwanis with one placer (J.J. Baker), what are their goals?
"Realistically, we'd like to break into the Top 10," replied Lastra. "We've never finished that high in a local tournament. The big key for us is progressing in every match."

The Sharks, who opened the season last weekend at the Bear Duals going 2-3, will again be without regional qualifier, senior Matt Lambert -- who is taking his SAT test on Saturday.

In a line-up shuffle, look for first-year grappler Jeff Gilbert at 215 while senior Chad Dampier will anchor the heavyweight slot.

Also, senior Jeremiah Jackson - a two-time regional qualifier - has returned to the Sharks program and is expected to compete at 130.

Interestingly, the school's winningest-ever grappler, senior David Simonson, has never fared well at Kiwanis. This weekend marks his fourth attempt there. He's posted a 7-6 overall slate with five pins. He's never placed in any of his three previous tries.

"We've talked about it (lack of success at Kiwanis)," admitted Lastra. "He understands there's only two big local tournaments in his senior year and this is one of them. But there's a lot of tough kids at 119."

Hernando scene

How hard has this tournament been?

Consider that the host Leopards have only won this event once (2003).

Last winter, Head Coach Joe McLain watched the Purple and Gold post a 28-16 slate, featuring 15 pins.
All told, five Leopards placed, grabbing a pair of gold medallions (Jesse Graham, Taylor Rotunda). This time, HHS returns two placers - junior Daniel Pritz and senior James Davidson.

HHS' other state qualifier in 2008, Max Morrill, was bounced after two matches.

The Leopards are coming off a fourth-place finish in last Saturday's 16-team Sebastian River Inv.

"Saturday was a little harder than the year before," explained McLain. "We came within one point of tying for third place. The big thing for us is having our freshmen get better each week."
What about this weekend at home?

"Springstead has to be the favorite," admitted McLain. "They're solid from top to bottom. They've got a great coaching staff and a great feeder system. We're glad to have them here."
And the Leopards?

"Hopefully, we can get 4-6 placers," said McLain. "At this point, we just need to get through the first day unscathed."

Eagle adjustments

SHS, which finished fourth at last weekend's Durant Tournament, is upbeat going into the Kiwanis Inv.
"We lost to a couple state championship teams and a couple state runners-up," said Swensen. "That's not bad. And we beat Manatee and Lake Gibson, that was huge. That was one of our goals."

Overall?

"We did well considering we forfeited two weight classes," added Swensen. "Chris (Urso) did not make weight at 119 and Charles (Oquendo) will be out at least two more weeks (ankle injury suffered at Ocala-Forest). We had seven guys place - that was outstanding. And our younger guys won some big matches."

What about Kiwanis?

SHS had nine placers last winter and returns three including: Thad Klenovich, Shawn Landgraff and Thomas Ellerbee.

"Lake Gibson is a lot like us," commented Swensen. "They've got some firepower and they're young overall. This weekend will definitely boil down to which team makes the fewest mistakes and who gets the pins.

"We plan on winning it (Kiwanis)," said Swensen. "With Durant over with we move on. For us to win we're looking for pins and we need everybody to place."

Sophomore Sam "The Bull" Colon will be a last-minute situation. He turned an ankle Saturday and did not practice either Monday or Tuesday. His status was uncertain as of press time.

Bears: hope to continue ascent

Central finished 11th overall at Kiwanis Inv. last winter.

CHS went 28-22 overall with three placers. Vince Ramirez (second) and Shaun Cadoret (fourth) head a team returning five starters from last year's event.

The Bears, who opened the season capturing the Solomon Classic, finished runner-up in its own 6-team duals tourney last weekend.

CHS will enter Kiwanis minus senior and 2008 state qualifier Danny May, who was hobbled by an injury the week before and is taking the SAT this weekend.

On the plus side, Ramirez enters the tourney 9-0 overall, featuring nine pins.

"Vince is on a good roll right now," shared CHS Head Coach Roy Reyes. "But he'll be tested at Kiwanis. We'll see some different faces this weekend. We've built a little momentum going in. The goal is to keep it going. But yeah, it really hurts not having Danny (May).

AT A GLANCE
WHAT:  27th annual Brooksville-Kiwanis Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
WHO: Expected 28-team prep field includes: Ocala-West Port, Tampa-Jesuit, Tampa-Robinson, Tampa-Freedom, Tampa-Jefferson, Brooksville-Nature Coast Technical, Brooksville-Central, Spring Hill-Springstead, Zephyrhills, Dade City-Pasco, Hudson, New Port Richey-Mitchell, NPR-Gulf, NPR-Ridgewood, NPR-River Ridge, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass Ranch, Land O'Lakes-Sunlake, Lakeland-Lake Gibson, Crystal River, Lecanto, Belleview, Dunnellon, Citra-North Marion, Ocala-Trinity Catholic, The Villages, Winter Haven and host Brooksville-Hernando.
WHERE: Hernando High's Michael A. Imhoff gymnasium.
WHEN: Two-day tournament begins today at 3 p.m. Saturday action is expected to begin with semifinals at 10 a.m. Consolation finals at 5:30 p.m. followed by the  finals at 6:30 p.m.

Past Brooksville-Kiwanis Tournament Champions
Year School    Points
2007 Spring Hill-Springstead 228.5
2006 Spring Hill-Springstead 234
2005 Gainesville   243
2004 Bunnell-F. Palm Coast 209.5
2003 Brooksville-Hernando  203
2002 Tampa-Sickles  156
2001 Spring Hill-Springstead 179
2000 Spring Hill-Springstead 208.5
1999 Spring Hill-Springstead 209
1998 Lecanto   189
1997 Spring Hill-Springstead 252
1996 Spring Hill-Springstead 214.5
1995 Spring Hill-Springstead 241
1994 New Orleans, LA-Jesuit 226
1993 Lakeland Senior  173
1992 Spring Hill-Springstead 210
1991 Mechanicsburg, PA  178
1990 Spring Hill-Springstead 175
1989 Spring Hill-Springstead 206.5
1988 Spring Hill-Springstead 211.5
1987 Land O'Lakes   147
1986 New Orleans, LA-Jesuit 162.5
1985 New Orleans, LA-Jesuit NA
1984 Englewood-Lemon Bay NA
1983 Tampa-Leto   NA
1982 Brandon   206.5

26th Brooksville Kiwanis Wrestling Invitational Team Standings:
PL  TEAM     CLASS PTS     
1.  Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG)    2A-5  228.5
2. Inverness-Citrus (CIT)  1A-5  152.0
3.  Brooksville-Hernando (HER)  1A-5  135.5
4. Lakeland-Lake Gibson (LG)  2A-7  126.5
5. Belleview (BELL)   2A-4  126.0
6. Hudson (HUD)   1A-6  119.5
7. New Port Richey-Gulf (GF)  1A-6  96.5
8. New Port Richey-Mitchell (MIT) 3A-6  92.5
9. Lecanto (LEC)    1A-5  85.0
10. Tampa-Jesuit (TJ)   1A-9  80.5
11. Brooksville-Central (CEN)  2A-5  79.5
12. Tampa Bay Christian Acad.(TBCA) 1A-9  78.5
13 New Port Richey-River Ridge (RR) 2A-5  78.0
14. Crystal River (CR)   1A-5  74.0
15. New Port Richey-Ridgewood (RW) 2A-5  73.5
16. Brooksville-Nature Coast (NCT) 1A-5  65.0
17.  Dade City-Pasco (PAS)   1A-6  58.5
18. Dunnellon (DUN)   1A-5  52.5
19. Sparr-North Marion (NM)   1A-5  50.0
20. Ocala-Lake Weir (LW)  2A-4  47.0
21. Wesley Chapel-Wiregrass (WG) 1A-6  39.0
22.  Tampa-Sickles (SIC)    3A-5  36.0
23. Land O'Lakes-Sunlake (SNL) 1A-6  34.0
24.  Land O'Lakes (LOL)   2A-5  29.0
25. Zephyrhills (ZEP)   1A-6  27.0
26. Ocala-West Port (WP)  1A-5  15.0 
    
2007 Individual Results (Top 4 receive medals)
103 - 1. Rossi (TBCA), 2. D. Soto (SPG), 3. Portillo (BELL), 4. Carpenter (GF).
112 - 1. Glass (TBCA), 2. Stupar (RW), 3. Jones (CR),  4.  Boudreau (TJ).
119 - 1. Huff (SPG), 2. Barker (CIT), 3. Fleming (RR), 4. Koney (CR).
125 - 1. Fisher (CIT), 2. Cook (SPG), 3. Mitchell (BELL), 4. D. Pritz (HER).
130 - 1. S. Bliss (SPG), 2. Jorge (LG), 3. Holding (GF), 4. Burgess (BELL).
135 - 1. Williamson (RW), 2. Ramirez (CEN), 3. Landgraff (SPG), 4. Daye (HUD).
140 - 1. Key (NM), 2. Koziel (TBCA), 3. Rex (LG), 4. Casselman (BELL).
145 - 1. Graham (HER), 2. Richardson (DUN), 3. Ellerbe (SPG), 4. Cadoret (CEN).
152 - 1. Klenovich (SPG) 2. Ball (HER), 3. Drawdy (CR), 4. Neptune (CIT).
160 - 1. Germano (HUD), 2. Musto (CIT), 3. Heisel (BELL), 4. Morales (WG).
171 - 1. Lorentsen (MIT), 2. Brown (HUD), 3. Davidson (HER), 4. Carmody (PAS).
189 - 1. Perez (PAS), 2. Kavouklis, 3. Bentley (HUD), 4. Acosta (SPG).
215 - 1. Rotunda (HER), 2. Gallagher (GF), 3. Brazeau (CEN), 4. Summerville (LG).
285 - 1. Tindell (HUD), 2. Ramirez (SPG), 3. Abrams (LW), 4. JJ Baker (NCT).

2007 Kiwanis Individual Awards:
Most Pins, Least Amt. of Time - Taylor Rotunda (HER) 4 pins: 3:47.
Fastest Pin - Dustin Soto (SPG) - 7 seconds.
Outstanding Referee - Mike Nethercliff.
Outstanding Wrestler - Steven Bliss (SPG).

2007 Finals Results:
103 - Bruno (TBCA) major dec. Soto (SPG), 13-2.
112 - Glass (TBAC) dec. Stupar (RW), 3-2.
119 - Huff (SPG) major dec. Barker  (CIT), 12-3. 
125 - Fisher (CIT) dec. Cook (SPG), 10-4.
130 - S. Bliss (SPG) dec. Jorge (LG), 10-8.
135 - Williamson (RW) dec. Ramirez (CEN), 5-4.
140 - Terza (GAIN) pin Richardson (DUN), 5:14
145 - Graham (HER) dec. Richardson (DUN), 12-5.
152 - Klenovich (SPG) major dec. Ball (HER), 8-0.
160 - Germano (HUD) pin Musto (CIT), 3:30.
171 - Lorentsen (MIT) dec. Brown (HUD), 9-6.
189 - Perez (PAS) pin Kavouklis (TJ), 1:44.
215 - Rotunda (HER) pin Gallagher (GF), 1:07.
285 - Tindell (HUD) dec. Ramirez (SPG), 4-3.
2007 Consolation Finals
103 - Portillo (BELL) dec. Carpenter (GF), 10-9.
112 - Jones (CR) pin Boudreau (TJ), 2:54.
119 - Fleming (RR) major dec. Koney (CR), 14-2.
125 - Mitchell (BELL) dec. D. Pritz (HER), 7-4.
130 - Holding (GF) tech. fall Burgess (BELL), 18-2. 
135 - Landgraff (SPG) major dec. Daye (HUD), 16-7.
140 - Rex (LG) dec. Casselamn (BELL), 4-3.
145 - Ellerbe (SPG) major dec. Cadoret (CEN), 10-2.
152 - Neptune (CIT) pin Drawdy (CR), 2:40.
160 - Heisel (BELL) pin Morales (WG), 1:31.
171 - Davidson (HER) dec. Carmody (PAS), 7-3.
189 - Bentley (HUD) dec. Acosta (SPG) 4-2 (OT).
215 - Brazeau (CEN) dec. Summerville (LG), 8-1.
285 - Abrams (LW) pin JJ Baker (NCT), 2:17.

Springstead Results
WGT Name   W L Pins PL 
103 Soto, Dustin  4 1 4 2nd
112 Bliss, Richie  3 2 1 -
119 Huff, Skylar  5 0 2 1st
125 Cook, CJ  4 1 3 2nd
130 Bliss, Steven  4 0 3 1st
135 Landgraff, Shawn 4 1 2 3rd
140 Hughes, Sean  1 2 1 -
145 Ellerbee, Tommy 4 1 0 3rd
152 Klenovich, Thad 4 0 0 1st
171 Wern, Scott  2 2 0 -
189 Acosta, Cesar  4 2 1 4th
215 Cox, Ken  3 2 2 - 
285 Ramirez, Carlos 3 1 2 2nd
TOTALS   45 15 21

Hernando Results
WGT Name   W L Pins PL 
112 Weston, Spencer 1 2 0 -
119 Sanchez, Cristian 0 2 0 -
125 Pritz, Daniel  4 2 0 4th
130 Bishop, Chris  2 2 2 -
140 Morrill, Max  0 2 0 -
145 Graham, Jesse  5 0 2 1st
152 Ball, Tim  3 1 1 2nd
171 Davidson, James 5 1 2 3rd 
189 Pauliot, Nick  4 2 4 -
215 Rotunda, Taylor 4 0 4 1st
285 Hostetter, Casey 0 2 0 - 
TOTALS   28 16 15

Central Results
WGT Name   W L Pins PL 
112 Supple, David  0 2 0 -
119 Snell, Wayne  1 2 0 -
125 Supple, Ken  2 2 0 -
130 Zayas, Antonio 1 2 0 -
135 Ramirez, Vince 4 1 1 2nd
140 Sieber, Robbie  0 2 0 -
145 Cadoret, Shaun 5 2 1 4th
152 Schinkel, John  1 2 1 -
160 Miller, Mike  2 2 2 -
171 Thompson, Matt 0 2 0 -
189 May, Daniel  3 2 1 -
215 Brazeau, Nathan 4 1 2 3rd
TOTALS   23 22 8

Nature Coast Results
WGT Name   W L Pins PL 
103 Forand, Tyler  0 2 0 -
112 Simonson, David 3 2 3 -
119 Cronin, Scott  3 2 2 -
125 Nuby, Brenton  0 2 0 -
130 Mendez, Maurice 0 2 0 -
135 Lambert, Matt  1 2 1 -
140 Baker, CJ  2 2 2 -
145 McCabe, Ryan  1 2 1 -
152 Story, JaJuan  0 2 0 - 
160 Estrada, Nikko 0 2 0 -
171 Goben, Derek  0 2 0 -
189 Greene, Rockkhem 1 2 1 -
215 DiDonna, Paul  2 2 2 -
285 Baker, JJ  4 2 4 4th
TOTALS   17 28 16
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com

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