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One last test
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
TRINITY -- Don't think for a second that winning Saturday's Class 3A, Region 3 championship doesn't mean anything to the Mitchell boys. Just because the Mustangs have easily accomplished all their goals so far this season -- winning consecutive Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, the UF Invitational and the Class 3A, District 5 crown -- and just because their sights are set a week ahead to the Class 3A state meet doesn't mean they're overlooking Saturday's meet. "Without any question, you're only as good as your last meet," Mitchell coach Bill Napolitano said. "If we got to the region and we got beat by somebody, then I really think that drops your confidence level down quite a bit. "We've had a great year. We've won the conference, we've won district, we're predicted to win region and that's the kind of thing that fires my guys up. Our goal is to win the region and get ready for Flagler Palm Coast." If Mitchell, ranked No. 2 in Class 3A by Flrunners.com, has a nemesis this season, it is top-ranked Flagler Palm Coast. In the Mustangs' last true test of the season Oct. 19 in the Pre-state meet, Flagler Palm Coast was third ahead of Mitchell's fourth-place finish. These two teams have been eyeing each other all season long and are on a collision course for the Class 3A championship at the Nov. 23 state meet. But that's still to come. In Saturday's meet, the only team that could threaten Mitchell is Barron Collier. The Mustangs won't really be racing against Barron Collier -- or even Largo -- but against themselves. That's because Mitchell must find out what kind of team it is before state. Brandon Steiner was a key cog at the No. 4 position in the Mustangs' machine until a painful Iliotibial Band (or ITB Band) in his right leg sidelined him weeks ago. Even after undergoing treatment, Steiner is not pain-free, and his conditioning suffered in the intervening weeks when he was unable to put in miles. But Napolitano needs him to run Saturday, anyway, to get in shape in time for the state meet. "If he can't do it in the region, he won't be doing it in the state meet," Napolitano said. "It's his senior year. He's just got to be able to deal with the pain." But the pressure isn't on Steiner alone. Nor does it fall squarely on the shoulders of No. 1 runner Jeff Masterson. To win Saturday, to win state, everyone -- Masterson, Steiner, Danny Sheehan, John Tuccio, David Stricsek and Gus Luna -- must perform. "One man can't do it," Napolitano said, "and I don't expect one man to do it. But a team can, and we have a team."
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From today's Pasco Times Editorial |
