Hernando sends its entire team to the regional tournament, with high hopes in each class.
By JOHN SCHWARB
Published February 19, 2004
BROOKSVILLE - For the second straight year, the region tournament for Hernando might as well be another midseason dual meet.
The entire team is going.
At last weekend's district meet, Hernando placed wrestlers in the top four of all 14 weight classes, thereby earning trips to the Class A region meet at Green Cove Springs Clay.
It did not hurt that only five teams, including a first-year program, were in the district. But teams unfamiliar with Hernando would be foolish to think it was that much help.
The Leopards again have a top-to-bottom roster that can compete with anyone, from defending state champions to promising freshmen. Just don't ask coach Matt Smith to anoint them all Lakeland-bound yet.
"There's guys that will lose in this region who will be state champions next week," Smith said. "There's guys that think they should definitely be going to state that won't. Anything can happen; you've got to prove it on the mat."
Based on previous results, several Leopards should not have a problem proving themselves. Addison Chipoletti (171 pounds) won state last year and Charley Combs was a runnerup at 152 (he wrestles 145 now).
Stephen Pritz (152) and Windham Rotunda (heavyweight) also went to state last season.
Three of those four won district, meaning they will start the region meet against another district's consolation runnerup. But Smith cautions too much bracket-calculating.
"When I was a sophomore in high school, I was fourth in district and beat a region champ," Smith said. "A fourth-place wrestler can beat a first, a third can beat a second ... if you don't know the kid, there's no sense getting nervous about it.
If anyone could be nervous, it might be freshmen like Brandyn Kuhn (112) and Thomas Nelson (135), but they certainly can find strength in numbers among the Leopards.
