Leopards take two titles

By FRANK PASTOR
Published February 27, 2005

LAKELAND - Four third-period takedowns were sufficient for Hernando's Addison Chipoletti to win his third state title Saturday at The Lakeland Center.

A fifth nearly proved fatal.

While trying for one last takedown, Chipoletti was thrown to the mat by Jacksonville Bolles' Jerico Weitzel and spent the final seconds of the 189-pound final on his back. Chipoletti had just enough of a cushion to hold on for an 11-10 win, becoming the first Hernando County wrestler to win three state championships.

"It's an unbelieveable feeling," said Chipoletti, who won at 171 the past two seasons.

Chipoletti (50-1) was one of two state champions and five placewinners from Hernando, which placed third in Class A, 3 1/2 points behind second-place Live Oak Suwanee and 56 1/2 back of Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons.

Hernando's Windham Rotunda won at 275, and Land O'Lakes' Scott Mays claimed the 215-pound championship in 2A. Hernando's two firsts, two thirds and a fifth represented the program's best individual showing, coach Matt Smith said, eclipsing the first, second, third, fifth and sixth the Leopards took en route to a second-place showing in 2003.

"I'm real proud of our kids," Smith said. "We brought seven here and five placed. They all wrestled hard."

One year after taking fourth and only weeks removed from a high ankle sprain, Rotunda (26-5) won his first state title by defeating Jacob Sheffield of Jacksonville Forrest 10-4.

"I'm just glad for this opportunity," said Rotunda, who jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. "I don't think I've had a happier moment in my life."

Mays (48-2), who handed Chipoletti his only loss of the season at the Oviedo Invitational, outlasted Jupiter's Haywood Range 3-1 to improve three spots from his fourth-place showing of a year ago.

Mays scored the winning takedown with two seconds remaining in overtime to become Land O'Lakes' fourth state champion.

"I just wanted to push him all match," Mays said. "I knew when I got him to the third period, I'd get him."

Hernando's Michael Combs needed medical attention after his 14-12 win over Hollywood Chaminade's Caleb Keiso in the 152-pound third-place match. Keiso struck Combs in the head several times, but it was a blow below the belt that sent Combs from the mat to the trainer's room, where he received ice for his injury.

Combs used Keiso's aggressiveness against him, throwing him on to his back at the start of the first and second periods while building 5-0 and 10-2 leads.

Hernando's John Liddington placed third by edging Cardinal Gibbons' John Christopher 4-2 at 215. The Leopards' David Pritz took fifth at 171 by defeating Crystal River's Seth Metz 13-10.

Marlin Dimitrion of Citrus survived a late scare from Lemon Bay's Zach Winch to place third at 125. Dimitrion got caught on his heels and taken down late in regulation but won on a takedown in overtime.

"I caught him off balance on his heels," Dimitrion said. "I kept circling, and I got it."

Crystal River's Richard Drawdy advanced to the 189-pound consolation final before dropping a 13-3 major decision to Miami Monsignor Pace's Christopher Martinez.

Jon Howland (215) of Springstead, Mikey Cowell (103) of Pasco and Ryan Stephens (275) of Crystal River each placed fifth in their respective classes.

[Last modified February 27, 2005, 00:13:19]