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By FRANK PASTOR, Times Staff WriterInjuries, defections mean Pirates will be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's second-place finish.
DADE CITY - With six teams competing on three mats, the Dr. McBath Tough Team Tournament Saturday at Pasco could be over in no time.
If their opponents are having problems similar to the Pirates, it could be completed even quicker.
Pasco, without three of its starters, likely will have to forfeit three to five weight classes, coach Mark DeAugustino said.
Jacob Hinkle, who won a district championship at 125 pounds last season, and Evan Allison (145) are playing in the Pasco Police Athletic League Super Bowl.
Region qualifier Brendan Wheaton (140-145) is out with an elbow infection picked up at the Flagler Palm Coast Classic on Nov. 12.
"Those are two of my guns," DeAugustino said. "One (Hinkle) was a state qualifier. Another (Wheaton) should have been."
But that's only the beginning of Pasco's problems.
District champion Hutch McBath (130-135), nephew of Dr. Don McBath - Pasco's longtime team doctor for whom the tournament is named - moved out of state to live with his mother.
Region qualifier Riley Riddle (152) is ineligible, and heavyweight Clay Pippin was lost to graduation.
"Eighty percent of my team is gone," DeAugustino said.
Of those that remain, many will compete in a higher class because of new rules regarding the certification of minimum weights.
Mikey Cowell, fifth in the state at 103 last season, will be at 112 for the first few weeks. Jesse McClendon, who qualified for region at 112, will be at 119. John Clarke, a two-time state qualifier at 171, will be at 189. Justin Jordan (171) and Eric Stroud (275) also will move up a class.
By forfeiting or starting youngsters at 103, 130, 135, 140 and 152, Pasco could be hard-pressed to match last season's second-place finish.
As a result, DeAugustino is focused on more sustainable goals.
"I'm looking for my veterans to wrestle strong, and I'm looking for my little newbies to show me a little something right off the bat," DeAugustino said.
Pasco's opponents could be in similar straits.
Gulf, with three seniors, is young. Central lacks numbers, Nature Coast Tech is in its second season, and Land O'Lakes (Brent Coleman) and Mitchell (John Stanjeski) are breaking in new coaches.
"If they're having the same problems I do," DeAugustino said, "it could be the quickest tournament in the whole world."