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First-year coach sees a River Ridge turnaround

By FRANK PASTOR
Published December 8, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - River Ridge has had its share of disappointments in recent seasons, but first-year coach Mike Lero knew that if the Royal Knights continued to work hard and improved their fundamentals, their fortunes would change.

Have they ever.

Two weeks after defeating defending Sunshine Athletic Conference champion Gulf in a dual meet, River Ridge placed 10th at the 24-team East Lake Invitational, where it was next-to-last a year ago.

"We came in, and our expectations were to turn this program around and generate some excitement," Lero said. "Kids have come out, they've worked hard and seen the results of the past years that they put in and all the hard work from this year."

Competing against a field that featured four (No. 1 Brandon, No. 3 Homestead South Dade, No. 4 Miami Southridge and No. 6 Venice) of the top six teams in the state, according to Wrestling USA magazine, River Ridge finished just behind Venice and ahead of conference opponents Gulf, Mitchell and Ridgewood and district foe Tarpon Springs.

Sophomore Anthony Colello placed a team-best sixth at heavyweight after losing to eventual champion Anthony Saputo of Venice in the semifinal round. Junior Shane Hitchcock fell two wins short of third at 135 after losing to Brandon's Jared Cornet in the consolation semifinals. And Seth Terrazas made a surprisingly strong showing at 130.

"I'm very happy," Lero said. "Our goal was to finish in the middle of the field. What our hopes were, I'm not sure going in because of the caliber of teams that were there."

River Ridge received a similarly balanced effort in a 45-28 win over visiting Gulf on Nov. 22. Pins by Hitchcock and Tim Grant (130) kept the Royal Knights in a back-and-forth meet, and Brandon Pecori sealed the win with a pin at 152.

The win avenged a season-opening loss Nov. 16 at Gulf.

NEW START: Because he is their third coach in three seasons, Land O'Lakes' Brent Coleman was pleased to see his team implement on the mat what he has been trying to show them at practice during the Beef O'Brady's Swamp Challenge Saturday at Land O'Lakes.

The Gators placed first, 36 points ahead of Alonso. Wesley Chapel was fourth, Hudson fifth.

"They're really working hard to listen to me," Coleman said. "I know it's hard on them, having two coaches in the past, to have another one and have to listen to him. I'm really trying to be patient with that, but overall they're all good wrestlers and they want to listen."

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:50:19]