Bulldogs trounce competition

Zephyrhills is unbeaten in its host tourney, with the Villages finishing second.

By DEREK LaRIVIERE
Published January 8, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - The Bulldogs feasted on the competition in their sixth annual Bulldog Duals Invitational on Saturday.

Zephyrhills (14-4-1), which invited five teams to the round-robin style tournament, went undefeated. Placing second was the Villages. The deciding factor proved to be the first-round dual between the top two, where the Bulldogs handily defeated the Buffaloes 50-21.

The Bulldogs had four undefeated wrestlers coach Matt McDermott rode to the tournament title. John Reubens (112), Wesley Thornton (140), Phil Robichaud (145/152) and William Shepler (215) all went 5-0.

"We wrestled really well here," McDermott said. "Our team stayed together and practiced through the holidays while a lot of other teams go on vacation. I think that really helped."

The Villages (8-11) was equipped with the Most Outstanding Wrestler, Geramie Laufersky. Laufersky, who competed in the 125-pound weight class, went undefeated in what turned out to be a difficult class.

Nature Coast Tech (6-10), in only its second year, had success despite losing its 215-pounder, David Kriner (7-2). Picking up the slack for the fast-improving program was 119-pound Taequan Griffin. Griffin went 4-1 against his competition and helped the Sharks to a third-place finish.

"We really wanted second," Nature Coast coach Mike Lastra said. "To come out of here with three wins though, when we had three wins in all of the first half, that shows where we're headed."

Other Nature Coast wrestlers who had good results were Matt Thompson (275 pounds) and team captain Tony Grossi. Thompson went 4-1, while Grossi shifted between the 130- and 135-pound classes to also go 4-1.

Grossi, the Sharks' senior leader, is dealing with the aftereffects of strep throat, but still took on a heavy load. He weighed in at 126 and wrestled two levels above his natural weight class.

Central (4-13) went 1-4, but showed signs of promise in what has been a dismal season so far. Central was without one of its top grapplers, 171-pound Nathan Brazeau (shoulder injury). Billy Seiber (145/152) led Central with a 3-2 record on the strength of three pins.

"Billy's really been working hard in practice and listening," Central coach Alan Solomon said. "He has a outside chance of making states if he continues to work."

Bringing up the rear was Central, Blake (3-10) and Ridgewood (6-7). Blake's program was undermanned and overmatched by the other schools, winning its only match against Ridgewood, upsetting the Rams 35-30 in the third round.

The Rams' core, Travis Bonder (130), Aaron Jackson (135) and Dean Stupar (103), all had 5-0 efforts, but competing with only eight wrestlers proved too much of an obstacle.

[Last modified January 8, 2006, 00:45:14]