Preps

Hernando: Wrestling Preview

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Published November 14, 2007

The road has been long and full of surprises for Skylar Huff the past two years.

From JV wrestler fighting for a spot in the Springstead lineup to dealing with food poisoning during the state tournament last season, this lightweight has seen his share of obstacles.

Two years ago as a sophomore, no Springstead wrestler improved more over the season than Huff. Wrestling at 112 pounds, Huff qualified for regionals.

"Huff is as hard a worker as any wrestler I've ever seen," Springstead assistant Sal Basile said. "It's a real shame the way things worked out for him last season."

In February, he was more prepared than ever before for the postseason. Huff was runnerup at the Class 2A regional, losing to Brandon's Kyle Keller in the finals and qualifying for the state tournament. After that finish, placing at state seemed all but a sure thing. Then disaster struck.

The weekend of the state tournament in Lakeland, Huff came down with a vicious case of food poisoning, derailing his goals for the season. He was not 100 percent when he dropped a match to St. Thomas Aquinas' Chris Perrodinn. That loss cost him a spot on the podium in the 119-pound weight class.

According to Huff, nothing will stand in his way this time around. Now a senior, the lightweight knows this may be his final shot at wrestling glory.

"It really was a tough end to last year," Huff said. "I've got my confidence back."

Most of that confidence was regained in his trip to the Disney Duals in Orlando this summer. Huff went 10-0 at the tournament against some of the better grapplers in the country. He also did well in tournaments in Akron, Ohio, and Greensboro, N.C.

After reaching as high as third in the FloridaKids.us state poll last season, coach Eric Swensen is convinced Huff is far better now than at his peak in the 2006-07 campaign.

"He had a disappointing end to his junior season," Swensen said, "but he has that look in his eye like nothing is going to stand in his way this year."

Much of the improvement in Huff's skills can be attributed to his work with state champion Schuyler Swanton. The duo work together every day in the wrestling room for practice. The seniors are best friends and challenge each other physically and mentally.

"Having someone that can really push you is so important in this sport," Swanton said. "There are days where Huff and I can go one-on-one, and it'll take 15 minutes before either one of us can get a takedown."

If Huff can achieve his ultimate goal and Swanton (112) can repeat as expected, the Eagles would have two champions in the same season for the third time in school history. Dustin Swanton (119) and John Stevenson (112) accomplished the feat in 1998, and Matt Booker (135) and Gerard Decristofaro (140) did the same in 2001.

"I'm totally focused this year," Huff said. "I'm coming this year."

Central

Coach: Roy Reyes (second season)

2006-07 finish: Fifth in Class 2A, District 5

Key returners: David Supple (112), Shane Ralph (125), Miguel Molina (130), Shaun Cadoret (140)

Key loss: Gilbert Perez (140), graduation

Outlook: The Bears blazed a new trail when Reyes took the reins last season. Perez and Molina led last season's squad to respectability in one of the toughest districts in the state. With offseason workouts and club wrestling organized by Reyes, the program should be stronger in this campaign. The Bears are coming off their best postseason performance in years.

Springstead

Coach: Eric Swensen (third season)

2006-07 finish: Seventh in Class 2A, fourth in region 2A-2 and 2A-5 district champions

Key returners: Dustin Soto (103), Schuyler Swanton (112), Skylar Huff (119), C.J. Cook (125), Steve Bliss (130), Thad Klenovich (152), Scott Wern (171), Cesar Acosta (189), Carlos Ramierez (275)

Key newcomers: Shawn Landgraff (135), Kenny Cox (215), Mike Greco (160), Thomas Ellerbee (145)

Key losses: Mike Heagney (189), graduation; Keith Hansen (145), graduation

Outlook: Despite graduating two state placers from last season, Swensen returns eight region qualifiers and four state qualifiers from last season. If Swanton can repeat as state champion while moving up one weight class to 112, and Huff, Bliss and Cook can finally deliver in their final seasons, Springstead has a shot at state runnerup in Class 2A.

Hernando

Coach: Joe McLain (first season)

2006-07 finish: Sixth in Region A-2, A-5 district runnerup

Key returners: Spencer Weston (103), Daniel Pritz (125), Chris Bishop (130), Max Morrill (135), Jesse Graham (140), Bradley Hill (160), James Davidson (171), Nick Pauliot (189), Taylor Rotunda (215)

Key loss: Brandyn Kuhn (160), graduation

Outlook: McLain, the team's third coach in two seasons, comes into this campaign armed and dangerous. The Leopards return most of their lineup from last season, including state qualifiers Graham, Pauliot and Rotunda. Graham is a returning state placer and will be counted on to lead this group to district title contention. It also helps that McLain maintains longtime program assistant Billy Combs.

Nature Coast

Coach: Mike Lastra (third season)

2006-07 finish: Sixth in Class A, District 5

Key returners: Anthony Fuzz (103), David Simonson (112), Jeremiah Jackson (119), J.J. Baker (275)

Key losses: Taequan Griffin (130), transfer; Alfredo Griffin(171), Preston Williams (189); basketball, Lee Lehman (215), graduation

Outlook: As has been the issue for Lastra the past few seasons, the program has trouble keeping grapplers from one season to the next. Some of the most promising talents have left the program for reasons other than graduation. The Sharks should be strong at heavyweight as J.J. Baker came on strong last season, winning a couple matches at the region tournament. If anyone knows how to deal with inseason adversity and still improve, it's Lastra.

Key dates

Dec. 7-8: 26th annual Kiwanis Invitational at Hernando

Dec. 14-15: Ninth annual Gulf Holiday Duals

Jan. 11-12: 19th annual Springstead Invitational

Feb. 2: District tournaments

Feb. 8-9: Region tournaments

Feb. 14-16: FHSAA state tournament at the Lakeland Center

[Last modified November 13, 2007, 21:32:19]