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Event loaded with heavyweights
By BRANT JAMES © St. Petersburg Times, published December 22, 2000 BROOKSVILLE -- The 19th annual Kiwanis Wrestling Tournament means different things to the Hernando County coaches whose teams will be participating at 5 p.m. today at Hernando High School. For Hernando's Matt Smith, four months of rabid preparation will culminate in two days of an 18-team event that's attracting squads from Hillsborough, Pasco and Citrus counties and beyond. For Springstead's Bob Levija, his 13-0 team will be able to amass some of the high-level competition he sought this season without a four-hour bus ride. The assembled talent -- including a Springstead club ranked first in the state by Floridakids.net and tough teams from Pasco, Land O'Lakes and Gainesville -- is considerable. "I think this year might be the toughest talent we've had here," said Smith, whose main hope is to garner some experience for his 3-6 Leopards. "Springstead is probably the toughest." The Eagles head the field with their all-classes ranking in the Internet poll. Pasco is 23rd overall (6th in Class A), River Ridge is 23rd in 3A, Land O'Lakes 11th in 2A, Gainesville 24th, Hudson 25th, Crystal River 13th in Class A, Lecanto 14th, Hernando 16th and Zephyrhills 22nd. Levija, whose January schedule is packed with tough tournaments, likes the quality of the Kiwanis field. The event's situation between his last dual nine days ago and the Berkeley Prep Duals on Jan.5 is good for his team, he said. "(The field) looks better than usual," Levija said. "I think it's because the locals are up this year." Levija hopes his locals are up, but admittedly is "apprehensive" because exams and a team-wide flu curtailed practice recently. "With the flu, we don't know how people are going to wrestle," he said. "We've been backing off a lot lately, and now we just have to see how they do. Hopefully everybody rises to the occasion." Marquee individual matchups are possible with several talented wrestlers, including Hudson 215-pound state champion Robb Philippus, Land O'Lakes' Jimmy Tuttle (189) and Jason Carpenter (275) and a bevy of undefeated Eagles. But weight considerations will determine those matchups. "You just don't know until the day who will be where," Levija said. He's anticipating a showdown between one of his wrestlers and Pasco's Johnathan Hancock. If Hancock goes at 140 pounds, his biggest test likely would be 13-0 Gerard DeCristofaro. If Hancock goes at 140, he could face undefeated Louis Kachiroubas. Winning the event would be nice, Levija said, as it would be yet another hurdle bounded in what to this point has been a season of building momentum. Still, he does not want to focus on the event too much. "Basically, we're trying to get by this week," Levija said. "It's a whole different situation beginning in January. I don't want to put a push on them now and ride them now knowing (January) is when we have to be ready." Just because Smith's team is not expected to be among the top finishers doesn't mean his wrestlers will be serving drinks and mopping brows. Smith thinks 112-pound sophomore Chris Malvestri (11-4), 125-pound sophomore Billy Combs (12-5), returning state qualifier Billy Woods (9-5 at 130) and 160-pound senior Drew Innes (10-4) could advance far into the weekend. "We're getting better," Smith said. "We're not a senior-oriented team like we were last year, so we're just trying to keep improving." The top four in each weight class will medal, and the top five teams will receive trophies. Kiwanis Wrestling TournamentWHEN: Today, 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. (championship finals tentatively scheduled for 6:15 p.m.) WHERE: Hernando High School. WHO: Belleview, Crystal River, Chamberlain, Gainesville, Gulf, Hernando, Hudson, Land O'Lakes, Lecanto, Mitchell, Pasco, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Sickles, Springstead, Tampa Jesuit, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills.
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