Coming into Wednesday’s boys weightlifting Hernando County Championship Meet, host Springstead didn’t appear to be a favorite on paper. Even up until the final few lifts, local coaches assumed Central had the title in the bag. But when the final numbers were counted, it was the Eagles who came out on top, edging the Bears atop the team standings, 60-56.
“It was kind of a pleasant surprise,” Springstead head coach Mike Garofano. “I thought we’d have three, possibly four champions, and we ended up with four.
“It’s important, it’s good. It shows the kids hard work, dedication kind of paid off. We have a lot of guys that are really committed to the program. We have some young guys.”
Charles Monzo captured first place at 129 pounds, benching 195 pounds while hoisting 160 in the clean-and-jerk for a 355 total. Fellow Eagle Nick D’Amico won at 169 with a 300-245—545, and Jake Lewandowski did the same at 219 (285-235—520). The surprise, though, according to Garofano was freshman Andro Segura’s victory at 154, behind a 220-150—370. Five lifters in that weight class actually posted the same total, but Segura took the tiebreaker by weighing in lowest. “It gives us some confidence going in (to districts on March 18),” Garofano said. “They’ll be in the weight room (Thursday) working hard and working towards hopefully finishing in the top two in the district and getting a trophy.”
As for Central, seniors Ben Cooper at 119 (180-120—300) and Travon Lincoln at heavyweight (335-245—580) repeated as county champs.
Weeki Wachee came in third, tallying 49 points, led by Shawn O’Gorman taking first at 183 (280-245—525) and Devon Dupuis duplicating that at 199 (295-240—535).
Hernando (40 points) also boasted a pair of champions in Uriah Coniglio at 139 (255-190—445) and Shawn Bystrom at 238 (295-225—520). Nature Coast had 12 points and no individual winners.
Other than Springstead, the remaining four county squads will compete in the Class 1A, District 11 Meet at South Sumter on March 23.
Baseball this past week saw Nature Coast (11-1 overall, 8-1 5A-7) avenge its lone loss of the season by downing Central on Tuesday, 3-1. On Thursday, the Sharks beat Weeki Wachee, 12-8.
The Bears (7-5 overall, 4-4 5A-7) had a tough week, additionally falling at River Ridge on Thursday, 2-0, and against Ridgewood in eight innings on Friday, 3-2.
Springstead (10-3 overall, 9-0 6A-6) notched a pair of district triumphs over Crystal River on Tuesday, 3-0, and Weeki Wachee on Friday, 12-1.
Hernando (8-6 overall, 7-2 5A-7) downed Ridgewood on Tuesday, 8-6 in eight innings, and Fivay on Wednesday, 11-1, before traveling to Key West High for two games. The Leopards lost on Friday, 4-1, then again on Saturday, 12-11.
The Nature Coast softball team improved to 14-1 overall, 10-0 in 5A-7 by defeating Ridgewood on Wednesday (15-0) and Hudson on Thursday (2-1). Springstead (12-1 overall, 8-0 6A-6) topped Crystal River on Tuesday (9-3) and Weeki Wachee on Thursday (11-2).
Hernando held its annual Kiwanis Invitational track and field meet on Tuesday, with Nature Coast’s boys taking first by a wide margin, posting a 126.5 total compared to 72 by Land O’ Lakes. It flipped on the girls side, as the Lady Sharks placed second to Land O’ Lakes, 150-127.
Ashley Gentz won the long jump for Nature Coast, recording a 16-6 1/2, as well as the 100 meters in 12.72, the 200 in 25.55 and the 400 in 1:01.21.
Also for the Sharks, DeShawn Smith took the boys long jump (21-1 1/2) and Brian Haygood did the same in the triple jump (41-7). Willie Coffey came in first in the shot put (47-4).
Haygood, Dajour Morgan, Smith and Dontay Washington teamed for a first-place 44.31 in the 4×100 relay. Jacob Grantz, Kyle Pierce, Marc Preston and Saban Reiter combined to run a 3:40.40 to win the 4×400.
Weeki Wachee’s Thomas Tolbert captured the discus, registering a toss of 131-2 1/2. Kaitlyn Batten of Hernando crossed the finish line first in the 100 hurdles (17.40), and the Leopards’ Trevor Foley came in first in the 1,600 (4:34.38) and 3,200 (10:19.78).
In a meeting of two top district foes in boys tennis, Nature Coast turned away Crystal River, 5-2 on Tuesday. The Sharks (14-0) received wins from Dakota Willey over Ben Epstein at No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-0), Charles Buckner over Andrew Allen at No. 2 (6-0, 6-0), Roger Sniffen against Trent Stukes at No. 4 (6-3, 6-4) and Nick Calderelli versus Tyler Burtoch at No. 5 (6-4, 6-4).
Willey and Buckner added an 8-3 victory over Epstein and Stukes at No. 1 doubles. Ryan Grant beat Hunter Schwefringhaus at No. 3 singles, 1-6, 7-5, 11-9, while Allen and Grant bested James Aponte and Brayden Hotchkiss at No. 2 doubles, 8-3, to account for the Pirates’ wins.
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.