Hernando shows potential in first tourney win of season
Hernando celebrates winning the Lady Braves Thanksgiving Classic at Lake Gibson. (Photo courtesy of Caleo Sports)
BY BRANT PARSONS — Going into the season, Hernando knew they could have a remarkable girls wrestling team this year.
After the Leopards won the Lady Braves Thanksgiving Classic at Lake Gibson by nearly 40 points over Orlando Freedom on Wednesday, they showed it to be true.
“If they didn’t believe it before today, it’s clicked now,” Hernando coach David Pritz said of his girls team. “They knew coming in that we would be a special team, today helps solidify that in their heads.”
Hernando finished with three champions - Emma Bauknight (115), Makenzie Eltzroth (145), and Grace Leota (190).
Eltzroth was named Outstanding Wrestler for the upper weights.
“Emma dominated as we expected her to and Grace came away as a champ moving up and Makenzie won all of her matches by fall,” Pritz said.
On the day, seven of Hernando’s scoring wrestlers placed - along with two non-scoring wrestlers.
“The girls really came in and each and every one of them contributed to today’s win,” Pritz said. “They believed in themselves and each other.”
Orlando Freedom’s Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz won the 190-pound weight class. In her three matches, Lontoc-Oritz only spent 91 seconds on the mat.
Five Patriots wrestlers placed in the tournament.
Zephyrhills Christian eighth grader Emerson Webber kicked off her high school career with a thrilling come-from-behind 7-6 win over Palm Harbor University’s Sophie Booe in the 100-pound final.
Lake Gibson’s Gabriele Tedesco began her senior season with a dominating performance in a loaded 105-pound bracket that had four Top 13 wrestlers in the bracket.
"Gabby wrestled extremely sharp today," Lake Gibson coach Danny Walker said. "There was not one area that she was weak in and heading into The Women of Ironman in a few weeks, this win will propel to her goal to be first girl to win there."
Tedesco was named Outstanding Wrestler for lightweights.
Keanna Bush (Hudson) had a title-winning performance at 110 pounds while not giving up a single offensive point on the day.
Bell Creek Academy’s Abby DiCenzo won a battle of Top 4 wrestlers with a pin of Sydney Bridenstine in the final at 120 pounds.
The next two weight classes featured a Flagler Palm Coast double feature with Ana Vilar scoring a takedown with 13 seconds left in the 125-pound final to beat Jasmine Serrano 3-1. Christina Borgmann followed with a major decision win over Juliana Caisse.
At 135 pounds, Viera’s Emma Hoppe scored a big win in another final with top 4 wrestlers, beating Bry Kaminsky with a first period pin.
Ailee Briggs made her Lemon Bay debut with a title at 140 pounds while Kha’Liya Delva won at the 155-pound weight class in her Fort Pierce Central debut.
The list of champions was completed by Armwood’s McKenzie Jackson, who pinned her way to a title at 235 pounds.
Lady Braves Thanksgiving Classic
Team scores: 1. Hernando 176.5; 2. Freedom Orlando 138; 3. Flagler Palm Coast 123; 4. Bell Creek 84; 5. Hudson 72.5; 6. Tampa Bay Tech 70; 7. Immokalee 63.5; 8. University 59; 9. Fort Pierce Central 58; 10. Armwood, Palm Harbor, Strawberry Crest 53; 13. Lemon Bay 47; 14. Mulberry 46; 15. Haines City 35; 16. Lake Gibson 34.5; 17. Oviedo 33; 18. Viera 31; 19. Davenport 27; 20. Springstead 26.5; 21. Auburndale, Tenoroc 26; 23. Bloomingdale, Jenson Beach 24; 25. Zephyrhills Christian 23; 26. Lake Nona 19; 27. Barron Collier, Tohopekaliga 18; 29. Kathleen, Lake Wales 6; 31. Celebration, Sunlake 4.
Finals
100: Emerson Webber (Zephyrhills Christian) dec. #8 Sophie Booe (Palm Harbor University) 7-6
105: #1 Gabriele Tedesco (Lake Gibson) maj. #5-110 Maite Coutinho (Orlando Freedom) 16-3
110: #3 Keanna Bush (Hudson) tech. #15-115 Isabel Duarte (Orlando Freedom) 18-2
115: #5 Emma Bauknight (Hernando) p. #17-110 Nathalia Espinal (Hernando) 1:43
120: #2 Abby DiCenzo (Bell Creek) p. #4 Sydney Bridenstine (Hernando) 3:21
125: #3 Ana Vilar (Flagler Palm Coast) dec. #5-120 Jasmine Serrano (Springstead) 3-1
130: #2 Christina Borgmann (Flagler Palm Coast) maj. #4-125 Juliana Caisse (Palm Harbor University) 13-4
135: #4-140 Emma Hoppe (Viera) p. #3 Bry Kaminsky (Orange City University) 1:48
140: #2 Ailee Briggs (Lemon Bay) p. #7-145 Olivia Brown (Hernando) 1:11
145: #11-140 Makenzie Eltzroth (Hernando) p. Gabrielle Rodriguez (Orlando Freedom) 0:40
155: #8-140 Kha'Liya Delva (Fort Pierce Central) p. #6 Gabrielle Proctor (Flagler Palm Coast) 1:44
170: #8 Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz (Orlando Freedom) p. Mia Johnson (Fort Pierce Central) 0:37
190: #1-170 Grace Leota (Hernando) p. Chloe Stinnett (Hernando) 0:24
235: #15 McKenzie Jackson (Armwood) p. Mia Jones (Mulberry) 1:21
Rankings provided by Kabra Wrestling.
Viera’s Isabel Alvarez (L) and 135-pound champion Emma Hoppe pose after the tournament. Ana Vilar (R), one of Flagler Palm Coast’s two champions after winning the 125-pound weight class. (Photos courtesy of Jason Custer and Marco Maldonado)
