![Hernando girls wrestling team win Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_7159.jpg "DSC_7159")
On February 16, 2024, 17 local girls traveled to Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida, to wrestle in the Class 1A Region 2 Girls Championships. Hernando with ten girls, Springstead 3, Central 2, and Nature Coast 2.
Region 2 is known to be one of the toughest regions in the state because of the number of top-ranked girls competing in each weight class. 4 of the top 10 teams in the state hail from Region 2 alone: Hernando (1), Orlando Freedom (5), Apopka (6), and Timber Creek (9).
Hernando, with 199 points, would win regionals and send nine girls to the FHSAA State Championships at Silver Spurs Arena on February 29 – March 2, 2024.
“It was an amazing day of wrestling for our team,” Coach David Pritz of Hernando said. “We pushed seven girls into the region finals and qualified a state-high nine girls to the FHSAA State Championship. This is a special team that truly believes in each other.”
Emma Bauknight (115) won a nail-biter match, scoring 5 points with 5 seconds left to win the region title. Sydney Bridenstine (120) placed second in a closely contested match, 4-2. Daniela Espinal (125) won the region title with a rematch against Jasmine Serrano of Springstead in overtime, 6-4. Julia Salgado Campos (130) would also have a rematch against Callie Alfieri of Gulf, who placed second. Makenzie Eltzroth (145) placed second. Mariah Earl (155) placed second in a close match, 2-0. Grace Leota (170) won her match 8-3 to place first.
Other Hernando County girls qualifying for the state championships are Gianella Walczak of Springstead (105), placed third; Nathalia Espinal of Hernando (135), placed third; and Chloe Stinnett of Hernando (190), placed fourth. A total of 11 local girls qualify to compete at the state championships later this month.
![Nathalia Espinal of Hernando looks for the fall at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_6853.jpg)
![Julia Salgado Campos of Hernando looks for the fall to qualify for the state championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_6747.jpg)
![Sydney Bridenstine of Hernando looks for the fall at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_6880.jpg)
![Jasmine Serrano of Springstead gets the takedown and the win to wrestle in the finals at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_6898.jpg)
![Emma Bauknight of Hernando gets the takedown in her semifinals match at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_6913.jpg)
![Sydney Bridenstine of Hernando in her finals match at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_7055.jpg)
![Jasmine Serrano of Springstead (left) and Daniela Espinal of Hernando (right) in their finals match at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_7074.jpg)
![Grace Leota of Hernando looks for the fall in her finals match at the Class 1A Region 2 Championships. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_7131.jpg)
![Coach David Pritz of Hernando gives speech after winning region title. [Photo by Cynthia Leota]](https://www.hernandosun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_7165.jpg)
