1A-11 Preview: New coach, new faces in the lineup will look to continue Lemon Bay succcess
BY BRANT PARSONS —Jeff Ragan grew up on the mats at Lemon Bay while his father Walt was coaching and developing a power. He won two state titles at Lemon Bay before heading off to more success at Oklahoma State and then starting his coaching career at The Citadel and at Woodward Academy in Georgia.
This year he has returned to coach at the school whose mats he learned the sport on as a kid.
"I'm just excited to be back,” Ragan said. “Obviously, I couldn't be happier with the staff and the facilities, and just with the opportunity to be part of something that I was an alumni of, but also got to see my dad start and thrive when he was there as a kid and coming through."
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Last season: Lemon Bay’s senior-laden team ran away with the title by 111.5 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Broc Dahlin (Bayshore), Jack Oliver (Lemon Bay), Logan Kelly (Lemon Bay), Kaleb Mathis (Lakewood), Leo Tiannoi (Boca Ciega)
The favorite: Lemon Bay. The Manta Rays have a new coach and lots of new faces in the line-up, but there is quality and depth in the room to make it happen.
Team to watch: Bayshore. They return over half their starting line-up and have a freshman ready to break through already.
District duals: Dec. 7 at Lemon Bay
District IBT: Feb. 15 at Bayshore
Kabra Says: There’s a new head coach at Lemon Bay and a bunch of new faces will be in the starting lineup, but the Manta Rays are still the team to beat here.
Lemon Bay Manta Rays (#17 IBT | #17 Dual)
Coach: Jeff Ragan (1st year at Lemon Bay)
Assistant coaches: Mike Schyck, Jason Davids
22-23 dual record: 8-2
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1-1A12; 2020:1-1A12; 2019:1-1A12; 2018:1-1A12; 2017:1-1A12; 2016:3-1A12; 2015:6-1A12; 2014:4-1A12; 2013:1; 2012:1
Last state champion: Lance Schyck 2022 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Brycen Warren, 44-12, 6th, R2, DC; Bryan Ashcraft, 35-18, SQ, R4, DC; Justin Brady, 34-12, SQ, R2, DC; Ashton Tucker, 34-7; Nick Sheets, 42-12, 4th, R3, DC; Koen Hoffman, 49-5, 2nd, RC, DC; Chase Alden, 49-5, 2nd, R2, DC; Marcus Lopez; Ben Arnett, 40-11, 4th, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-113 Jack Oliver, Jr., 36-8, SQ, RC, DC; #6-120 Logan Kelly, Sr., 38-11, 7th, R2, DC; #10-215 Miguel Diaz, Sr., DNW-LY; #12-285 Mike Ward, Jr., 19-12; #20-144 Connor Murphy, Sr.;Logan Dean, So., 32-15, RQ, DC; Hunter Barretsmith, Jr., 18-7.
New wrestler: Aiden Cavistan; Gavin Vasbinder.
What they are saying: "I want to continue that excellence. I think with the correct support, which I feel like I have, and the facilities, which I know I have, and the coaches I definitely have, it's just gonna be fun to watch it build. Some of these pieces are already there. It just means I get that much more time and effort into growing it for youth level and being part of the middle school and youth programs. I want to be involved in all of it."
On starting with a young team: "To take something that has never been done before and to mold it into a shape that's in the image of what you're trying to grow. That gives you basically a chance to have carte blanche, where it's not like this is how we've always done it kind of thing. If there were more seniors, I would have to deal with maybe a sort of a passing of the guard. But I get to watch the kids take on those leadership roles."
On what this program can be: "I think the sky's the limit, especially with this coaching staff, with the technicians in the room. I don't think there's a high school program in the entire southeast where you have three All-Americans that are just literally just floating around wanting to help out every single day."
Outlook: The Manta Rays had a celebrated senior class graduate last season so you could expect a step back in a rebuilding year, but don’t expect that much because the coaching staff is invested and Ragan is looking to build it up after having huge success coaching at the NCAA and Georgia state level.
Bayshore Bruins
Coach: Anthony Slack (6th season)
Assistant coaches: Jeff Phillips, Bobby Dahlin, David Stubbs
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:5; 2021:4-1A10; 2020:5-1A10; 2019:11; 2018:11; 2017:11; 2016:9; 2015:8; 2014:5; 2013:9; 2012:11
Last state champion: Bert Hartmann, 1990 (152), Trevor Johnson, 1990 (160)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Dominic Myers, 34-17, SQ, R4, D4; Pablo Santamaria, 48-11, 8th, R3, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #14-215 Terrion Hilliard, Sr., 30-7; #20-215 Marcos Silos-Sanchez, Sr., 20-12, RQ, D3;Alan McDonald, Jr., 25-24, RQ, D4; Sawyer Baker, Sr., 25-21, RQ, D2; Tyron Huffman, Sr., 31-17, RQ, D3; Jayden Shannon, Jr., 33-17, RQ, DC; Donald Smith, Sr.
New wrestler: #2-106 Broc Dahlin, Fr.
What they are saying: “We have a great mix of older guys ready to break through and tough young guys ready to make a name for themselves. We are excited for the season.”
Outlook: Five region qualifiers are back and will be joined by freshman hammer Dahlin and some returning wrestlers as the Bruins hope to improve upon their best district finish in the past decade last year.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Boca Ciega Pirates
Coach: Tobey Alvarez (19th season as HC, 25th at school)
Assistant coaches: Paul Latragna, Terron Barnes, Cheko Carter
22-23 dual record: 23-16
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:5-2A10; 2021:7-2A10; 2020:8-2A10; 2019:7-2A9; 2018:7-2A9; 2017:7-2A9; 2016:6-2A9; 2015:5-2A9; 2014:5-2A9; 2013:6; 2012:6
Last state champion: Kadiel Mendoza, 1994 (112)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Luciano Avato, 37-14, RQ, D3; Sam McIntosh, 25-20, RQ, D4; Jalen Garrett, 33-11, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #12-144 Leo Tiannoi, Sr., 35-16, RQ-BR, D2; Jakhari Jones, So., 25-16, RQ, D2; Arthur Cloud, So., 10-8, RQ, D3; John Kelly, Jr.
New wrestler: Brandon Lopez
What they are saying: “We are ready to win and hopefully challenge for a district title.”
Outlook: Three region qualifiers are back and will be looking to improve on a season ago with a trip to Kissimmee at the end of the season.
Sarasota Military Eagles
Coach:
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:4; 2021:3-1A10; 2020:1-1A10; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:2; 2016:1; 2015:3; 2014:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nathan Varley, 39-9, 5th, R2, D2; James Miril, 29-15, RQ-BR, D2; Caleb Dickerson, 39-8, 7th, R3, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Gavin Ramon, Jr., 15-17, RQ-BR, D2; Javier Puchi, So., 12-24, RQ, D4; Madiyan Abumunshar, Sr., 27-23, RQ, D3; Raul Ramirez, Jr., 6-19, RQ, D5.
Lakewood Spartans
Coach: James Ervin
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:4-1A9; 2021:7-1A10; 2020:3-1A10; 2019:7; 2018:7; 2017:10; 2016:10; 2015:11; 2014:12; 2013:7-1A10; 2012:5-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ray Lane, So., 28-9, RQ, D4 (Transfer to CCC)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-165 Kaleb Mathis, Jr., 26-9, RQ-BR, D3; Cameron Walker, So., RQ, D3; Damari Green, Jr., 21-8, RQ, D4; Rashard Hartwell, Sr., 23-12, RQ, D4.
Gibbs Gladiators
Coach: Andre Walton
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:7-1A9; 2021:5-1A10; 2020:6-1A10; 2019:8; 2018:5; 2017:7; 2016:4; 2015:4; 2014:6; 2013:7-2A10; 2012:7-2A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Silas Ware, 25-11, RQ, D3; Al'Zaveon Harris, 41-10, 7th, R3, D3; Terrance Howard, 25-11, RQ, D2; Malcolm Woods, 39-15, SQ, R4, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #14-285 Kevaun Jones, Sr., 25-5, RQ-BR, D3Savieon Garrison, Sr., 9-8, RQ, D4; .
Outlook: This team is young with only three returners, but one of them is heavyweight Jones, he came within one match of Kissimmee as a junior.
Booker Tornadoes
Coach: Shane Hamm (6th as head coach/14th at school)
Assistant coaches: Nick Termine, Jerry Silva
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:8; 2021:8-1A10; 2020:8-1A10; 2019:6; 2018:8; 2017:8; 2016:13; 2015:5; 2014:3; 2013:5; 2012:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Michael Arthur, 36-16, RQ-BR, DC; Antonio Jackson, 26-21, RQ, D2; Yon Granillo, RQ, D4; Jacquez King, 26-17, RQ, D3; Noe Phommathep, 17-12, 6th, R3, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #18-120 Samir Redden, Sr., 32-19, RQ, D2; Jordan Parks, Sr., 10-12, RQ, D4.
Outlook: The Tornadoes lost eight wrestlers to graduation and that means the district runners-up from a year ago are rebuilding this year.
Bradenton Christian Panthers
Coach: Jonathan Kliewer
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:9; 2021:2-1A10; 2020:4-1A10; 2019:3; 2018:6; 2017:9; 2016:7; 2015:9; 2014:9;
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ryan Storo, 13-10, RQ, D4; Wyatt Nelson, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Carter Wright, Jr., 26-14, RQ, D3; Caden Ott, Jr., RQ, D4; Jace Craft, Sr., 24-18, RQ, D3.