1A-12 Preview: First Baptist-Naples leads a developing district in wrestling
BY BRANT PARSONS — While First Baptist-Naples has been chasing some of the biggest programs in Class 1A, the programs in this district have been chasing them and it’s paid off with a district that is growing deeper and stronger each season.
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: First Baptist-Naples was 85 points better than Oasis, while six teams in the district scored at least 100 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Caleb Rodriguez (First Baptist-Naples), Jonathan Moder (First Baptist-Naples), Michael Kersey (First Baptist-Naples), Asher Bacon (First Baptist-Naples), Keenan Wanbaugh (Fort Myers Gateway), Bennett Sweitzer (Bishop Verot), Andres DiGrigoli (First Baptist-Naples), Jack Benaitis (Bishop Verot), Everett Stephens (First Baptist-Naples), Derek Washington Jr. (Fort Myers Evangelical), Derrique Mytial (Fort Myers Gateway)
The favorite: First Baptist-Naples. It took the Lions just three years of competing to win its first district title and even with losing a multiple-time state champion to graduation, the team is still loaded.
Team to watch: Bishop Verot. Another new program, the Vikings will have a sizable senior class that is looking to keep building up the rising program.
District duals: Jan. 6 at First Baptist-Naples
District IBT: Feb. 16 at Bishop Verot
Kabra Says: This district is getting deeper each year with the arrival of new programs but First Baptist-Naples might have the best team heading into the season.
First Baptist-Naples Lions (#4 IBT | #8 Dual)
Coach: Mike DiGrigoli
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:3; 2021:3;
Last state champion: Christian Moder, 2023 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Joe Castellone, 27-12, SQ, R2, DC; Gavin Patton, 30-8, 2nd, RC, DC; Roy Reyes, 15-12, RQ-BR, D2; Christian Moder, 44-1, SC, RC, DC; David Byelick, So., 19-7 (Transfer to Cardinal Gibbons)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #1-285 Caleb Rodriguez, So., 28-4, 2nd, RC, DC; #2-138 Jonathan Moder, So., 34-14, 2nd, RC, DC; #2-150 Michael Kersey, Jr., 27-4, 2nd, RC, DC; #3-126 Asher Bacon, 7th, 22-2, 4th, RC, DC; #8-132 Andres DiGrigoli, So., 33-8, SQ, RC, DC; #9-106 Everett Stephens, Fr., 33-13, SQ, R3, DC; Logan Brown, 7th, 4-7, RQ, D5; Connor Koert, Sr., 15-14, RQ, D2; .
New wrestler: #3-113 Timothy Boda, 8th
Outlook: The Lions could have as many as three state finalists from a year ago return this season.
Bishop Verot Vikings
Coach: Gerry Braun (2nd year/19th overall)
Assistant coaches: Jason Bowman, Chris Lantagne, Mike Vasquez
22-23 dual record: 12-7
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:5.
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Liam Murphy, 27-16, RQ, D4; Frank Leckler, 11-2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #8-285 Jack Benaitis, Jr., 22-10, SQ, R2, D2; #16-215 Edward Nolan, Sr., 30-9, RQ, DC; Enzo Vasquez, So., 13-9, RQ, D2; Dashiell Fu, Sr., 19-13, RQ, D4; Cael Horton, Sr., 21-12, RQ, D3; Ethan Swanson, Jr., 28-14, RQ, D3; Mason Mangold, Jr., 23-21, RQ, D3; Niko Richmond, Sr., 20-11; Andrew Marino, Jr., 28-15; Bobby Leckler, Jr., 15-10.
New wrestler: #6-175 Bennett Sweitzer, So., 33-7, SQ, R2, D2 (Transfer from Canterbury); Hudson Sweitzer, Fr., 21-14, RQ-BR, D3 (Transfer from Canterbury); Sean Cameron (Transfer from ECS); Tiago Passos, Fr.
What they are saying: “There is a lot of excitement. We don't feel like we're a young program anymore. This is a team that's returning state qualifiers that has goals to get the first state medalist and compete for district title. So the senior classes is excited to actually go out and achieve some goals that have been set from the first year."
On the seniors: "This is the group that gets it started. They lay the foundation, they set the culture, and then another group comes in and sets the standard of success, like competing for district titles, having state medalists and being a team that competes at every tournament we go to. But I also feel like this team can be both - they can be the group that lays the foundation while also having the type of success we're looking for."
On what this team can accomplish: "I think we can compete for a district title. I think we can be competitive in every team tournament that we go to. It's happening pretty quickly here and it's all coming together for what could be a really successful year. It could be next year, but we're trying to make it this year. We still need to level up one more time throughout the season."
Outlook: 10 seniors who have built this new program over the last two seasons and they’re ready to try and finish off their high school career with a memorable season.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Oasis Sharks
Coach: Ronnie Courtney
22-23 dual record: 14-9
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2; 2021:2; 2020:5; 2019:3; 2018:5; 2017:6; 2016:7; 2015:8; 2014:7; 2013:3-1A11; 2012:6-1A11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Brayden Pinney, 28-15, SQ, R4, D2; Jackson Mumane, 21-12, RQ, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #11-150 Kealan Clifton, Sr., 30-8, RQ-BR, DC; #15-138 Adrian Ross-Benninghoff, Sr., 22-11, RQ, D3; #16-132 Ethan Bissler, Jr., 27-7, RQ-BR, D2; Camden Phillips, Jr., 22-15, RQ, D2; Christopher Conde, Sr., 20-15, RQ, D3; Adrian Cauceglia, Sr., 23-12, RQ, D4; Gabriel Fessel, Jr., 22-19, RQ, D4; Logan Conley, Sr., 19-18, RQ, D4.
New wrestler: #13-190 Frederick Harley, Jr., 32-10, RQ-BR, D4 (Transfer from Cape Coral).
Fort Myers Gateway Eagles
Coach: William Richardson
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-144 Keenan Wanbaugh, Sr., 33-6, SQ, R3, D2; #11-132 Derrique Mytial, Jr., 34-9, SQ, R4, D2; #19-175 Cameron Cisnero, Jr., 25-13, RQ, D2Bryce Vasquez, So., 29-12, RQ, D4; Max Giserman, Jr., 22-6, RQ, D2; Curtis Peacock, Sr., 23-16, RQ, D4.
LaBelle Cowboys
Coach: Matt Miller (8th season)
22-23 dual record: 6-3
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:6; 2021:5; 2020:2; 2019:5; 2018:8; 2017:7; 2016:8; 2015:9; 2014:8; 2013:2; 2012:2
Last state champion: Matt Miller, 2004 (130)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nicolas Kendrick, 10-7, RQ, D3; Raistlin Sievert, 21-6, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #13-150 Devon Jackson, Sr., 27-6, RQ-BR, D2; Gabrielle Arevalo, So., 11-13, RQ, DC; Anthony Kats, Sr., 22-18, RQ, D3; Kendall Mann, Jr., 20-8, RQ, D3; Greg Gonzalez, Sr.; Ethan Drabant, Sr.
What they are saying: “I am looking forward to having six returning seniors looking to be in the lineup. We should have plenty of mat time. We will be young at the front and back of the lineup, but we are hopeful that we can still pick up some points in those areas.”
Outlook: This team will have plenty of experienced wrestlers looking to improve on last season’s gains.
SW Florida Christian Academy Kings
Coach: Greg Clement
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:7; 2021:8; 2020:6; 2019:9; 2018:10; 2017:10; 2016:9; 2015:7; 2014:9; 2013:3; 2012:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Owen Brown, Sr., 11-15, RQ-BR, D3; Connor Watermeier, So., 11-13, RQ, D4.
Estero Wildcats
Coach: Evan Dawes (2nd season)
Assistant coach: Curtis Headlee
Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:11-2A12; 2021:8-2A12; 2020:7-2A12; 2019:6-2A12; 2018:6-2A12; 2017:6-2A12; 2016:9-2A12; 2015:2-2A12; 2014:4-2A12; 2013:6-2A12; 2012:?-2A12
Last state champion: Jason Miller, 1994 (103)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Vadiel Vallecio, Jr., 7-16, RQ, D4; Adrian Cavazos, Jr., 13-12, RQ, D4; Aaron Zapata; Aiden Houle
What they are saying: “We are a young team that is hoping to set the foundation and build off of that foundation for this upcoming season and the years to come.
Outlook: The Wildcats are still in a rebuilding mode but the work is being done and the program is being grown.
Fort Myers Evangelical Sentinels
Coach: Clint Thompson (3rd season)
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:9; 2020:8; 2018:9; 2017:9; 2016:10; 2015:5; 2014:10; 2013:6; 2012:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jeremiah Edmond, 21-13, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-175 Derek Washington Jr., Jr., 26-11, SQ, R4, DC; Leland Fiaherty, Fr., 19-18, RQ, D5.
Canterbury Cougars
Coach: Tariq Humes (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Aaron Jackson, Anna Brooks
22-23 dual record: 3-8
Recent district results: 2023:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Owen Hawley, 17-11, RQ, D3; Will Monroe; Bennett Sweitzer, So., 33-7, SQ, R2, D2 (Transfer to Bishop Verot); Hudson Sweitzer, Fr., 21-14, RQ-BR, D3 (Transfer to Bishop Verot).
Notable returning wrestlers: Nathan Druskis, Fr., 12-13, RQ, D4; Stone Creighton, So.; Pierce Farhat, Fr.; Jack Boldrin, Sr.; Chase Meagher, Fr.
New wrestler: Griffin Curran; Brendan Daller.
Outlook: The second-year program enters the year looking to gain experience.
Gateway Charter Griffins
Coach: Press Southworth
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:8; 2021:7; 2020:7; 2019:10; 2018:6-1A7; 2014:11; 2013:6-1A11; 2012:4-1A11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ralph Alfonzo, 9-7, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Christopher Bobs, 7th, 8-7, RQ, D4; Wyatt Gershman, Jr., 4-9, RQ, D4.
Aubrey Rogers Patriots
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
Outlook: Aubrey Rogers is a first-year school.