1A-5 Preview: No clear favorite as every team in district could compete for crown
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Weeki Wachee won it’s second straight district title with a 14-point edge over Hernando. Both teams are gone from this district this season.
How did Kabra do?: Weeki Wachee loves to prove Kabra Wrestling wrong, but last year they proved us right by winning the district title.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: William Richardson (Dunnellon), Lucas Mattassini (Dunnellon), Joel Smith (Lake Weir)
The favorite: Crystal River. It feels like every team could be listed here, but we’ll go with the one that could potentially have eight region qualifiers back.
Team to watch: Everyone else. This might be the most wide-open district race in the state.
District duals: Wednesday, January 8 at Menendez
District IBT: Wednesday, February 19 at Crystal River
Crystal River Pirates
Coach: Guy Touchton
Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:3; 2022:4; 2021:5-1A7; 2020:8-1A7; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:2; 2014:2; 2013:2-1A8; 2012:3-1A8
Last state champion: Tim Gray, 2024 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tim Gray, 55-1, SC, RC, DC; Mason Cosgrove, 40-14, SQ, R3, DC; Joel Velazquez, 8-4; Peyton Godfrey, 32-13, RQ-BR, DC; Lucas Addington, 20-20, RQ-BR, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Austin Cole, So., 21-12, RQ, D3; Benjamin Williams, Sr., 25-20, RQ, D3; Zaid Moore, So., 23-17, RQ, D2; Karl Robinson, Jr., 21-24, RQ, D4; Scott Knight, Jr., 26-17, RQ-BR, D2; Aiden Reed, Jr., 20-17, RQ, D3; James Copeland, So., 16-22, RQ, D3; Sage Petty, So., 3-14, RQ, D4.
Outlook: State champion Gray has graduated but not being making his mark, becoming the school’s first state champion since Bobby Fischer won in 1993.
The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews
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Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Pedro Menendez Falcons
Coach: William Taylor
Recent district results: 2024:2-2A4; 2023:4-2A4; 2022:6-2A4; 2021:2; 2020:3; 2019:3-1A4; 2018:2-1A4; 2017:5-1A4; 2016:3-1A4; 2015:3-1A4; 2014:6-1A4; 2013:5-1A4; 2012:6-1A4
Last state champion: Morgan Dufresne, 2004 (135)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Bryce Alli, 31-8, SQ, R4, D2; Hunter Martin, 20-13, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Maddoxx Lehman, Jr., 19-15, RQ, D2; Liam Molloy, Sr., 30-18, RQ, D3; Nikolas Thorn, Jr., 27-17, RQ, D3; Austin Henderson, So., 7-16, RQ, D4; Matthew Thorn, Jr., 24-19, RQ, D4; Desmond Valdes, Jr., 18-18, RQ, D4; Joseph Soto, Sr., 26-16, RQ, D3.
Citrus Hurricanes
Coach: Joe Estep
Recent district results: 2024:2-2A5; 2023:5-2A5; 2022:2-2A5; 2021:1-1A7; 2020:4-1A7; 2019:5-2A5; 2018:2-2A5; 2017:3-2A5; 2016:3-2A5; 2015:3-2A5; 2014:2-2A5; 2013:4-2A7; 2012:2-2A7
Last state champion: Taylor Jackson, 2012 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gabriel Hendrickson, 40-12, RQ, D2; Charles Smith, 42-11, RQ, D2; Joseph Simpson, 40-16, RQ-BR, DC; Timothy Cantrell, 23-10, RQ, D3; Michael DiBello, RQ-BR, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jackson Bennett, Jr., 38-15, RQ, D3; Wyatt Sumlin, So., 14-27, RQ, D2; Isaac Reynolds, So., 22-20, RQ, DC; Jimmikal Jackson, So., 16-13, RQ, DC; Matthew McHugh, Sr., 19-20, RQ, D2.
FSDB Dragons
Coach: Dayton Newman (4th season)
Assistant coach: Franklin Stewart
23-24 dual record: 5-12
Recent district results: 2024:4-1A4; 2023:7-1A4; 2022:10-1A4; 2020:5; 2019:7-1A4; 2018:7-1A4; 2017:8-1A4; 2016:8-1A4; 2015:4-1A4; 2014:5-1A4; 2013:9-1A4; 2012:7-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ajania Zahira, 17-8, RQ-BR, DC; Allen Davis
Notable returning wrestlers: Joshua Newman, Sr., 19-14, RQ, D2; Khayree Lofton, Jr., 17-17, RQ, D4; Gabe Mitchell, 8th, 19-13, RQ, D4; Antonio Riggins, Jr., 12-11, RQ, D2; Marshall Garton, So., 10-7, RQ, D4; Robert McCullough, Jr., RQ, D4; Anthony Rush, So., 4-12, RQ, D4; Lesean Nagle, Jr., 7-15, RQ, D5.
New wrestler: Daniel Healy, Jr., 6th in state (Transfer from Indiana)
What they are saying: “Healy is a nice addition to our growing team. We are young, hungry and ready to raise some eyebrows.”
Outlook: Eight region qualifiers return and will be joined by Indiana state placer Healy. The team will compete in the deaf national high school tournament in Riverside, California this year and are hoping to improve on a fifth place finish a year ago.
Palatka Panthers
Coach: Kraig McLane
Recent district results: 2024:5-1A4; 2023:5-1A4; 2022:2-1A4; 2021:1; 2020:2; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:3; 2014:7; 2013:7-2A4; 2012:7-2A4
Last state champion: Farshaun Pinkston, 2001 (145)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ishmael Foster, 6-7, RQ, D2; Hayden Edwards, 8-8, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Dalvin Dallas, So., 9-10, RQ, D2; Blake Young, Jr., 8-12, RQ, D4; Dalton Kerwin, Jr., 3-11, RQ, D4; Dreyton Reid, So., 6-11, RQ, D3; Logan Cumbo, Sr., 8-10, RQ, D3; Curtis Clark, Sr., 5-14, RQ, D4; Ben Clark, Sr., 12-7, RQ, D2.
New wrestler: Curtis Wright, Jr., 22-17, RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer from Creekside)
Dunnellon Tigers (#23/NR)
Coach: Chance Luckey (2nd season)
Assistant coach: William Richardson
Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:5; 2022:8; 2017:6; 2016:4; 2015:9; 2014:4; 2013:6-1A8; 2012:5-1A8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jose Schwarz, 16-19, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: William Richardson, Sr., 36-20, SQ, R4, D3; Lucas Mattassini, Sr., 28-7; Jhonerin Dominguez, Sr., 25-12, RQ-BR, D2; Samuel Whitten, Jr., 26-14, RQ, D3; James Carter, Sr., 14-31, RQ, D4.
What they’re saying: “A lot is going to come down to getting our weight right and working hard in the room. But as far as the potential, these guys have a lot. This is their third year in the program so I am looking forward to seeing them on the mat this year.”
On style he’s trying to implant: “It's a lot more geared towards the kids having fun and liking wrestling and developing skills. As far as in the season, the type of mentality and attitude that I've been trying to get the kids to adopt is just that tough, hard nose, old school style of wrestling. Be good on offense, good from our ties, and then obviously sprinkling in some of that more fancy outside shots stuff for our older guys.”
On this season: “A couple of our big names, experienced guys coming into the year are at football right now. So the beginning of the season might be a little rough for them because, they need to get on the mat and start working to get in shape all before Christmas break. So at the beginning of the season, it might look a little shaky, (28:36) but we'll whip them into shape by the time the important matches come.”
Outlook: The Tigers have 3-4 wrestlers who could be wrestling in Kissimmee this year if they keep developing as they have been. There is excited around the program.
Keystone Heights Indians
Coach: Shaun Goetzman
Recent district results: 2024:5-1A4; 2023:8-1A4; 2022:6-1A4; 2021:4; 2020:4; 2019:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Marcellus Beem, 11-14, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Atreyu Contes, Fr., 25-8, RQ, D3; Phoenix Contes, Sr., 14-12, RQ, D3; Mikey McCall, 8th, 10-9, RQ, D3; Jared Goetzman, Jr., 19-12, RQ, D2.
Lake Weir Hurricanes
Coach: Matthew Brobst (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Chad Grooms, Matt Russo
Recent district results: 2024:6-1A6; 2023:6-1A6; 2022:7; 2021:5; 2020:6; 2019:7-2A5; 2018:7-2A5; 2017:7-2A5; 2016:6-2A5; 2015:4-2A5; 2014:5-2A5; 2013:5-2A4; 2012:3-2A4
Last state champion: Nate McCullough, 2001 (215)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Joseph Lopez, 26-16, RQ, D3; Tyler Brobst, 14-15, RQ, D3; Emanuel Esquival, 23-12, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Joel Smith, Sr., 27-5, RQ, DC; Mason Pieron, Sr., 22-14, D5; Benjamin Morales, Jr., 18-18, RQ, D3; Blake Napper, Sr., 14-22, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: Louden Grooms
What they are saying: “Our group is a hard-working, never-give-up family.”
Outlook: The Hurricanes are still a youngish group in Brobst’s third season, but there is also a state-caliber wrestler in the room in Joel Smith.
Interlachen Rams
Coach: Christopher Wimmer (1st year coach)
Assistant coach: Reginald Allen
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2019:6-1A5; 2018:4-1A5; 2017:7-1A5; 2016:5-1A5; 2015:8-1A5; 2014:8-1A5; 2013:6; 2012:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they’re saying: “This year’s team is characterized by its youthful energy and eagerness to learn and improve. With a young and motivated squad, the focus is on growth, building skills, and gaining experience on the mat. The team’s hunger to compete and their daily progress in practice show they are committed to putting in the hard work needed to succeed.”
Outlook: The Interlachen program is back after only having competed in one postseason since 2019. There are three wrestlers in the room with experience, one who reached the region tournament.