1A-6 Preview: Tight team race should highlight district tournament in February
BY BRANT PARSONS — Mount Dora has had quite a ride in its first two seasons of existence, winning a district title in 2022 and finishing as runner-up a year ago. This year the Hurricanes may have their deepest roster with the biggest numbers coming out so far.
“We're a little optimistic about this year for sure because we're going to be so young but a few of our younger guys have great potential and I feel if we 14 weight classes full, it will be a huge thing for us,” Mount Dora coach David Kemmy said.
They’ll need to get past The Villages, who won last year’s district title, but saw eight starters from a year ago move on.
"You see what we lost from last year, that's tremendous," The Villages coach Wayne Terry said. "But we're already seeing big numbers coming out for the year so I think the room is going to get fuller and bring in more action and make a level higher with everybody competing."
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Last season: The Villages won six weight classes and had 10 total finalists to outscore Mount Dora by 48.5 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Angel Prieto (Bishop Moore), Ethan Reilly (The First Academy), Anthony Dawson (Mount Dora), Russell Fickett (Mount Dora)
The favorites: Mount Dora/The Villages. The better of the past two winners will be the one who fills their massive holes the best.
Team to watch: Bishop Moore. This is the team that might actually have the most region qualifiers back this season.
District duals: Jan. 3 at Mount Dora
District IBT: Feb. 16 at The First Academy
Kabra Says: This district should see a tight team race with Mount Dora and The Villages battling each other with Bishop Moore looking to slip into the hunt too. We’ll go with Mount Dora, but this could be a toss-up.
Mount Dora Hurricanes
Coach: David Kemmy (3rd season, 36th overall)
Assistant coaches: Chris Navarro, DJ Richards
22-23 dual record: 9-2
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:1.
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Derek Ortega, 24-15, RQ, D3; DJ Richards, 42-4, 6th, RC, DC; Isaiah Victory, 12-20, RQ, D2; Dante Johnson-Turner, 13-3, RQ-BR, DC; Miguel Suarez, 21-10, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #9-215 Russell Fickett, Sr., 31-12, SQ, R4, DC; #11-175 Anthony Dawson, Sr., 34-13, SQ, R4, DC; #19-113 Brayden Brown, Jr., 20-7, RQ-BR, DC; Colton Fickett, So., 18-12, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers: #17-106 Cannon Sommer, Fr.; Sam Aponte, Fr. (Transfer from Utah); Brody Jeckovich, Fr.
What they are saying: "I think the number one thing is to get guys to state. I think we have the potential to match, if not exceed, the three we had last year so that's the primary goal for all six of the guys coming back."
On building this program: "It's starting from zero. I've done that before so it's not like I haven't done it before. I just haven't done it at the high school level. It's definitely challenging and there is a lot of convincing and persuading. I think we're finally at the point where we're going to have some good numbers this year, like over 20, for the first time. I've been going to as many different things as I can possibly go to at the school so that has helped getting in front of the kids in a variety of different ways. And then word of mouth, from the kids on the teams, is probably the biggest thing. They're having a good time, they're enjoying themselves, and they're sharing that with their peers."
On Mount Dora: "It's a great atmosphere and the school is very supportive. The administration is 100% behind the athletes and I understand that hasn't always been the case. But it is now and that is huge. We are very fortunate for that we have that and we also have great parents who are very supportive."
Outlook: Year three is here for the Hurricanes who are starting to see the fruits of the labor from the first two years pay off. The numbers are the highest so far this season and some young wrestler will join the top returners from last year.
The Villages Buffalo
Coach: Wayne Terry (13th at school/17th overall)
Assistant coaches: Gary Sorace, Joe Cummings, Josh Markham
22-23 dual record: 17-7
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2-1A5; 2021:3-1A7; 2020:3-1A7; 2019:2-1A7; 2018:2-1A7; 2017:4-1A7; 2016:4-1A7; 2015:6-1A5; 2014:3-1A5; 2013:3-1A5; 2012:3-1A5
Last state champion: Colton Jackson, 2013 (160), Taylor Jackson, 2013 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Blaise Nelson, 31-8, RQ-BR, DC; Brett Wilke, 33-10, RQ-BR, D2; Kevin Coon, 29-5; Grant Kincannon, 41-20, 8th, R3, DC; Randall Wise, 41-18, SQ, R4, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #11-190 Nicholas Caudill, Sr., 37-10, RQ-BR, DC; #16-138 Jayce Charpentier, Sr., 36-15, RQ, DC; Karson Stanage, Sr., 25-21, RQ, D3; Devin Dunn, So.
What they are saying: "It's going to hurt, losing six seniors and then some other not returning. It's going to be a growing year, that's for sure."
On how to find a leader: "It's hard. It really is hard. You can't just look at how well they wrestle, you have to look at how they interact with their teammates, how they do academically, how they do in the community, and then that's the leaders we want."
On goals this year: "We talk to them individually on goals. We know this isn't a what would we call a team year, this an individual year, but we're still building the team and the culture, especially since we opened up a new facility this year, we're in a whole new campus. They're going to expect changes quick with the type of investment they put into this place."
Outlook: The Villages graduated a lot of experience and points from last season, leaving this year to be one of building experience with the younger wrestlers in the room.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Bishop Moore Hornets
Coach: Juan Arroyave
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:2-1A7; 2020:2-1A7; 2019:3-1A7; 2018:3-1A7; 2017:2-1A7; 2016:2-1A7; 2015:3-1A7; 2014:4-1A7; 2013:5-1A5; 2012:4-1A5
Last state champion: Max Wohlabaugh, 2014 (138)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Mason Medina, 31-8, 8th, RC, DC; Gabriel Romano, 16-11, RQ, D2; Max Marino, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #9-144 Angel Prieto, So., 23-14, SQ, R4, D2; Joseph Romano, So., 12-18, RQ, D2; Andrew Voltolina, Sr., 21-16, RQ-BR, D2; Christian Schoenbohm, Sr., 11-14, RQ, D3; Maddox Dziedzic, Sr., 6-9, RQ, D3; Andres Castillo, Jr., RQ, D4.
Tavares Bulldogs
Coach: Gavin Jones (3rd season)
Assistant coach: Trey Grant
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jackson Willis, 10-19, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Owen O'Neil, Sr., 17-21, RQ, D4; Ethan Harris, Sr., 21-21, RQ, D4; Jaden Miller, Sr., 10-22, RQ, D4; Jeremy Batista, Jr., 15-16, RQ, D2; Matthew Council, Sr., 18-15, RQ, D2; Ben Abeele; Ethan Arauz; Marcus Flamingo; Matthew Granberg; Chaz Huntingcut; Samuel Langford; Chace Stockman.
New wrestlers: Preston Magann; Logan Kelly; Jett Harris
What they are saying: “We have a good returning group.”
Outlook: The Bulldogs return a good-sized number of wrestlers with experience for the third year of competition at the Lake County school.
The First Academy Royals
Coach: Michael Weeldreyer
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:7-1A7; 2020:7-1A7; 2019:5-1A7; 2018:5-1A7; 2017:6-1A7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Daniel Ward, 21-8, SQ, R4, DC; Josh Robinson, 6-23, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-113 Ethan Reilly, 8th, 14-9, RQ-BR, DC; Elijah Clayton, So., 6-16, RQ, D3; Cristian Faustino, So., 6-17, RQ, D3; Jack Millar, Jr., 12-22, RQ, D4; Gianni Moreno, Sr., 3-15, RQ, D5.
New wrestler: Nicholas Bittner, Sr., 14-16, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Windermere)
Lake Weir Hurricanes
Coach: Matthew Brobst
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:7-1A5; 2021:5-1A5; 2020:6-1A5; 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): Cebastian Beam, 8-7, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #15-285 Joel Smith, Jr., RQ-BR, D3; Mason Pieron, Jr., 2-10, RQ, D4; Blake Napper, Jr., 4-9, RQ, D3.