1A-8 Preview: Team race could be closer this season
“We have a lot of new names in our lineup, but by year's end we are hoping some of our kids can start to make a name for themselves,” Palm Bay coach Sean Ballard said.
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Palm Bay followed up a district title with a region title a week later. The Pirates finished fifth in the Class 1A state tournament and had six state placers.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Presten Pineiro (Astronaut), Leonard Christian (Palm Bay), Anthony Acquafredda (Cocoa Beach), Billy Day (Cocoa Beach), Raymen Jackson (Palm Bay), Cole Webb (Cocoa), Adrian Day (Cocoa Beach), Ernie Covert (Space Coast), Christopher Brunson (Palm Bay), Parker Bryant (Titusville), Mason Alsobrook (Space Coast)
The favorite: Palm Bay. Even though the Pirates graduated four state placers from a year ago, the room is loaded with wrestlers ready to step in and step up including state placer Christian.
Team to watch: Cocoa Beach. This team is young and growing and will get the points and leadership back from William Day for his senior season.
District duals: Jan. 4 at Space Coast
District IBT: Feb. 15 at Space Coast
Kabra Says: It’s really hard to pick against Palm Bay in this district - and by the time the postseason rolls around, we think they’ll be on top. But Cocoa Beach enters the season as the slight favorite.
Palm Bay Pirates (#19 IBT | #18 Dual)
Coach: Sean Ballard (24th season)
Assistant coaches: Zander Owens, Cam Komat
22-23 dual record: 11-1
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:2-2A13; 2018:1-2A13; 2017:1-2A13; 2016:1-2A13; 2015:3-2A13; 2014:1-2A13; 2013:1-2A13; 2012:1-2A13
Last state champion: Matt Cates, 2017 (170)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Roman Maldonado, 57-2, 4th, RC, DC; Ronald Theilacker, 58-4, 3rd, RC, DC; Nathan Furman, 47-1, 3rd, RC, DC; Brycen Turner, 58-7, 3rd, R2, DC; Elliott Bell, 37-15, RQ, DC; Octavion Osby, Sr., 26-2, 4th, RC, DC (Transfer to Vero Beach).
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-285 Leonard Christian, Jr., 48-10, 5th, R3, DC; #7-215 Christopher Brunson, Jr., 42-14, SQ, R3, DC; #10-120 Raymen Jackson, Sr., 40-16, SQ, RC, DC; #11-157 Zachary Emery-Foster, Sr., 37-15, SQ, R3, DC; Anthony Hughes, So., 25-25, RQ, D5; Landon Stewart, Jr., 10-13, RQ, D4; Robert Hunt, Jr., 31-16, RQ, D2; Leonardo Murray; Dominick Maldonado; Jose Perez.
Palm Bay celebrates their fourth straight district title back in February.
What they are saying: “We graduated a lot in the last two years. So there's a lot of new faces, but they have a lot of potential, work hard and we are looking forward to seeing what they can do.”
Outlook: There is an expectation and culture that has developed at Palm Bay and despite losing so many to graduation the past two years, there is a group of young wrestlers that have been chomping at the bit to get their chance to step in.
Cocoa Beach Minutemen (#14 IBT | #13 Dual)
Coach: Chris Kelly (3rd season at CB; 15th overall)
Assistant coaches: Tony Acquafredda, Lucas Haase, Ryan Violette, Mike Fredenburg
22-23 dual record: 3-3
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:4; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:4; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:5; 2015:7; 2014:3; 2013:4-1A6; 2012:3-1A6
Last state champion: Jesse Robbins, 2003 (125)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Mario Del Vecchio, Fr., 40-8, 6th, RC, DC (Transfer to North Hunterdon (NJ)
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-106 Anthony Acquafredda, Fr., 17-8; #5-144 Billy Day, Sr., 14-4, D5; #7-120 Adrian Day, 8th, 27-4, SQ, RC, DC; #15-132 Wyatt Crouser, So., 26-14, RQ-BR, D2; #18-285 Madden Fredenburg, Fr., 24-17, RQ, D2; #19-126 Cooper Burson, So., 22-17, RQ, D3; Elliott Neal, Sr., 15-14, RQ, D2; Landon Fischer, Fr., 14-23, RQ, D3; .
New wrestler: Nadir Shalaby, 7th; Kealan Sieni, So.(Transfer from Palm Bay)
What they are saying: "If we keep this core together, I think this year we can make a push to try and qualify for team states and as we grow further on, I really think we're going to be able try and bring some state titles back to this area. We have two seniors and not really any juniors, so everybody is a sophomore or younger and with the group of seventh graders we have coming in next year, I think we could be in the group of teams that could push to win a state title."
On having Billy Day back: "He's an extremely hard worker. Last year was really hard to go through because he had two big injuries back to back last year. It was really hard to watch him go through that. He's really excited to be back. He's back training more often and we're really excited just to not only get his wrestling back, but also get him back as a leader. We only have really two seniors on the team now and he's the one with the most experience and the most accomplishments. Getting him back in there as the aspect of being the older leader on the team is going to be huge for us in general. As far as what he can accomplish, I believe if things start to go right for him, and he gets his flow back, I still believe he can win a state title."
Outlook: This is a young team in age, but there are some experienced wrestlers in this room. Look for this team to get better as the season goes on and look for the return of a healthy Billy Day for his senior season.
Space Coast Vipers
Coach: Tony McCormick (19th season, 20th overall)
Assistant coaches: Corey Jones, Reggie Bradley, Ryan Starkey, Matt Dawley, Jesslynn Earl
22-23 dual record: 4-3
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2; 2021:6; 2020:2; 2019:2; 2018:1; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:7; 2013:5-1A6; 2012:2-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Caeden Hadry, 13-4, RQ, D2; Allen Wasmund, 38-17, SQ, R3, D3; Jaydon Sheely, 33-7, SQ, R3, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #8-106 Ernie Covert, Jr., 37-10, SQ, R4, D2; #9-190 Mason Alsobrook, Jr., 36-12, SQ, R4, D2; #14-138 Chris McDonnel, Jr., 34-17, RQ-BR, D2; #16-113 Ashton Swanson, Fr., 29-16, RQ-BR, D3; Riley Taylor, Sr., 18-9, RQ, D2; Drayton Gamradt, So., 10-23, RQ, D3; Jacob Starkey, So., 10-18, RQ, D4; Jason Lee, Sr., 3-9, RQ, D3; Bryson Gavin, Fr., 4-15, RQ, D4; Rian Dufrene, 8th, 9-14; Aidan Jarrett, So, 6-17; Dominic Berger, Fr.; Aidan Jarret, So.; EJ Clouser, Fr.; Justin Joseph, Fr.; Kaleb Klingenberg,, Fr.; Braden Hanson-Sullins, So.; Kyle Harrison, Sr.; John LeFevre, So.
New wrestlers: Case Mangini, 7th; Nate Webster, 7th; Riley Realin, Fr.; Maycen Emmons, 7th; Ben Gray, 8th; Angel Jones, Fr.; Marino, Keel, Fr.; Colin Burke, So.; Kole Gamble, So.; Blake Micheal, 8th; Shane Pollard, Jr.; Jerrell Dossous, Fr.; Chase Santiago, Fr.; Nathan Strong, 8th; Henry Hulslander, Fr.; Carter Quinlan, Fr.
Fast fact: Coach McCormick is approaching his 350th dual win.
Outlook: The Vipers are a young team overall, but two state qualifiers and two more blood round wrestlers are back to lead the way.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class G-1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Cocoa Tigers
Coach: Gerald Stout (4th season)
Assistant coaches: Aldo Victor, Alton Edmond, Zach Gay
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:5; 2021:8; 2020:6; 2019:5; 2018:6; 2017:6; 2016:7; 2015:6; 2014:6; 2013:6-1A6; 2012:5-1A6
Last state champion: Jonathan Cornman, 2003 (112)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #7-106 Cole Webb, Fr., 25-8, SQ, R3, D3; #9-120 Aaron Horr, Fr., 24-14, SQ, R4, D2; #14-144 Alexis Escobar, Jr., 29-12, RQ-BR, DC; #16-285 Blake Shaffer, Sr., 23-15, RQ, D2; Bryce Culp, Fr., RQ, D4; Matthew Watters, Jr., 5-14, RQ, D4.
Outlook: Cocoa is young but it has some tough wrestlers and will look to add a large group of incoming wrestlers into the mix.
Astronaut War Eagles
Coach: Muhammed DeReese (4th season)
Assistant coach: Darian Maya
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:8; 2021:9; 2020:8; 2019:7; 2018:4; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:2; 2013:1-1A6; 2012:1-1A6
Last state champion: Joe Hennis, 2001 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Shannon Stewart, RQ, D5.
Notable returning wrestlers: #4-126 Presten Pineiro, Sr., 41-8, 7th, R4, DC; Levi Anderson, Jr., RQ-BR, D4; Daniel Delaporte, Sr., RQ, D3; Drake Smalls, So., RQ, D3; Jose Vasquez, Jr., RQ, D4; John Maddox, Sr., RQ, D4; Langston Edmond, Jr., 26-12.; Zayde Prince, So.
What they are saying: "The key is to get the newer guys who came in caught up and getting on point and then the guys who I've had getting past the little bit of mental blocks that might have held them back last year. A couple people that should have done better last year have been here in the offseason working out and training pretty much all summer. So I have at least five maybe six kids that that should make it but who knows what happens. I'm just excited to see all the guys we've leveled up and then I have had a lot of freshmen that's been in there since August coming to the offseason workouts and I'm just excited to see where it takes us."
On Presten Pineiro: "I feel like he should have been top four. He was up big and kind of shutdown and gave up a bunch of takedowns and didn't do anything in response. I think he's worked through that the offseason and I think he'll come back much stronger than last year and we're going for it all."
On what this team can do: "I think we will surprise a lot of people, especially coming up last season with the small handful of kids I had and it's gonna look a lot different this year. We've been recruiting a lot this year and I think we've had a couple guys that I have who wrestled last year who might not even really been known about last year, because they didn't do all that well have leveled up a lot. And I think they'll make a huge impact this year for the team."
Outlook: State placer Pineiro returns and is looking to improve on last year’s podium performance. The rest of the team is a year older and should have more success with the added experience and maturity.
Titusville Terriers
Coach: Dennis Morgan
Assistant coaches: John Holmes and Justin Hall
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:7; 2021:7; 2020:9; 2019:6; 2018:7; 2017:7; 2016:6; 2015:4; 2014:5; 2013:3-1A6; 2012:6-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): JJ Hall, 26-15, RQ, D2; Lamarion Martin, 17-15, RQ, D2; Aiden Rutledge, 18-9, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #11-165 Parker Bryant, Sr., 29-11, RQ, D3; Judah Schwartz, So., 15-17, RQ, D4; Ian Buchanan, Sr., 11-19, RQ, D3; Carter Creel, Jr., 6-13, RQ, D4.
Port Orange Atlantic Sharks
Coach: Jeremy Blackwell
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:8-1A6; 2021:3-1A6; 2020:1-1A6; 2019:4-1A7; 2018:4-1A7; 2017:3-1A7; 2016:3-1A7; 2015:2-1A7; 2014:3-1A7; 2013:4-1A5; 2012:5-1A5
Last state champion: Charles Simmons, 2005 (171)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Justice Jones, So., RQ, D6; Aziyan Hopksins, So., RQ, D4; Matthew Demetrios, Sr., RQ, D3; Winder Altinor, Jr., RQ, D3.
Outlook: Blackwell has taken over a program that has been looking for stability in the past few seasons.