2A-11 Preview: Charlotte looking for 10th straight title in loaded district race

Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.

Last season: Charlotte won its ninth straight district title by over 55 points over second-place North Fort Myers.

How did Kabra do?: We picked Charlotte to win and our team to watch was North Fort Myers, who had its best district finish in over a decade.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Jake Austin (Charlotte), Maximus Brady (Mariner), Seth Tshiams (North Fort Myers), Matthew Schuler (Charlotte), Kalel Hernandez (North Fort Myers), Jaxon Newton (Charlotte), Eric Bush (Riverdale), Ayden Balma (Riverdale), Solomon Lucas (North Fort Myers), Julian Gonzales (North Fort Myers), Caden Moore (Charlotte), Carson Bennett (Charlotte), Clark Daley (Mariner), Isaac Towenko (Cape Coral), Preston Thompkins (Riverdale)

The favorite: Charlotte. A solid favorite in a district that has five teams ranked in at least one of Kabra Wrestling’s Top 25 Team Rankings.

Team to watch: Riverdale. There are a few choices that could go here, but keep an eye on the Raiders as they return to Class 2A after five seasons away.

District duals: Thursday, January 9 at Fort Myers, 3 p.m.

District IBT: Friday, February 21 at North Fort Myers, 11:30 a.m.

Charlotte Tarpons (#4/#5)

Coach: Evan Robinson Jr (21st season)

Assistant coaches: Rob Hoff, Kevin Austin, Bill Hoke, Joe Amick, Isaac Church, Malachi Schaeffer, Trey Hoff

See the 24-25 schedule here

23-24 dual record: 30-3

Recent district results: 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1-2A10; 2020:1-2A10; 2019:1-2A10; 2018:1-2A10; 2017:1-2A10; 2016:1-2A10; 2015:2; 2014:2; 2013:3; 2012:1

Last state champion: Cael Newton, 2023 (220)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jett McCauley, 56-3, 3rd, RC, DC; Viliam Piehk, 45-7, 2nd, RC, D2; Kaiden Ballinger, 34-10, 8th, R3, D2; Isaac Schaeffer, 46-12, SQ, R4, DC; Luke Davis, 26-7; Elliot Courtney, 30-14, RQ-BR, D2; Jaxton Desguin, 14-8.

Notable returning wrestlers: Matthew Schuler, Sr., 52-5, 3rd, RC, DC; Jaxon Newton, Jr., 48-10, 2nd, RC, D2; Carson Bennett, Sr., 31-19, SQ, R4, D2; Caden Moore, Jr., 29-15, SQ, R4, D2; Guy Hoke, Sr., 26-12, RQ, D3; Wyatt Nevling, Jr., 38-11, RQ-BR, DC; Evan Cope, So., 40-11, RQ, D3; Cody Holt, Sr., 33-18, RQ, D4; Jaden Palmer, Sr., 29-11.

New wrestler: Jake Austin, Fr., 55-4, SC, RC, D2 (Transfer from Somerset); Nathan Cortes; Finely Broom

Outlook: The nine-time defending district champions graduated three state placers but should not have too much of a drop off with talented wrestlers ready to take their spot.

The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews

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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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Rankings: Class 3A | Class 2A | Class 1A | Girls | Team

Riverdale Raiders (#15/#16)

Coach: Keith Evans

Recent district results: 2024:4-3A8; 2023:2-3A8; 2022:2-3A8; 2021:1-3A8; 2020:1-3A8; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1-2A12; 2012:?-2A12

Last state champion: Dominic Rodriguez, 2022 (170)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Ayden Balma, Sr., 38-3, D5; Samuel Hall, Sr., 40-22, RQ-BR, D3; Preston Thompkins, Sr., 43-13, RQ, D2; Houston Brand, Sr., 30-9, RQ, D2; Landon Murphy, Jr., 33-28, RQ, D4; Kristopher Ralston, Sr., 30-17, RQ, D4; Michael Maher, Jr., 21-10, RQ, D3; Jakobi Medeiros, Jr., 17-33, RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Logan Miller, Fr., 22-9, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Gateway Charter); Eric Bush, So. (Transfer from Illinois)

North Fort Myers Red Knights (#5/#17)

Coach: Dusty Fellows (First year at school)

Recent district results: 2024:2; 2023:3; 2022:6; 2021:9; 2020:9; 2019:8; 2018:5; 2017:3; 2016:7; 2015:6; 2014:6;

Last state champion: Adolphus Taylor, 2019 (285)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): D'angelo Gil, 37-6, 5th, R2, DC; Frank Cornelison, 29-3, 7th, R3, DC; Bret Formosa, 32-14, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: Julian Gonzales, Sr., 43-6, 6th, R3, DC; Seth Tshiams, Sr., 41-6, 5th, R3, DC; Kalel Hernandez, Jr., 24-10, RQ, D3; Justin Tobia, Sr., 33-9, RQ, DC;

New wrestler: Solomon Lucas, Sr., 23-8, RQ, DC (Transfer from Cypress Lake); Wyatt Alexander, Jr. (Transfer from Oasis)

Outlook: Fellows takes over after being an assistant at Riverdale. The Knights have two state placers returning.

Port Charlotte Pirates (NR/#23)

Coach: Tyler Crane

Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:2; 2022:2-1A11; 2021:3-2A10; 2020:5-2A10; 2019:6-2A10; 2018:5-2A10; 2017:6-2A10; 2016:6-2A10; 2015:8; 2014:8; 2013:8; 2012:7

Last state champion: Chris Vassell, 1992 (189)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Colton Sharrah, 55-14, 7th, R4, D2; Jacob Bowers, 42-15, RQ, DC.

Notable returning wrestlers: Maddox Williams, Sr., 51-11, RQ-BR, D3; Hayden Hansford, Jr., 32-17, RQ, D2; Noah Roser, Sr., 40-14, RQ, D4; Aidden Giles, Jr., 24-13, RQ, D3; Chase Utley, Sr., 25-13, D5.

Cape Coral Seahawks

Coach: Trevor Elliott

Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:6; 2022:4; 2021:2; 2020:6; 2019:5; 2018:7; 2017:8; 2016:5; 2015:7; 2014:5; 2013:5; 2012:5

Last state champion: Jon Jackson, 2006 (152), Dakota Rahme, 2006 (140)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Judd Cole, 49-5, 3rd, R2, DC; Tyler Charette, 39-9, 8th, R3, D2; Diego Delarosa, 27-13, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Isaac Towenko, Sr., 32-13, SQ, R3, D2; Ezequiel Pedraza, Sr., 8-7, RQ, D2; Jeremy Velasco, Sr., 27-11, RQ-BR, D3; Gavin Trebisovsky, Sr., 13-8, RQ, D3; Yonatan Druckmann, Sr., 22-14, RQ, D3; Simon Prifti, Jr., 9-17, RQ, D4.

Mariner Tritons

Coach: Clay French (4th at school, 7th overall)

Assistant coaches: Mike Pedersen, Pat Missaoui

23-24 dual record: 9-8

Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:4; 2022:3; 2021:3; 2020:2; 2019:3; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:3; 2015:3-1A12; 2014:2-1A12; 2013:6; 2012:8

Last state champion: Maximus Brady, 2024 (132)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Camren French, 54-1, SC, RC, DC; Logan Ngo, 35-14, SQ, R4, D3; Jonathan Semple, 33-18, RQ-BR, D4; Keeron Perrin, 21-15, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Maximus Brady, Sr., 47-2, SC, RC, DC; Clark Daley, Sr., 20-10, RQ-BR, D4; John Arambasich, Sr., 20-20, RQ, D3; Mason Fox, Sr., 32-15, RQ, D3; Ryan Boos, Jr., 21-24, RQ, D2.

What they are saying: “In addition to Maximus Brady attempting to win his fourth 2A state title, we also have some experienced wrestlers looking to make the state podium and also many young wrestlers that are excited to get their opportunity to compete at the varsity level.”

Outlook: Brady is looking to make history and become the school’s first-ever four-time state champion.

Fort Myers Green Wave

Coach: Paul Rothenberg (1st at school/17th overall)

Assistant coaches: Charles Kerkesner, Kelli Bonner

Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:5; 2022:1-2A12; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:3; 2014:3; 2013:3-2A12; 2012:?-2A12

Last state champion: Chris Rivera, 2018 (126)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kevin Salas, 37-4, RQ-BR, D2; Joseph Conrad, Sr., 31-10, SQ, R4, D2 (Transfer to Evangelical)

Notable returning wrestlers: Kael Seneca, Jr., 42-7, SQ, R3, DC; Garin Gindele, Jr., 27-14, RQ, D4; Benny Nguyen, Sr., 13-6, RQ, D4.; Cameron Wiik, So., 4-3; Wyatt Warnier, So., 5-8

New wrestler: Riley Koelling, Jr. (Transfer from Cypress Lake)

What they are saying: “Our athletes are excited and reinvigorated for a fresh start and have been working hard to establish our team culture.”

Outlook: Rothenberg moves over coaching at Cypress Lake. The Green Wave won a district title as recently as 2022 and he’ll look to rebuild the program back up.

Cypress Lake Panthers

Coach: Charles Haas

Recent district results: 2024:9-2A12; 2023:7-2A12; 2022:4-2A12; 2021:6; 2020:3; 2019:4-2A12; 2018:3-2A12; 2017:3-2A12; 2016:4-2A12; 2015:6-2A12; 2014:5-2A12; 2013:7-2A12; 2012:?-2A12

Last state champion: Corey Kerkesner, 2015 (195)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Triston White, 36-11, 8th, R4, D2; Anthony Cardenas, 35-10, RQ, DC; Anthony Mullings, 13-19, RQ, D4; Solomon Lucas, Sr., 23-8, RQ, DC (Transfer to North Fort Myers)

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None

Ida Baker Bulldogs

Coach: Kasia Jablonski

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:8; 2022:7; 2021:5; 2020:4; 2019:4; 2018:6; 2017:7; 2016:5; 2015:5; 2014:7; 2013:4; 2012:4

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ricardo Villaquiran, 24-9, RQ, D4; Braylon Hillyard, 24-7, D6.