2A-13 Preview: Close battle between best teams in region expected again
BY BRANT PARSONS —One think you can be assured of, this won’t be an easy district to win.
Last year, Merritt Island won its second straight 2A-13 title and then Heritage proceeded to win the 2A-4 region title. And then when the state tournament came around, this district produced four state finalists.
"I would much rather be in a tough district than an easy district, I think it just raises the standard for everybody and everybody works a little bit harder. So I enjoy it. I don't want to win something because somebody is down, or somebody's not that good. I want everybody else to be tough."
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Last season: Merritt Island won the district title by 57 points, and then Heritage were tops in the region.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Jake Giovino (Satellite), Kaleb Ivie (Merritt Island), Solomon Peterson (Heritage), Keith Cole (Heritage), Landon Quiroga (Merritt Island), Anthony Dicks (Satellite), Kaleb Gabrielsen (Heritage), Ryan Beirne (Satellite), William Young (Bayside), Tre Driggett (Merritt Island), Dominick Smith (Merritt Island), Gary Bradley (Bayside), Stephan Perry (Heritage)
The favorite: Merritt Island. There is so much depth in the room that this team is built for a district title run.
Team to watch: Heritage. Last year’s region champs have a lot of talent coming back and are a force in the district and region.
District duals: Dec. 14 at Merritt Island
District IBT: Feb. 16 at Merritt Island
Kabra Says: This is a tough one to pick and one of the last predictions I made in the entire season preview. I’m going Merritt Island by a slim margin, and then a great battle again in the region team race.
Merritt Island Mustangs (#12 IBT | #8 Dual)
Coach: Graham Smith (14th season)
22-23 dual record: 20-3
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:2-1A8; 2020:4-1A8; 2019:1; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:4; 2013:5; 2012:7
Last state champion: Elijah Lusk, 2021 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Elijah Barrial, 28-7; Dylan Quiroga , 47-5, 7th, RC, DC; Seven Tornga, 28-9, 8th, RC, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-215 Kaleb Ivie, Sr., 49-7, 5th, R2, DC; #5-113 Landon Quiroga, So., 47-3, 2nd, RC, DC; #8-165 Tre Driggett, So., 30-15, RQ-BR, D4; #9-175 Dominick Smith, Jr., 38-11, RQ-BR, D2; #10-165 Jacob Pitcher, Sr., 31-9, RQ, DC; #14-144 Judge DeYoung, Jr., 43-9, RQ-BR, D2; #17-120 Titus DeYoung, So., 35-20, RQ-BR, D3; #19-138 Keanu Martin, Sr., 24-12, RQ-BR, D2; Kaden Barrial, Jr., 30-16, RQ-BR, D2; Jacob McKee, Sr., 23-19, RQ, D4; Kyle Mulley, Sr., 33-13, RQ, D3; Nathan Greenfield, Jr., 26-18, RQ, D3; Gabe Arnold, Sr., 10-3; David Serrano, So., 1-1; JC Buhler-Ramos, Sr., 4-2; Courtland Campbell, Jr., 17-13; Noah Wurtz, Sr., 21-13; Anderson Flores, So., 4-4;
What they are saying: “Our biggest strength is depth. Everyone has to work hard to make the line-up. We have built a program that kids want to be a part of and that makes them want to succeed. Everyone is an important piece of the team.”
On how close the team is: "A lot of our kids have been together for a long time, going back to the youth level. I always liked the two sports where you get a big different group of kids. There's not one type of kid that plays football. It's a bunch of different kids that come together and wrestling's kind of the same way, a bunch of different personalities. These kids have been together a while and some of them are good friends and some of them get on each other's nerves, but everybody knows what makes everybody tick and it's a good time. I genuinely like the kids, I think they genuinely like each other, and so it just it more fun."
On the district: "I was just talking to another coach today and saying how much I appreciate that Heritage has a great program. That Satellite has a great program. And all of us just being able to push each other and help each other be successful. You know, when we got to the state tournament last year, all three of those programs were very successful. So I think that they would probably tell you the exact same thing."
Outlook: Two state placers have graduated but there might be even more depth as the Mustang wrestling family just keeps growing. A district title is possible again for Merritt Island, but it’s going to be close again.
Heritage Panthers (#11 | #10)
Coach: Jeff Degginger (9th season)
Assistant coaches: Tom Gregg, Cody Barton
22-23 dual record: 25-7
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:3; 2018:4; 2017:3; 2016:3; 2015:1; 2014:3; 2013:2; 2012:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aiden Baker, 49-14, SQ, R2, D2; Gabriel Ferreira, 56-9, 5th, RC, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #3-106 Solomon Peterson, Sr., 52-12, 7th, R2, D2; #4-165 Kaleb Gabrielsen, Sr., 61-10, 7th, RC, DC; #5-144 Keith Cole, Sr., 47-13, 2nd, RC, DC; #10-157 Stephan Perry, Jr., 33-32, SQ, R2, D4; #11-126 Gustavo Ferreira, So., 45-20, SQ, RC, DC; #14-215 Harper Noel, Jr., 46-22, RQ, D2; Nicholas Deboer, Jr., 39-18, RQ, D2; Jason Martin, Sr., 43-20, RQ, D2; Tyquez Smith, Jr., 19-36, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: "Goals are the same every year - get better than the year before. We've been very fortunate that our primary goal here is to create better young men and they know that winning championships comes from the discipline that comes from being a better person. So every year we challenged them and every year they stepped up, I can't explain."
On guys coming back: "We got five state qualifiers coming back and three of those are medalists. If you could see the work that Solomon (Peterson) and Kaleb (Gabrielsen) were putting in, those guys are going to have legitimate shots at the state title this year. They're both tremendous athletes. They really put in the extra work over the summer, hit the weight room extremely hard, as well as just technique, technique, technique. And they're just two incredible young guys. "
On getting the team to peak: "For one thing, we don't we don't let them rest during the season. A lot of teams I know like to take a break there in the middle. We try to make every week very difficult and to push them as hard as possible all through the season. So when they get to districts and regions, they've already been under the big lights and they've already faced the test competition. So they're not intimidated."
Outlook: The defending region champions have studs scattered through the lineup with some rookies that will need to step into the fold. The Panthers should be a strong IBT team again this season with a solid number of guys on the podium in Kissimmee again.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Satellite Scorpions (#8 | #17)
Coach: David McMiller (4th season)
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:3-1A8; 2021:3-1A8; 2020:7-1A8; 2019:3-1A8; 2018:5-1A8; 2017:5-1A8; 2016:4-1A8; 2015:5-1A8; 2014:4-1A8; 2013:7-1A6; 2012:4-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alexander McMiller, 46-6, 2nd, RC, DC; Blaze Holly, 29-12, RQ-BR, DC; Michael McCarthy, 47-5, 2nd, RC, DC; Quran Mighty, 17-14, SQ, R2, D3; Tai Montanez, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #1-106 Jake Giovino, So., 23-10; #5-132 Anthony Dicks, Sr., 32-14, SQ, RC, DC; #5-175 Ryan Beirne, Sr., 42-9, SQ, R2, D2; Kekaikahua Bailey, So., 11-9, RQ, D3; Nolan West, So., 24-22, SQ, R2, D3.
Sebastian River Sharks
Coach: Tom Maul (18th season)
Assistant coaches: Zach Pitts, Phineus Weatherly
22-23 dual record: 8-6
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:2; 2019:7; 2018:5; 2017:6; 2016:7; 2015:7; 2014:6; 2013:7; 2012:6
Last state champion: Vince Maul, 2008 (171)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Niko Huff, 19-9, SQ, R4, D2; Warren Powell, 15-14, RQ-BR, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #15-215 Jonathan Tumblin, Sr., 5-2; #18-138 Kaden Wheeler, Jr., 26-13, SQ, R3, D3; Michael Rodrigues, Sr., 21-13, RQ, D4; Andrew Rosado, Sr., 15-15, RQ, D3; Lucas Boecker, Jr., 14-15, RQ, D3; Carlos Almanza, Sr.
New wrestler: Cameron Gill
What they are saying: "We should have a better season than last season. We're still building the machine and I think when these ninth and 10th graders get a season or two under their belts of experience. This will be a good season and I think next season will be even better. It's hard to start from scratch and start having a bunch of state qualifiers, it just doesn't happen fast. It takes at least a few seasons."
On Kaden Wheeler: "He wants to get there and win some matches so he's working working for that. He's been to a lot of camps and tournaments. He's been going through the summer and then going three days a week in the weight room for hour and a half and then we're wrestling for an hour and a half."
On Carlos Almanza: "He's improving in pretty much every practice and at the rate he's going, he's one of the horses I'm betting on to you know get to states and win some matches."
Outlook: The program is growing rapidly, with lots of underclassmen in the room to join an experienced group coming back. Maul thinks the Sharks could get up to six state qualifiers out of this group as they keep gaining experience in the sport.
Bayside Bears
Coach: Aaron Parr
22-23 dual record: 12-11
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:4; 2020:8; 2019:4; 2018:5; 2017:4; 2016:5; 2015:6; 2014:2; 2013:4; 2012:4
Last state champion: Jonathan Taylor, 2007 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Hayden Williams, 36-13, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #9-150 William Young, Sr., 43-15, SQ, R3, D2; #10-190 Gary Bradley, Jr., 36-16, SQ, R4, D2; Austin Pattillo, Sr., 34-24, RQ, D4; Michael Francis, Jr., 18-25, RQ, D4; Justice Hield, Jr., 25-24, RQ, D5; Payton Maynard, Sr., 36-20, RQ, D3.
Rockledge Raiders
Coach: Jon Reneau (24th season)
Assistant coach: Austin Brackett
22-23 dual record: 14-13
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:4; 2021:4-1A8; 2020:3-1A8; 2019:1-1A8; 2018:2-1A8; 2017:3-1A8; 2016:3-1A8; 2015:3-1A8; 2014:1-1A8; 2013:2-1A6; 2012:7-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Joseph Price, 12-23, RQ, D4; Anferney Sutton, 30-23, RQ, D3; Howard Craft, 47-8, 3rd, RC, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #20-144 Hayden Bell, Jr., 22-19, RQ, D3; William Robinson, So., 22-29, RQ, D4; Kameron Lamb, Jr., 17-22, RQ, D3; Jacob Schooley, Sr.; Will McCluney, Jr.; Deacon Fafard, Jr.; Bryan Ngo, Jr.; Tim Bach, Jr.; Albert Chacon; Seth Mirsky, So.; Lucas Knight, Sr.; Carmelo Ortiz, So.
New wrestlers: Logan Schooley; Tory Love; Imar Parker
What they are saying: "Right now Merritt Island and Heritage are probably the two toughest teams in our district and my guys already want to know when we face them - they're already marked off on the calendar. They want that challenge. They want to wrestle those guys. So we work real hard, we'll take our lumps at the beginning of the season and we've always been fortunate to wrestle our best when we get later in the year."
On the schedule: "We wrestle a pretty tough schedule and one of the things I tell them is you only get better. You can wrestle teams that are your equal, or maybe a little less, and you don't really get anything out of it. You always want to wrestle somebody who's better than you, to see where do I find myself? What's my level? What do I need to do to get to where they're at? And I think you only find out how to get there by wrestling that kind of competition."
On leadership: "I think we've always been fortunate where we've always had one or two kids who come in the room, they work hard and they work hard in the classroom. I tell them all the time, you're a student first and athletes second and you've got to take care of everything in the classroom to be able to go do what you do on the mat. The kids that I've had over the years that have been captains have always been great examples of that. I usually have two captains that are seniors and one that's a junior and then that junior gets to kind of be taken under the wing of those two seniors."
Outlook: The Raiders saw a state placer graduate, but the group left behind is disciplined and hungry to get out there and see what they can accomplish this season.
Eau Gallie Commodores
Coach: Kelly Benninger
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:7; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:5; 2018:3; 2017:5; 2016:6; 2015:4; 2014:5; 2013:3; 2012:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #11-285 Chavez Thompson, Jr., 20-5, RQ-BR, DC; Mason Snyder, Jr., 10-24, RQ, D4.