2A-2 Preview: Lincoln looks to hit milestone, win another district title
BY BRANT PARSONS — At some point this season, Lincoln head coach Mike Crowder will likely celebrate his 400th dual meet victory.
Crowder sits just seven wins away from the milestone and the Trojans have a strong dual team this season.
"It's a little bit crazy that it could actually happen and I'm excited about it,” Crowder said. “I was super excited for 100, and super excited for 200, and super excited for 300. It has gone so fast to get here, I remember the 200th win like it was yesterday."
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Last season: Lincoln took home the district team title along with eight individual crowns.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Ryder Luck (Lincoln), Vaniel Caceras (Lincoln), Caleb King (Lincoln), Logan McAlister (Mosley), JaShawn Washington (Lincoln), Joe Tucker (Lincoln)
The favorite: Lincoln. Two state placers are gone, but this team is deep and should be a dual force too.
Team to watch: Gainesville. We are just glad the program is returning and looking forward to seeing how it grows.
District duals: Dec. 13 at Lincoln
District IBT: Feb. 16 at Chiles
Kabra Says: Winners of this district 10 out of the last 12 years, Lincoln is the team to catch again this year and I don’t believe they can be caught.
Lincoln Trojans (#9 IBT | #7 Duals)
Coach: Mike Crowder (29th season)
Assistant coaches: Jake Burch, Reggie Toombs
22-23 dual record: 19-5
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2; 2021:1; 2020:2; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1; 2012:1
Last state champion: Tristan Sommer, 2013 (152)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Zaire Fernanders, 28-18, RQ, D2; Connor Edwards, 51-6, 4th, RC, DC; Mason Crowder, 7-7, RQ, D2; Israel Williams, 13-28, RQ, D4; Jakob Nowak, 46-8, 4th, R3, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #3-285 Ryder Luck, Jr., 39-16, 8th, R4, DC; #4-113 Vaniel Caceras, Sr., 36-11, 6th, RC, DC; #8-126 JaShawn Washington, Sr., 36-16, 7th, R3, DC; #10-120 Joe Tucker, Jr., 29-16, RQ, DC; #12-132 Zakary Jurado, Jr., 29-16, SQ, R4, DC; #20-165 Vincent Crump, Jr., 32-15, RQ, D2; Jermaine Yarborough, Sr., 4-7, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: #6-138 Caleb King, Sr.; #19-106 Preston King, Jr.
Last year’s district champion winning Lincoln Trojans team. (Photo courtesy of Lincoln wrestling)
What they are saying: "We could have a really good team this year if everything comes together. The kids worked really hard in the offseason and they've already put the time in. It's really just more about them continuing to do what they've been doing."
On duals: "These guys can win a ton of duals this year, they're so good. And that's another thing that I've always prided myself on and that is I like to build a good team. I know there's some schools that's really hard to do, because of the size of the school, but we've been really blessed with our kids to be able to do it. It's one of the reasons why I pushed so hard to try to get the state duals tournament in place because I like the aspect of it. It's so fun."
On creating confidence: "It comes with us getting into the competitions and then gaining momentum as we go to see what they can accomplish and these guys are pretty competent already. They see the writing on the wall, they know what we did this summer and they take pride in their work and they're always in the room."
Outlook: Despite graduating two state placers from a year ago, this Lincoln team might be even deeper and should see tremendous success in dual events and will grow into another strong IBT team.
Mosley Dolphins
Coach: Jeremiah LaFountain (1st year head coach/5th at school)
Assistant coaches: Ludger Denis, Eric Nolan, Devin Butler, Maggie Brannon
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:5-2A1; 2021:4; 2020:3; 2019:1-1A1; 2018:7-1A1; 2017:8-1A1; 2016:3-1A1; 2015:8-2A1; 2014:8-2A1; 2013:9-2A1; 2012:8-2A1
Last state champion: Adam Evans, 1998 (103)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Marshall Dixon, 35-10, RQ-BR, D3; Andre Trice, 34-22, RQ, D2; Sebastian Schultz, 20-20, RQ, D4
Notable returning wrestlers: #12-175 Andrew Yeats, Sr., 38-19, RQ-BR, DC; #12-190 John Mengel, Jr., 31-10, RQ-BR, D2; Elijah Nolan, Jr., 32-37, RQ, D4; Kale Mills, So., 24-28, RQ, D4; Kyle Mahler, Jr., 25-29, RQ, D3; Isaac Biddle, Jr., 15-14, RQ, D3; Landon Jacobs, Sr., 25-18, RQ, D2; Nicolas Bacot, Jr., 22-27, RQ, D2; Cade Creamer; Isaac Melendez.
New wrestler: #7-285 Logan McAlister, Jr., 30-6 (Transfer from North Bay Haven); Aiden Dunn; Sawyer Schultz
What they are saying: “It’s growing. We have more wrestlers for the boys and girls teams than I have ever witnessed with the program.”
Outlook: LaFountain takes over as the head coach of a team growing in numbers that has some top wrestlers in the upper weights.
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Chiles Timberwolves
Coach: James Marschka (19th season)
Assistant coaches: David Lunn, Brad Hoard, Dale Jackson, Garrett Marschka
22-23 dual record: 19-4
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:3; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:3; 2018:4; 2017:2; 2016:3; 2015:4; 2014:4; 2013:3-3A1; 2012:3-3A1
Last state champion: Kyle McGill, 2021 (195)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Sam Tolomeo, 44-11, RQ-BR, D2; Garrett Marschka, 55-3, SQ, RC, DC; Scott Greenwald, 31-16, RQ, D3; Andrew Elliott, 35-6, RQ-BR, DC; Dillon Elliott, 38-8, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #12-157 Cooper Hill, Jr., 45-14, SQ, R4, DC; #19-150 Luke Pickels, Sr., 29-15, RQ, D2; Jason Marsala, So., 24-25, RQ, D3; Patirck Brooks, Sr., 32-18, RQ, D3; Ethan Jackson, Sr., 38-18, RQ, DC; Jacob Johnston, Jr., 43-10, RQ, D2; Andrew Hutton, So., 12-20, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: “We are young and inexperienced. We have a few tough seniors but overall we are down and will struggle a little.”
Outlook: The Timberwolves said goodbye to a state qualifiers and three blood round wrestlers from a season ago and that leaves them with some holes to fill but there is a state qualifier back (Hill) and a district champion (Jackson). Don’t be surprised if this hard working bunch surprises.
Arnold Marlins
Coach: Michael Lapadat (3rd season/13th overall)
Assistant coaches: Scott Koral
22-23 dual record: 12-5
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:9-2A1; 2021:4-1A1; 2020:1-1A1; 2019:2-1A1; 2018:5-1A1; 2017:1-1A1; 2016:1-1A1; 2015:1-1A1; 2014:1-1A1; 2013:1-1A1; 2012:3-1A1
Last state champion: Brock Carlan, 2015 (132), Richie McClanahan, 2015 (126)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): James Oliver, So., 36-13, RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer to North Bay Haven)
Notable returning wrestlers: David Crilly, So., 31-17, RQ, D3; Zackary Wootton, Jr., 18-26, RQ, D4; Alex Neisler, Jr., 24-24, RQ, D4; Tajay Richards, So., 10-18, RQ, D3; Paul Angelino, So., 6-10, RQ, D4.
Outlook: This group should be slightly better than last year.
Columbia Tigers
Coach: Peter Whittington (9th season)
Assistant coaches: Luke Smith, Zach Rice, Donald Slater
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:2; 2020:1; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:3; 2016:4; 2015:3; 2014:2; 2013:3; 2012:2
Last state champion: Chace Curtis, 2016 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jayden Thomas, 41-13, RQ-BR, DC; Alexander Ulloa, 28-20, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Tyhler Phinney, So., 11-28, RQ, D2; Kevin Fink, Jr., 11-21, RQ, D4; Arthur Vanderpool, Jr., 16-19, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers: Ty Tillman, Fr.; Zhane Smith, Fr.; Brandon Pitts, Fr.; Logan Sumner, Fr.; Landon Slater, So.
What they are saying: “We are very young and hungry to compete.”
Outlook: Three region qualifiers return for the Tigers.
Leon Lions
Coach: Chuck Ringel
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:8; 2021:7; 2020:7; 2019:4; 2018:5; 2017:5; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:5; 2013:4; 2012:4
Last state champion: Gabe Beyer, 2016 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Riley Rajotte, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Santana Harris, Jr., 18-12, RQ, D3; Wynton Bowers, Jr., 10-19, RQ, D4; Noah Summerlin, Sr., 19-9, RQ, D3.
Outlook: The Lions could have three region qualifiers back this season.
Gainesville Hurricanes
Coach: Albert Alvarez
Recent district results: 2022:7-2A4; 2021:8; 2020:8; 2019:5; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:5; 2015:5; 2014:3; 2013:1-2A4; 2012:1-2A4
Last state champion: Trae-von O’Neal, 2016 (113)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
Outlook: Gainesville is back after not competing in the postseason last year.