2A-4 Preview: New district and region looms for Winter Springs

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

Last season: Fleming Island edged runner-up Clay by 17 points.

How did Kabra do?: We picked the 1-2 finish and our team to watch was third.

Wrestlers to watch: Jacob Rodriguez (Winter Springs), Zavian Chavez (Winter Springs), Devyn Hicks (New Smyrna Beach), Jonathan Bruner (New Smyrna Beach), Kyle Nilsson (New Smyrna Beach), Frankie Marquez (Winter Springs), Merrick Miller (New Smyrna Beach)

The favorite: Winter Springs. Graduating three state champions is tough to bounce back from, the Bears have the depth to do it.

Team to watch: New Smyrna Beach. Three state qualifiers are back and the Barracudas should make a run at the top.

District duals: Saturday, January 4 at Winter Springs

District IBT: Thursday, February 20 at New Smyrna Beach

Winter Springs Bears (#13/#12)

Coach: Rocky Ciero (8th year as head coach/19th at school)

Assistant coaches: Brian Black, Taevin Stoney, Everitt Rieck

23-24 dual record: 10-5

Recent district results: 2024:1-2A8; 2023:1-2A8; 2022:1-2A8; 2021:2-2A5; 2020:2-2A5; 2019:1-3A3; 2018:2-3A3; 2017:1-3A3; 2016:1-3A3; 2015:1-3A3; 2014:1-3A3; 2013:1-3A2; 2012:1-3A2

Last state champion: Ryan Phillips, 2024 (138); Jaydon Robinson, 2024 (144); Elijah Penton, 2024 (175)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ryan Phillips, 38-6, SC, RC, DC; Jaydon Robinson, 51-2, SC, RC, DC; Elijah Penton, 48-5, SC, RC, DC; Preston Evans, 27-22, RQ, D2; Kaleb Williams, Jr., 43-17, 3rd, R3, DC (Transfer to South Dade)

Notable returning wrestlers: Jacob Rodriguez, Jr., 37-18, 8th, RC, DC; Frankie Marquez, Sr., 40-18, SQ, R4, DC; Zavian Chavez, Sr., 30-12, SQ, R3, DC; Tyson Horol, Jr., 19-12, RQ-BR, DC; Ayden Keys, Jr., RQ, D3; Trenton Smith, Jr., 23-23, RQ-BR, D2; Marco Gonzalez, Jr., 21-17, RQ, D2; Jayden Robles, Sr., 10-9, RQ, D2; Luis Gonzalez, Sr., 19-22, RQ, D3.

New wrestler: Jeremiah Williams, Sr., 16-10, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Sanford Seminole); Cole Herring, Sr. (Transfer from Lake Howell); Rudley Villareal, Fr.; Cayden Torres, Fr.

What they are saying: “We have something to prove. Losing three state champs and a 3rd placer is a lot of team points at state. These kids know they have extremely big shoes to fill.”

On stepping up: “If you’re a junior or senior in our room, we fully expect you to be competing at the state tournament, placing at the state tournament. I think they feel it is their duty and what they’re supposed to do. Obviously, those shoes are huge to fill, and you’re not going to fill them, you’re just not, but they are working extremely hard.”

On three state champions last season: “It was pretty special to have those three guys win it and they all deserved it. They put in so much time, worked so hard, and it was good for our younger guys to see that. You could say, hey, you have the blueprint right in front of you. This is how it is done.”

Outlook: The Bears made school history last year with three individual state champions. Those three are gone and only Rodriguez returns from the state podium this year. But Winter Springs has a big room and deep roster and they have wrestlers just waiting to step in and keep this program rolling.

The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews

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Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

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

New Smyrna Beach Barracudas (#18/#18)

Coach: Isaac Bernard (3rd season)

Assistant coaches: Michael Strouse, Kris Blasko

23-24 dual record: 13-8

Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:3; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:5; 2019:7-2A6; 2018:9-2A6; 2017:5-2A6; 2016:4-2A6; 2015:3-2A6; 2014:3-2A6; 2013:9-2A13; 2012:9-2A13

Last state champion: Patrick Comardo, 1998 (160), Nicky Davis, 1998 (103)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Sawyer VanRider, 44-7, 2nd, R2, D2; Aidan Sutton, 42-11, 6th, R3, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Merrick Miller, Jr., 31-11, SQ, R4, DC; Jonathan Bruner, Sr., 22-7, 6th, R2, D2; Kyle Nilsson, Sr., 45-10, SQ, R3, D2; Isaiah McCloud, Sr., 13-13, RQ-BR, D2; Adam Novak, Jr., 7-13, D6; Devyn Hicks, So., 15-6; Richard Crunkilton, Sr., 13-11, RQ, D3.

New wrestler: Chris Porter

What they are saying: “This team will be very competitive this season.”

Outlook: Two state placers are going but there’s a room of wrestlers ready to keep the team moving forward. Bruner is a returning state placer and both Miller and Nilsson now have state tournament experience.

Deltona Wolves

Coach: Keith Wallace (20th as head coach, 22nd at school)

Assistant coach: Mike Kerns

23-24 dual record: 9-7

Recent district results: 2024:4-2A8; 2023:4-2A8; 2022:4-2A8; 2021:6; 2020:4; 2019:8-2A6; 2018:5-2A6; 2017:6-2A6; 2016:7-2A6; 2015:4-1A7; 2014:2-1A7; 2013:4-2A5; 2012:5-2A5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kyle Yasses, 44-13, 7th, R4, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jovanni Carraturo, Jr., 24-19, RQ, D2; Kyle Kerns, Sr., 23-22, RQ, D3; Randall Coraspe-Cruz, Sr., 7-20, RQ, D4.

What they are saying: “We should have an experienced lineup throughout the weights which should help us in dual meets.”

Seabreeze Sandcrabs

Coach: Paul Shuler (10th season)

Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:7; 2022:2-1A6; 2021:5; 2020:3; 2019:3-2A6; 2018:4-2A6; 2017:4-2A6; 2016:6-2A6; 2015:6-2A6; 2014:5-2A6; 2013:8-2A13; 2012:8-2A13

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: William Sites, Sr., 26-10, RQ, D2; Evan Bobak, So., 10-10, RQ, D4; Jayce Gainer, Jr., 14-20, RQ, D4; Aiden Hedge, Sr., 12-11, RQ, D4; Caden Robbins, Jr.

New wrestler: Spencer Timm, Jr., 4-2 (Transfer from New Smyrna Beach)

Outlook: A young and competitive team is back for the Sandcrabs.

St. Augustine Yellow Jackets

Coach: Chris Geores (Fourth season)

Assistant coach: Jason McFarlane

23-24 dual record: 11-11

Recent district results: 2024:8; 2023:9; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:2; 2019:4; 2018:5; 2017:5; 2016:6; 2015:4; 2014:3; 2013:4-2A3; 2012:4-2A3

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tashawn Whitfield, 20-16, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Carter Lukes, Sr., 24-11, RQ, D3; Langston Mills, So., 25-25, RQ, D3; Aiden Mills, Jr.; Jarell Mercado, Sr.

What they are saying: “We have 15 returning that were freshman last year and almost all of them spent the summer staying active with us. You can see the confidence in them and they’re not as timid and scared.”

On building it up: “It’s getting them to buy-in to what we’re trying to build at the high school. St. Augustine hasn’t always been a wrestling school. We’re a football school and the big thing we are trying to do is recognize that we have a pretty good wrestling team too. So once we start to believe it and buy in to it, and they start getting recognition for the hard work, they’ll start working harder.”

On hosting an event: “We are trying to grow the sport. A lot of people tell me that they didn’t even know we had a wrestling team so now we are starting to draw attention to us. Parents want to get involved, the booster club wants to get involved and a lot of people are excited to bring their family to come watch.”

Outlook: The Yellow Jackets have been building back up and this year should find themselves continue to progress.

Matanzas Pirates

Coach: Dennis Kitko (1st at school/20th as a head caoch)

Assistant coaches: Caleb Bower, Josh Bower, Riley White, Sebastian Rizzo

Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:5; 2022:2; 2021:3; 2020:1; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:4; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:2-2A3; 2012:1-2A3

Last state champion: Tyrone Jones, 2018 (145)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jordan Mills, 52-0, SC, RC, DC; Douglas Crutchley, 23-21, RQ, D4; Michael Fries, Jr., 32-17, RQ-BR, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Mason Obama, Sr., 36-16, RQ, D4; Carmine Lania, Jr., 12-18, RQ, D3.

What they are saying: “I would say we are very athletic, very hungry, and ready to make some great leaps throughout the year as we continue training.”

Outlook: Longtime coach Kitko takes over a program that has seen an exodus on both teams and he’s excited to build it back up.

Mainland Buccaneers

Coach: Damon Sansom

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:6; 2022:5; 2021:7; 2020:8; 2019:10-2A6.

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Malik Daniels.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jeremiah Garcia, Jr., 35-9, RQ-BR, D2; Aiden West, Sr., 18-17, RQ, D3; Elliot Moore, Sr., 14-14, RQ, D4.

Pine Ridge Panthers

Coach: Tracy Turner

Recent district results: 2024:7-2A8; 2020:7; 2019:6-2A6; 2018:3-2A6; 2017:8-2A6; 2016:8-2A6; 2015:5-2A6; 2014:6-2A6; 2013:8-2A5; 2012:6-2A5