2A-6 Preview: Brandon looking to continue dominance in district race
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Brandon ran away with the title, finishing 151.5 points ahead of runner-up Tampa Bay Tech.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Luke Williams (Brandon), Thomas Gernhart (Brandon), Brody Switzer (Pasco), Vincent Contreras (Pasco), Ty Rodriguez (Brandon), Carmine Morton (Gaither), Francesco Alagna (WC Cypress Creek), Austin Williams (Brandon), Jared Apple (Zephyrhills), Jaden Weisgal (Brandon), Gustavo Osorio (Gaither)
The favorite: Brandon. Four state placers are back and some added bodies should help fill the five main wrestlers lost from a year ago.
Team to watch: Zephyrhills. The race for second in this district is wide open.
District duals: NO TOURNAMENT AS PER FHSAA
District IBT: Feb. 16 at Brandon
Kabra Says: It might be one of the easiest districts to pick a winner in, and one of the hardest to pick who will be runner-up. Brandon is our pick to win, but almost every team in this district can make a case for that second spot.
Brandon Eagles (#5 IBT | #6 Dual)
Coach: Joe Cozart
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2-2A7; 2021:2; 2020:2; 2019:2-2A7; 2018:2-2A7; 2017:2-2A7; 2016:2-2A7; 2015:1-2A7; 2014:1-2A7; 2013:1-3A6; 2012:1-3A6
Last state champion: Roberto Rodrigues, 2023 (106)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Roberto Rodriguez, 45-4, SC, RC, DC; Ryan Kinsey, 38-11, RQ-BR, DC; Tyler Smith, 39-16, SQ, R2, DC; Nicholas Lyle, 32-7, RQ-BR, D2; Gabriel Jones, Sr., 35-9, SQ, R2, DC (Transfer to Lake Gibson)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #3-126 Luke Williams, Sr., 50-6, 3rd, R3, DC; #3-157 Thomas Gernhart, Sr., 45-9, 7th, R2, DC; #3-165 Ty Rodriguez, Sr., 53-4, 3rd, RC, DC; #5-165 Austin Williams, Sr., 36-9, 8th, R3, DC; #7-132 Jaden Weisgal, So., 35-9; #14-106 Noah Scribner, Jr., 33-20, RQ-BR, D2; #20-175 Yuriel Campos, Jr., 23-29, RQ, D4; Juelz Mendez, Sr., 19-12, RQ, D3; Luis Jimenez, So., 12-24, RQ, D4.
New wrestler: #14-138 Gordon Watson, Sr., 29-12, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Tampa Freedom)
Outlook: This might be one of the deeper teams we’ve seen from Brandon in recent years.
Pasco Pirates
Coach: Craig Lennard (2nd season)
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:8; 2021:2-2A8; 2020:1-2A8; 2019:4-2A7; 2018:7-2A7; 2017:4-2A7; 2016:3-2A7; 2015:1-1A6; 2014:1-1A6; 2013:1-1A8; 2012:2-1A8
Last state champion: J.P. Gamez, 2012 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Bruno Ingalls, 33-7, 7th, R2, DC; Cassidy Grubbs, 35-5, 4th, R3, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #4-157 Vincent Contreras, Jr., 30-12, SQ, R4, D3; Donovan Peticoff, So., 6-15, RQ, D4; Brady Bass, Jr., 10-16, RQ, D5.
New wrestler: #5-190 Brody Switzer, Jr., 37-8, SQ, R2, DC (Transfer from Zephyrhills)
What they are saying: “We are growing and improving and have state qualifiers helping those around them grow in the sport, team mentality.”
Outlook: Two state placers have graduated but Contreras returns and is joined by Switzer this season to try and keep this program on the upswing.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Zephyrhills Bulldogs
Coach: Mike Martinez (5th season/6th total)
Assistant coach: Dan Light
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:2; 2021:7-1A6; 2020:5-1A6; 2019:6-2A7; 2018:8-2A7; 2017:10-2A7; 2016:11-2A7; 2015:12-2A8; 2014:12-2A8; 2013:4-2A8; 2012:3-2A8
Last state champion: Shane Hand, 2003 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Blake Yearby; Brody Switzer, Jr., 37-8, SQ, R2, DC (Transfer to Pasco).
Notable returning wrestlers: #7-215 Jared Apple, Jr., 47-9, SQ, R3, DC; Kieve Mattox, Jr., 20-18, RQ, DC; Juliem Toribio, Sr., 14-14, RQ, D4; Gladmir Thompson, Sr.
New wrestler: Hunter Wade, Fr.; Payton Weber, Jr.; Daniel Helms, Jr.; Gavin Alexander, Sr., 13-27 (Transfer from Zephyrhills Christian).; Andrew Bray, Jr.
What they are saying: "We're in a transitional phase but I think we can catch some teams if they sleep on us. We've got to keep our goals reasonable and I just feel like yeah, we can get some teams and improve."
On having an inexperienced team: "We have to scale back some of the tournaments that we've been going to, and what we can push, so that we make sure that they don't get overloaded. This season is more about load management for me that way. They don't get too stressed about being introduced to wrestling."
On the team: "We have a lot of attitude and the put in the effort, they're just inexperienced. We should be a tough team with a lot of upside."
Outlook: The team is young in experience terms and will look to develop as the season grows.
Gaither Cowboys
Coach: Dereck Carpenter
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:1; 2021:3-2A7; 2020:2-2A7; 2019:7-2A8; 2018:10-2A7; 2017:7-2A8; 2016:7-2A8; 2015:2-2A8; 2014:4-2A8; 2013:8-3A7; 2012:11-3A7
Last state champion: Chad Muilenburg, 1998 (171)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #11-150 Gustavo Osorio, Sr., 34-10, SQ, R4, DC; Tyler Harrison, Jr., RQ, D4; Braylon Smith, Jr., 15-9, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: #5-285 Carmine Morton, Sr., 30-6, 7th, R4, D2 (Transfer from Jefferson)
Tampa Bay Tech Titans
Coach: Edward Bayonet
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:4-2A7; 2021:3; 2020:4; 2019:10-2A7; 2018:11-2A7; 2017:8-2A7; 2016:10-2A7; 2015:8-3A6; 2014:8-3A6; 2013:10-3A6; 2012:10-3A6
Last state champion: Louis Jones, 2001 (125)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Fabian Tossas, 19-19, RQ, D4; Chance Johnson, 39-9, RQ, D2; Devin Donnell, 16-10, RQ, D3; J'shon Scott, 38-10, 5th, R4, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #15-175 Jaden Rosebury, Sr., 30-14, RQ-BR, D2; Donovann Marshall, Sr., 19-15, RQ, D3; Tre'vareiez Jacobs, Jr., 32-12, RQ, D4.
Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek Coyotes
Coach: Alexander Ng
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:3; 2021:3-1A6; 2020:8-1A6; 2019:6-1A10; 2018:6-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-106 Francesco Alagna, Jr., 38-8, SQ, R2, D2; Aiden Forte, Sr., 13-17, RQ, D3; Hudson Merkle, Sr., 36-9, RQ, D2; Issac Bridenstine, Sr., 19-15, RQ, D2.
King Lions
Coach: David Sevier (4th season)
Assistant coach: Andre Chiasson
22-23 dual record: 8-12
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:7-2A7; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:7-2A7; 2018:6-2A7; 2017:6-2A7; 2016:6-2A7; 2015:4-2A7; 2014:5-2A7; 2013:4-2A9; 2012:5-2A9
Last state champion: Troy Millard, 1986 (105)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Caleb Davis, 8-11, RQ, D4; Josiah DeJesus, 12-9, RQ, D3; Devon Williams, 12-9, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Rakiye Williams, Jr., 8-8, RQ, D2; Jomar Lopes, Sr., 10-9, RQ, D2 Gavin Crum, Sr.; Pierre Michel, Sr.
Wesley Chapel Wildcats
Coach:
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:5; 2021:8-1A6; 2020:9-1A6; 2019:8-2A7; 2018:9-2A7; 2017:3-2A7; 2016:4-2A7; 2015:2-1A6; 2014:3-1A6; 2013:2-1A9; 2012:1-1A9
Last state champion: Tony Ruggiero, 2013 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Caleb Juman, 37-12, RQ, D3; Nevin Owens, 29-9, RQ, D3; Nick Iserino, 44-6, SQ, R3, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Lance Stone, Jr., 24-23, RQ, D2; Jason Salatino, Sr., 19-8, RQ, D4.
New wrestler: #2-150 Landen Holley, Fr., 57-8, 4th, RC, DC (Transfer from Zephyrhills Christian)
Tampa Freedom Patriots
Coach: Derrick McCoy (11th season)
Assistant coaches: Alex Kiester, Garry Gillooly, Dawson Baker
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:4; 2021:4-2A7; 2020:4-2A7; 2019:9-3A7; 2018:6-3A7; 2017:2-3A7; 2016:4-3A7; 2015:10-2A8; 2014:9-2A8; 2013:10-3A7; 2012:10-3A7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Mason Ringate, 23-7, RQ-BR, D3; Bashir Rostami, 22-1; Gavin Chung, 26-19, RQ, D4; Austin Chung, Sr., 38-5, 6th, RC, D2 (Transfer to Lake Gibson); Gordon Watson, Sr., 29-12, RQ, D2 (Transfer to Brandon)
Notable returning wrestlers: Taevion Carter, Sr., RQ, D3; Joshua Villegas, Jr.
What they are saying: “We're a very young squad but they love the sport. A good group of second-year wrestlers who stuck with the sport all last season despite having losing records and kept the optimism to learn and push themselves.”
Outlook: It’s a rebuild at Tampa Freedom but the wrestlers that are in the room can build this program back up to where it was just two seasons ago.