2A-6 Preview: Defending state champion Jesuit returns to Region 2A-2

BY BRANT PARSONS

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

Last season: Brandon continued its winning ways in the district, outscoring the runner-up by 125 points.

How did Kabra do?: We picked the champs and for Zephyrhills to finish second.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Mason Basile (Tampa Jesuit), Draven McCall (Tampa Jesuit), Malachi Ortiz (Tampa Jesuit), Xavier Albo (Tampa Jesuit), Kawayran Vazquez (Tampa Jesuit), Brody Switzer (Pasco), Reid Yakes (Tampa Jesuit), Jared Apple (Zephyrhills), Brock Glover (Tampa Jesuit), Jayden Bowles (Tampa Jesuit), Marvin Mendez (Tampa Jesuit), Francesco Alagna (WC Cypress Creek), Vincent Contreras (Pasco)

The favorite: Tampa Jesuit. Not just the favorite to win the district, but a team that could defend its IBT state title.

Team to watch: Zephyrhills. The race for second in this district is wide open but the Bulldogs might be best positioned to finish runner-up again.

District duals: Wednesday, January 8 at Tampa Jesuit, 6

District IBT: Saturday, February 22 at Tampa Jesuit, 10 a.m.

Tampa Jesuit Tigers (#2/#3)

Coach: Sal Basile (10th at school/14th overall)

Assistant coaches: David Mason, Cody Ross, Kevin Norstrem, Luke Gardner, Dom Forys

23-24 dual record: 11-1

Recent district results: 2024:1-2A9; 2023:2-2A9; 2022:1-2A9; 2021:1-2A7; 2020:1-2A7; 2019:1-2A8; 2018:1-2A8; 2017:2-2A8; 2016:1-2A8; 2015:1-2A8; 2014:1-2A8; 2013:1; 2012:1

Last state champion: Roman Lermer, 2023 (113); Draven McCall, 2023 (138)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Roman Lermer, 44-5, 2nd, RC, DC; Brandon Cody, 35-5, SC, RC, D2; Chancellor Haber, 34-10, 7th, RC, DC; Julian Alonso, 16-19, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: Malachi Ortiz, Sr., 38-6, SC, RC, DC; Draven McCall, Sr., 27-2, SC, RC, DC; Mason Basile, So., 44-8, 3rd, RC, DC; Kawayran Vazquez, So., 30-3, 2nd, RC, DC; Jayden Bowles, Sr., 42-9, 3rd, RC, DC; Reid Yakes, So., 45-10, 4th, R2, DC; Xavier Albo, Sr., 40-12, 3rd, R4, DC; Marvin Mendez, So., 20-16, SQ, R3, DC; Brock Glover, So., 35-14, SQ, R2, DC; Cash Cailliau, Jr., 4-2; Thayne Swanson, Jr., 4-10, RQ, D3; Ethan Smith, So.

New wrestler: Zach Leto, Fr.; Liam Parker, Fr.; John Alvarado, Fr.; Kaden Krsul, Fr.; Caden Dejose, Fr.

What they are saying: “We are a fairly veteran team looking to defend last year's state title. Several credentialed incoming freshman will look to compete for a starting spot and fill the lineup.”

Outlook: This year's team has the potential to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history.

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

Zephyrhills Bulldogs (#24/#24)

Coach: Mike Martinez

Recent district results: 2024:2; 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): Kieve Mattox, 17-12; Juliem Toribio, 32-9, RQ, D3; Lucas Gillespie, 16-17, RQ, D4; Caleb Castorena, 22-16, RQ-BR, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jared Apple, Sr., 35-6, SQ, RC, DC; Andrew Bay, Jr., 19-7, RQ, D3; Kieve Mattox, Sr., 17-12; Nader Sakka, Jr., 14-15, RQ, D2; Charles Poole, So., 16-10, RQ, D2; Payton Weber, Sr., 8-7, RQ, D2; Hunter Wade, So., 17-13, RQ, D4; Xaviar Aguirre, So., 14-14, RQ, D3.

Pasco Pirates (#21/NR)

Coach: Craig Lennard (3rd season)

23-24 dual record: 4-12

Recent district results: 2024:7; 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): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Brody Switzer, Sr., 35-4, 7th, R3, DC; Vincent Contreras, Sr., 38-6, SQ, R2, D2; Brady Bass, Sr., 13-9, D5; Donovan Peticoff, Jr., 7-16, D6; James Rom, Sr., 26-11, RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Connor Switzer, Fr.

What they are saying: “We have lots of potential.”

Outlook: State placer Brody Switzer is back along with state qualifier Contreras to lead a relatively inexperienced team to get better.

Gaither Cowboys

Coach: Marty Carpenter

Recent district results: 2024:3; 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): Carmine Morton, 43-6, 6th, R3, DC; Gustavo Osorio, 35-5, SQ, R4, DC; Justin Morrill, 37-9, RQ-BR, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Travis Beauchamp, Sr., 28-9, RQ, D2; Zac Mayer, Jr., 21-12, RQ, D3; Tyler Harrison, Sr., 19-12, RQ, D2; Lucas Henderson, Sr., 12-9, RQ, D4; Innocent McGuire, Jr., 26-11, RQ, D4; Christian Golkar, Sr., RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Omar Martinez, Sr.

Leto Falcons

Coach: Michael Patrick (Sixth at school/24th total)

Assistant coaches: Adiran Wallace, Daisy Santos

Recent district results: 2024:5-2A9; 2023:4-2A9; 2022:4-2A9; 2021:9-3A7; 2020:9-3A7; 2019:10-2A8; 2018:5-2A8; 2017:6-2A8; 2016:10-2A8; 2015:6-2A8; 2014:13-2A8; 2013:5-2A10; 2012:5-2A10

Last state champion: Michel Santos, 1995 (103), Kenneth Simms, 1995 (135)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Miguel Morales-Cruz, 28-11, RQ, D2; Massimo Clintron, 26-20, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jacob Arean, Jr., 15-20, RQ, D2; Raul Ugarte, Jr., 22-12, RQ, D3; Derek Cutino, Jr., 14-14, RQ, D3; Troy Fatutoa, Jr., 8-8.

What they are saying: “This will be a fun team. Most have wrestled together their entire high school career, and they are all friends.”

On coaching a good group: “It makes it a lot better because they become coaches in the room too. Then they just policing themselves, they know what the expectations are. So they're much better about policing one another, and even pushing one another. They all have the the same goals, and so they're pushing one another too. I'll be blessed this year to where I won't have to speak up as much.”

On top wrestlers having good partners in room: “That's where I'll, I'll be really lucky this year is with those expectations. If you want to go to state, and place in state and win state, you're not doing it without a good workout partner. So that's where it's nice this year. We've already had this conversation with the kids and that's where they're lucky. The fact that they're friends and they're going to be there for one another. They know that they have to push each other to reach those goals.”

Outlook: This close group is led by a set of juniors whose expectations will start to go up this season.

Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek Coyotes

Coach: Roy Schleman

Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:5; 2022:3; 2021:3-1A6; 2020:8-1A6; 2019:6-1A10; 2018:6-1A10

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Issac Bridenstine, 23-12, RQ, D4; Hudson Merkle, 31-8, RQ, D2; Jaden DeSantis, 26-8, RQ, DC.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Francesco Alagna, Sr., 30-7, SQ, R4, DC; Rylan Redfield, So., 15-9, RQ, D3; Gustavo Herrera, Jr., 11-17, RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Carter Nix, So. (Transfer from Wesley Chapel)

Tampa Bay Tech Titans

Coach: Edward Bayonet

Recent district results: 2024:6; 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): Jaden Rosebury, 30-7, SQ, R2, D2; Donovann Marshall, 4-11.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Tre'vareiez Jacobs, Sr., 14-3, RQ, D2; Aramis Alvarez, So., 23-16, RQ, D2.

Tampa Freedom Patriots

Coach: Eric Heller

Recent district results: 2024:9; 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): Jose Guzman, 10-13, RQ, D2; Taevion Carter, 17-9, D5.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Edgar Gomez, Jr., 15-14, RQ, D4; Jaquan Busby, Jr., 12-12, RQ, D4.