2A-7 Preview: Defending state duals champion Lake Gibson set to compete in amped up 2A

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gianni Maldonado, 65-5, SC, RC, DC; Elijah Lowe, 49-7, SC, RC, DC; Austin Chung, 43-8, 2nd, R2, DC; Jace Brownlow, 46-9, 2nd, R3, DC; John Arellano, 52-12, 3rd, RC, D3; Gaetano Tedesco, 33-12, SQ, R3, DC; Gabriel Jones, 23-7, RQ-BR, DC; Connor Hackett, 34-14, RQ-BR, DC.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Christian Fretwell, Sr., 46-11, 2nd, R3, DC; LeAndre Campbell, Sr., 46-15, 8th, R3, DC; Noah Gregory, Sr., 29-14; Gabrial Solis, Sr., 15-9, SQ, R2, D2; Tyler White, Jr., 39-20, SQ, R3, D2; Brayden Kahelin, Sr., 23-13, RQ, D2; Aadyn Gruver, So., 14-8, RQ, D2; Jordan Henderson, Jr.; Isaac Lowe, So.; Roberto DeJesus, Jr.; Leyland Callahan, Jr.; Matthew Bath, Jr.; Jeffrey Messner, Sr.; Jerry Ware, Sr.

New wrestlers: Husam Mustafa, Sr., 43-6, 4th, R3, DC (Transfer from Lake Wales); RJ Phelan, Fr., 42-11, 5th, R3, DC (Transfer from Zephyrhills Christian); Adrian Castillo, Sr., 27-12, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Auburndale); Angel Castillo, So., 16-10, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Auburndale); Jaiden Oliver, Jr., 25-8 (Transfer from South Dade)

What they’re saying: “We lost a pretty big group of kids that were talented. We returned a good group, but some of those guys are a little bit not proven. Some didn't have the state tournaments we wanted them to have last year. So we really focused on the freestyle and Greco and we got halfway through the freestyle and Greco season, and I was feeling like we weren't making much progress along the way. And then we went to our first folkstyle offseason tournament and it worked. It did what we were supposed to, what we were wanting for to do. So I feel good about where we are now.”

On depth: “If one thing's different from this year's team, from last year's team, is we have quite a bit more depth. Last year I was sort of locked in. I couldn't move a lot. But this year, I can move a little bit. I have one or two kids in every weight that's pretty quality. Not saying they're all state placers right off the bat, but other teams are just not going to be able to roll out somebody and just push them out on the mat and be able to take advantage of us.”

On team first attitude: “I just think the culture of the program is a big contributing factor to it. We've graduated some big classes, and then we've had some kids that transfer in, and with those kids that come in, a lot of times, some of those kids come from programs that don't have that culture, don't have that team concept under their belt. Each year to each year, the concept is built in from the top down. And those kids constantly reiterate it that, hey, we're team first, everybody succeeds as a team.”