2A-8 Preview: Three hammers lead hungry Winter Springs group
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Winter Springs was 87 points better than runner-up Jones.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Ryan Phillips (Winter Springs), Elijah Penton (Winter Springs), Jaydon Robinson (Winter Springs), Landon Daugherty (East River), Kyle Yasses (Deltona), Pedro Sifuentes (East River), Bo Kenney (Horizon), Frankie Marquez (Winter Springs)
The favorite: Winter Springs. State champion Penton and state placer Phillips are back to lead the Bears.
Team to watch: Lyman. The Greyhounds made a big jump last year in their rebuild and should see more improvement this season.
District duals: Jan. 6 at Winter Springs
District IBT: Feb. 15 at Lyman
Kabra Says: Winter Springs could end up with three individual state champions this season and they’ll combine that with some traditional depth to win another district crown.
Winter Springs Bears (#3 IBT | #12 Dual)
Coach: Rocky Ciero (7th season HC/18th overall)
Assistant coaches: Everett Rieck, Tyler White, Brian Black, Taevin Stoney, Bruce Fowler, Slade Massey
22-23 dual record: 9-4
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1; 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: Elijah Penton, 2023 (170)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jonathan Adams, 32-16, 6th, R3, DC; Ransom Randolph, 33-7, 6th, R2, DC; Aiden Gatton, 37-19, SQ, RC, DC; Jayden Robles, Jr., 20-17, RQ-BR, DC; Josh Alter, Sr., 27-13, RQ-BR, DC; Malik Emptage, Sr., 20-22, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-175 Elijah Penton, Sr., 49-0, SC, RC, DC; #2-138 Ryan Phillips, Sr., 42-6, 3rd, RC, DC; #13-106 Zavian Chavez; #16-285 Frankie Marquez, Jr., 31-16, RQ, D2; Trenton Smith, So., 15-14, RQ, DC; Tyson Horel, So., 15-25, RQ, D3; Preston Evans, Sr., RQ, D4; Luis Gonzalez, Jr., 11-18, RQ, D3; Jacob Rivera; Ayden Keys; Jacob Rodriguez; Marco Gonzalez; Nathan Leftwich.
New wrestlers: #1-144 Jaydon Robinson (Transfer from Illinois); Kaleb Williams (Transfer from Coral Gables); Alexis Rivera Albino
What they are saying: “We have three really good wrestlers that will compete for state titles and a really deep and hungry sophomore class.”
Outlook: After a rough start to last season, the Bears had a bunch of young kids step up and helped them rally to district titles in both duals and individual.
Lyman Greyhounds
Coach: Chris Canale (3rd season/9th overall)
Assistant coaches: Nick Popeck, Silas Mantero
22-23 dual record: 7-7
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:6-3A3; 2021:7-3A4; 2020:8-3A4; 2019:10-3A2; 2018:9-3A3; 2017:9-3A3; 2016:5-3A3; 2015:6-3A3; 2014:2-3A3; 2013:1-3A3; 2012:3-3A3
Last state champion: Willie Campos, 1992 (130)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Allyn Rosario, 31-16, RQ, D4; Cameron Warmer, 28-19, RQ, DC; Vincent Savelli, 21-16, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #11-144 Cameron Popeck, Jr., 33-14, RQ, D2; #14-157 Jackson Fredrickson, Sr., 29-14, RQ, DC; Micah Jones, So., 11-11, RQ, D4; Luke Nilles, Jr., 24-21, RQ-BR, D2; Julio Menoyo, Jr., 22-17, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers: Jonas Teixera, Fr.; Joey Lyle, Fr.
What they are saying: “We have an experienced team that is sophomore and junior heavy. There are only two seniors on this year’s squad. We also have experienced freshman coming in from our youth/junior high club.”
On Cameron Popeck: “He has made extreme strides year in and year out. He’s had over 90 off season matches, wrestled in national level tournaments, and is our wrestler to watch this year.”
Outlook: The rebuild continues to produce results and now the Greyhounds have an experienced team loaded with sophomores and juniors.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class G-1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Deltona Wolves
Coach: Keith Wallace (19th season)
Assistant coach: Mike Kerns
22-23 dual record: 11-5
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:4; 2021:6-2A4; 2020:4-2A4; 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): Kevin Kerns, 38-10, 2nd, R2, D2; Gevin De la Cruz, 19-17, RQ, D4; Nate Tsang, 14-17, RQ, D4; Aaron Debouver, 9-23, RQ, D4; Nathan Hatch, 30-10, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #8-144 Kyle Yasses, Sr., 34-12, RQ-BR, D3; Kyle Kerns, Jr., 8-8, RQ, D3; Austin Riis, Jr., 17-17, RQ, D3; Christian Rivera, So., 13-16, RQ, D3; Javonni Carraturo, So., 10-11; Justin Rivera, Jr., 19-16; Thomas Berrios, Jr., 3-7; Rhys Eversman, Jr.
New wrestler: Kalan Lopez, So. (Transfer from Orange City University)
What they are saying: “We have a good group of kids with a lot of youth this year.”
Outlook: Kevin Kerns was the school’s first-ever state finalist last season.
Jones Tigers
Coach: Jayquon McEntyre (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: Christina Boyer, Brysen Thorpe
22-23 dual record: 8-3
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:5; 2021:3-2A5; 2020:9-2A5; 2019:9-2A6; 2018:6-2A6; 2017:9-2A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Danosky Decaillon, 24-15, RQ-BR, D2; Dante Castro, 27-8, RQ-BR, D2; Donnel McCray, 18-4, SQ, R2, DC; Lavoctris Patterson, Jr., 28-8, RQ-BR, D3 (Transfer to Leesburg); Ja'Chory Harris, Jr., 19-16, RQ, D3 (Transfer to Edgewater)
Notable returning wrestlers: #17-165 Deshawn Romero, Sr., 22-11, RQ-BR, D2; Tyreeson Georges, So., 23-14, RQ, D2; Ladarius James, Sr., 14-12, RQ, D4; Gary Brooks, Jr., 23-13, RQ-BR, D2.
Outlook: The Tigers are young and excited. They lost three blood round wrestlers to graduation and transfer and also graduated their one state placer from a year ago.
East River Falcons
Coach: Anthony Gilbert (3rd season)
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:2; 2021:Qu; 2020:8-2A5; 2019:4-2A6; 2018:7-2A6; 2017:3-2A6; 2016:3-2A6; 2015:3-3A4; 2014:5-3A4; 2013:4-3A4; 2012:2-3A4
*Did not participate in 2021 postseason due to quarantine
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Michael Dupuy, 31-6, RQ, D3; Adrian Covington, 21-10, RQ-BR, D4; Dayshaun Albertorio Medi, 30-15, RQ-BR, D2; Jovan Vukajlovic, Jr., 32-11, RQ, D2 (Transfer to Lake Brantley)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #7-175 Landon Daugherty, Sr., 22-13, SQ, R4, DC; #9-113 Pedro Sifuentes, Sr., 44-4, 5th, R2, DC; Israel Rodriguez, Sr., RQ, D4; .
Horizon Hawks
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Matteo Lasorsa, Sr., 13-7, RQ, D3; Charlie Torbert, Sr.
Edgewater Eagles
Coach: Holden Lowe
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:7; 2021:7-2A5; 2020:6-2A5; 2019:5-3A2; 2018:9-3A2; 2017:7-3A2; 2016:6-3A2; 2015:6-3A2; 2014:2-3A2; 2013:1-2A5; 2012:1-2A5
Last state champion: C.J. Hauser, 2006 (171)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Christopher Kallas, RQ, D4; Rafael Rodriguez, 29-11, RQ-BR, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
New wrestler: Ja'Chory Harris, Jr., 19-16, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Jones)
Lake Buena Vista Vipers
Coach: David Bobeck
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:6-1A7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None