2A-9 Preview: Tampa Jesuit ready to battle for state glory, titles
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Braden River edged Tampa Jesuit by 12.5 to win the first district title in school history.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Malachi Ortiz (Tampa Jesuit), Roman Lermer (Tampa Jesuit), Draven McCall (Tampa Jesuit), Brandon Cody (Tampa Jesuit), Reid Yakes (Tampa Jesuit), Jayden Bowles (Tampa Jesuit), Mason Basile (Tampa Jesuit), Kawayran Vazquez (Tampa Jesuit), Gage Wiggins (Braden River), Grady Murphy (Braden River), Matthew Ireland (Braden River), Dustin Springfield (Parrish)
The favorite: Tampa Jesuit. The Tigers might be the favorites to win Class 2A with the talent they have returning, the freshman coming in, and new wrestlers in the program.
Team to watch: Braden River. The defending district champions aren’t going anywhere as they have a great mix of experience and youth in their line-up too.
District duals: Jan. 3 at Tampa JesuitBD
District IBT: Feb. 17 at Tampa Jesuit
Kabra Says: Tampa Jesuit’s heralded freshman class combines with a solid returning group and some key transfers and they’re now the front-runner for a Class 2A IBT title.
Tampa Jesuit Tigers (#1 IBT | #2 Dual)
Coach: Sal Basile (8th at school/23rd overall)
Assistant coaches: David Mason, Kevin Norstrem, Cody Ross, Dom Forys, Luke Gardner
22-23 dual record: 5-1
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:1; 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): Nathan McGill, 31-8, RQ-BR, DC; Gavin Young, 38-9, 4th, R3, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-126 Roman Lermer, Sr., 44-7, SC, R3, DC; #1-138 Jayden Bowles, Jr., 42-12, 4th, R2, DC; #1-150 Draven McCall, Jr., 40-6, SC, RC, DC; #1-165 Brandon Cody, Sr., 43-8, 2nd, RC, DC; #11-132 Xavier Albo, Jr., 24-9, RQ-BR, DC; Chancellor Haber, Sr., 17-7; Julian Alonso, Sr., 8-14, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers: #3-144 Mason Basile, Fr; #2-157 Kawayran Vazquez, Fr.; #1-113 Malachi Ortiz, Jr., 33-5, 4th, R3, DC (Transfer from Palm Harbor University); #2-120 Reid Yakes, Fr., 62-7, 3rd, RC, DC (Transfer from Zephyrhills Christian); #15-106 Brock Glover, Fr.
What they are saying: “We have a solid core of returning state champions and placers and a large credentialed freshman class.”
Outlook: Lermer will be looking for his third state title, McCall his second and the team its second IBT title. This team is loaded and enter the season as one of the favorites, if not the favorite, in Class 2A.
Braden River Pirates (#13 | #9)
Coach: Cezar Sharbono (6th at school/9th as head coach)
Assistant coaches: Matt Eastman, Eddie Fuentes, John Shepard
22-23 dual record: 28-9
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2-2A11; 2021:2-2A10; 2020:2-2A10; 2019:4-2A10; 2018:6-2A10; 2017:5-2A10; 2016:5-2A10; 2015:7-2A10; 2014:7-2A10; 2013:11-2A11; 2012:10-2A11
Last state champion: Jessey Colas, 2023 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Mario Maltez, 34-23, RQ, DC; Jessey Colas, 71-0, SC, RC, DC; Bobby Pike, 30-28, RQ, D2; Lucas Vacchelli, Jr., 26-19, RQ, D4 (Transfer); Collin Keesler, Jr., 25-25, RQ, D4 (Injury)
Notable returning wrestlers: #2-165 Gage Wiggins, Sr., 64-5, 2nd, R2, DC; #4-120 Grady Murphy, Sr., 52-11, RQ-BR, D2; #8-113 Matthew Ireland, Jr., 51-13, SQ, RC, DC; #12-106 Jayden Russel, So., 27-14, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: #17-144 Jagston Shepard, Fr., 27-17, SQ, R4, D2 (Transfer from St. Stephens); #16-138 Kaleb King, Fr.; Kyle King, Fr.; Logan Pike, Fr.
What they are saying: "We had to get my district title when we could. We had one opportunity. With us being in Charlotte's district forever and then switching over to Jesuit's, I was like Jesuit has 10, maybe we can figure out a way to get 11. They ended up having nine and we outpointed them by 12.5. I don't think that will happen this year with the kids they have coming in."
On Wiggins: "Gage is a thinker and he overthinks and gets in his own way. So the goal when he got with me last year was to get him out of his head and let him start wrestling. He's been wrestling since he was five, if he just would actually let it flow, he's going to be fine. He gets in trouble when he overthinks everything and tries to break everything down. Because of that analytical mind that he's got."
On setting up the schedule: "I'm trying to split it up more between duals and IBT season. But the reality is that I've always tried to schedule to my best kids so they can get their competitions. I still had to make the schedule tough for my better kids. So that's where I'm at right now. I've got to give them some easy ones to let them develop and this I've historically always done that toward the end of the year."
Outlook: Last year’s team won the first district title in program history, scored the first-ever two-time region champ and the team was young with just three seniors so even more can be expected.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
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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
Class G-1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Parrish Community Bulls
Coach: Tyler Small (5th at school/8th overall)
22-23 dual record: 6-10
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:6-1A11; 2021:6-1A10; 2020:7-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tyler Roper, 28-13, RQ, D3; Samuel Tabachnick, 9-19, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #10-175 Dustin Springfield, Sr., 36-12, RQ-BR, D2; #15-157 Jerone Turner, Sr., 29-8, RQ-BR, D2; #17-150 Brayden Mullins, Sr., 23-12; #18-190 Ashton Springfield, Jr., 31-13, RQ, D2; Chase Eichorn, Sr., 22-18, RQ, D3; Beau Eplin, Jr., 5-13, RQ, D4; Laken Gamble, Sr.
New wrestler: #13-132 Gavin Pozzie, Sr. (Transfer from Sarasota Military); Kaycen Hall
What they are saying: “We will have the most senior leadership I've ever had on a team with around 7-8 seniors. Many of these guys have been with me the last 3-4 years and have bought into the philosophy of wrestling and what it takes to be great at this sport. If we can fill a couple holes this team could definitely turn some heads this year.”
Outlook: The Bulls lost just two seniors from last year’s team while adding a couple dozen new wrestlers to the room.
Leto Falcons
Coach: Michael Patrick (5th at school/25th overall)
Assistant coach: Adrian Wallace
22-23 dual record: 8-7
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:4; 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): Jeremy Narraez, 21-12, RQ, D2; Frank Miller, 33-11, SQ, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Miguel Morales-Cruz, Sr., 28-14, RQ, D2; Raul Ugarte, So., 15-18, RQ, D3; Massimo Clintron, Sr., 9-15, RQ, D2.
What they are saying: “We have two seniors who are good captains and then a bunch of first and second-year wrestlers.”
Outlook: The Falcons are stronger in the lighter weights and that is where this team will be led. The upperweights have newer wrestlers that will look to improve as the season grows.
East Bay Indians
Coach: Erik Matricardi
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:3-3A6; 2020:4-3A6; 2019:3-3A7; 2018:8-3A7; 2017:6-3A7; 2016:7-3A7; 2015:5-3A8; 2014:6-3A8; 2013:4-3A6; 2012:6-3A6
Last state champion: Juan Edwards, 1999 (152)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Avion Jackson, 46-5, RQ-BR, D2; Javier Del'Rosario, 33-9, RQ-BR, D2; Sean Mathis, 34-11, RQ, D3; Nathan Hampton, 43-12, RQ-BR, DC; James Jarbo, 23-16, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Jordan Bridges, So., 28-13, RQ, D2, Amarion Jackson, So., RQ, D3.
Outlook: This is the first team that Matricardi has coached that will not have a single wrestler with more than one year experience. Both Bridges and Jackson went to camps and put the work in over the summer.
Blake Yellow Jackets
Coach: Richard Cowans
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:9; 2021:8-2A7; 2020:6-2A7; 2019:3-2A8; 2018:4-2A8; 2017:5-2A8; 2016:11-2A8; 2015:13-2A8; 2014:10-2A8; 2013:7; 2012:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Orian Brown, 6-19, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Marlin Rodriguez, Jr., 16-8, RQ, D4; Christian Hobbs, Jr., 5-19, RQ, D4.
Hillsborough Terriers
Coach: Chase Leone (3rd season)
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:5; 2021:6-2A7; 2020:7-2A7; 2019:9-2A8; 2018:9-2A8; 2017:11-2A8; 2016:5-2A8; 2015:7-2A8; 2014:3-2A8; 2013:3; 2012:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jack Carey, 15-9, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Tony Hatley, Jr., 34-8, RQ, D3.
Southeast Seminoles
Coach: Louis Piscopo (2nd at school)
Assistant coach: Sidney Douglas
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:8-2A11; 2021:8-2A10; 2020:6-2A10; 2019:5-1A11; 2018:10-1A11; 2017:1-1A11; 2016:5-1A11; 2015:1-1A10; 2014:1-1A10; 2013:2-1A11; 2012:2-1A11
Last state champion: Charles Higson, 1994 (189)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Javier Alverio-Rivera, RQ, D4; Shawn Allen, 4-10, RQ, D3; Gael Sanchez, 19-6, RQ-BR, DC; Anthony Villa, Sr., 7-9, RQ, D3 (Transfer).
Notable returning wrestlers: Bishop Williams, Jr., RQ, D4.
New wrestlers: Spencer Lewis; Kenneth Goff; Mikael Campa; Samuel Fenelus.
What they are saying: "Last year, we were fortunate to take five relatively new and/or first-year wrestlers to region. This year, we have even more brand-new wrestlers who want to try the sport and see where it takes them.”
Outlook: Piscopo enters his second season at the school and he works to build a solid program.
Spoto Spartans
Coach: Aaron Wintrich
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:7; 2021:9-2A6; 2020:8-2A6; 2019:5-1A10; 2018:4-1A10; 2017:3-1A10; 2016:4-1A10; 2015:6-1A10; 2014:8-1A10; 2013:6-1A9; 2012:6-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Joseph Alvarez, Jr., 38-9, RQ, D2.
Middleton Tigers
Coach: Tim Gebhards (5th season)
Assistant coaches: Rick Ravens, Benjamin Young
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:8; 2021:5-2A7; 2020:5-2A7; 2019:8-1A10; 2018:8-1A10; 2017:8-1A10; 2015:5-1A10; 2014:5-1A10; 2013:7-1A9; 2012:7-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jakary Edwards, 25-14, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they are saying: “We are young and have more kids coming out this year which is exciting.”
Outlook: The Tigers have 5-6 athletes returning after their first year of wrestling last year.