2A-9 Preview: Braden River looking for second district title in three years
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: State champion Tampa Jesuit won 11 individual championships and Braden River won the other three to finish second.
How did Kabra do?: We picked 1-2 and it proved to be the right one.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Luke Arthur (Manatee), Matthew Ireland (Braden River), Jacob Fuentes (Braden River), Scott Cook (Braden River), Joseph Alvarez (Spoto)
The favorite: Braden River. The team is deep with experience and should take home the title if some develop into big point scorers.
Team to watch: Manatee. They graduated six state qualifiers from a year ago but have a well-seasoned group moving up from JV. How quickly they adjust to the varsity level will dictate Manatee’s success this season.
District duals: Thursday, January 9 at Manatee
District IBT: Thursday, February 20 at Hillsborough
Braden River Pirates (#19/#10)
Coach: Cezar Sharbono (7th at school/10th as head coach)
Assistant coaches: Mat Eastman, Ryan Gascon, Chance Sharbono, Caterina Sharbono, Tina Sharbono
23-24 dual record: 22-9
Recent district results: 2024:2; 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): Gage Wiggins, 60-2, 2nd, R2, DC; Nico Serrano, 25-18, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Scott Cook, Sr., 30-17, RQ, D3; Matthew Ireland, Sr., 48-13, SQ, R2, D2; Jacob Fuentes, Jr., 40-23, RQ-BR, D2; Logan Pike, So., 33-23, RQ, D2; Trevor Dutting-Morrell, Jr., 20-16, RQ, DC; Jaden Morales, Jr., 30-22, RQ, D2; Akif Cemek, So., 9-29, RQ, D4; Israel Clark, Sr., 23-30, RQ, D3; Quinn Molesky, So.; Garrett Kelly, Jr. Carson Zanhiser, Sr.; Jayvon Wilson, So.; Freedom McDaniel, So.
Outlook: There are four seniors on this team but the Pirates are still a young, but deep group. This might be the best dual meet team Sharbono has had at Braden River.
The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews
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District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Manatee Hurricanes (#23/NR)
Coach: Andrew Gugliemini (30th season at Manatee, 33rd overall)
Assistant coaches: Ryan Fair, Phil Upton, Collin Nobles, James Nutter
23-24 dual record: 40-3
Recent district results: 2024:1-2A10; 2023:1-2A10; 2022:2-3A7; 2021:2-3A8; 2020:2-3A8; 2019:1-3A8; 2018:2-3A8; 2017:2-3A8; 2016:3-3A8; 2015:3-3A8; 2014:2-3A8; 2013:2-3A8; 2012:3-3A8
Last state champion: Tylynn Lukens, 2021 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Damontez McDowell, 47-7, 6th, R2, DC; Mason Miller, 41-3, SQ, R2, DC; Jake Samuels, 55-9, 6th, R2, DC; Isaac Cedeno, 50-10, SQ, R4, DC; Julian Smith, 43-15, SQ, R4, DC; Carter Cabrera, 38-12, RQ-BR, D2; Hunter White, 48-13, SQ, R4, DC; Trayvon Pinder, 42-8, RQ, DC; Jeson Carbajal, Sr., 37-12, 8th, R2, D2 (Transfer to Palmetto)
Notable returning wrestlers: Luke Arthur, Sr., 48-7, 2nd, R3, DC; Riley Craig, So., 19-14, D5; Kai Drapala, Jr., 11-21, RQ, D4; Angel Ojeda, Jr., 15-7; Brody Hall, Sr., 19-16, D5; Christopher Larin-Herrera, So.; Carson Brandt, So.; Jonas Lennox, Sr.; Angel Ojeda, Jr.; Gabe Redmond, Sr.; Carter Robinson, So.; Becket Smith; Jameson Alejos, Sr.; Brian Beckerleg, So.; Adriel Lopez-Rivera, Jr.; Trevor Weathersby, So.; Tusant Carr, So.; Nick Nutter, Jr.
New wrestlers: Porter Daniels, Fr.; Major Gilbert, Fr.
What they are saying: “We have a bunch of wrestlers that have been on the team for 2-3 years and know how to wrestle. They have been very productive on the JV level waiting their turn. They may not be state placers - but they can scrap.”
Outlook: Bet against Manatee at your own risk, this is a deep room of experience that will now get to test its mettle on the varsity level. Led by returning state placer Arthur, this team will be a lot better as the season grows.
Parrish Community Bulls
Coach: Tyler Small (6th at school/9th overall)
Assistant coaches: Jed Kramer, Alex Boukheir
23-24 dual record: 13-12
Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:5; 2022:6-1A11; 2021:6-1A10; 2020:7-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gavin Pozzie, 43-11, 7th, R2, D2; Dustin Springfield, 43-8, RQ-BR, D2; Jerone Turner, 31-7, RQ, D2; Brayden Mullins, 18-9, RQ, D3; Chase Eichorn, 20-15, RQ, D3; Logan Elliott, 13-22, RQ, D3; Laken Gamble, 37-13, RQ, D3; Garrett Pyle, Sr., 14-18, RQ, D4 (Transfer to Palmetto)
Notable returning wrestlers: Jack Creaser, So., 18-26, RQ, D4; Ashton Springfield, Sr.; Gage Cameron, Sr.
New wrestler: Domonic Benjamin, Sr., 33-10 (Transfer from Michigan)
What they are saying: “We have some great senior leaders that will push the team and set the bar for the underclassmen.”
On Ashton Springfield: “He is making his return for his senior year after missing his whole junior year to a broken bone. He is ranked in the top 15 and looking to make the podium to continue our streak of state placers.”
On last year’s seniors: “I think just having that many seniors in a room last year kind of sets the bar knowing a lot of seniors that had been there for four years working through the program. So they kind of set the bar, having our first state placer and a lot of guys having some really good seasons. I think it sets the bar for the underclassmen to kind of live up to some of the expectations and they started developing the culture that even though we're still a newer program, we're kind of getting out of that realm where we're not so new anymore.”
Outlook: The Bulls said goodbye to a lot from last season, but the depth is building in the room and there will be replacements for some of those spots with underclassmen who have at least a year of experience.
East Bay Indians
Coach: Erik Matricardi (25th year at school)
Assistant coach: Daniel Rodriguez
23-24 dual record: 10-10
Recent district results: 2024:4; 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): Victor Figueroa, 14-24, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestler: Amarion Jackson, Jr., 22-14, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: “We were young last year, and we're still young.”
Blake Yellow Jackets
Coach: Richard Cowans
Recent district results: 2024:7; 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): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Marlin Rodriguez, Sr., 24-8, RQ-BR, D2; Gavin Hausburg, Sr., 4-14, RQ, D4; Christian Hobbs, Sr., 6-17, RQ, D4.
Spoto Spartans
Coach: Aaron Wintrich
Recent district results: 2024:6; 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): Elijah Ellis, 21-5, RQ, D2; Markeis Thomas, 20-8, RQ, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Joseph Alvarez, Sr., 28-5, RQ-BR, D2.
Southeast Seminoles
Coach: Louis Piscopo (3rd season)
Assistant coach: Sidney Douglas
Recent district results: 2024:9; 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): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Bishop Williams, Sr., RQ, D3; Spencer Lewis, So., RQ, D4.
What they are saying: “Because most of the team is new, they are enthusiastic about the sport and the comradery it fosters.”
Outlook: Bishop Williams is entering his senior season with a goal to make it to Kissimmee. In his first two years in the sport, he made the region tournament. The rest of the team is young, including promising sophomore Lewis.
Middleton Tigers
Coach: Tim Gebhards
Recent district results: 2024:8; 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): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Finn Kruse, Sr., 6-13, RQ, D4; Darius Montgomery, Jr., 27-4, D5.