3A-10 Preview: Fort Pierce Central hoping to hold off charging Viera for district crown
BY BRANT PARSONS — A successful senior class has left Fort Pierce Central and perhaps opened up a window for a challenger in the team district race.
The Cobras have won this district four straight years while totaling five consecutive titles.
“I see us getting better and better,” Fort Pierce coach Roger Allcroft said.
Viera is one of the teams that will be looking to take advantage of the rebuild at FPC.
The Hawks return nine region qualifiers from a year ago and expectations are starting to grow.
"I think the district is tough due to Fort Pierce Central, head over heels, the best team in the district," Viera head coach Jason Custer said. "They're reloading but they're going to be the favorites again this year."
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Last season: Fort Pierce Central were 52 points better than runners-up Viera and 69 over Vero Beach.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Octavion Osby (Vero Beach), Brian Mitchell (Viera), Hernan Ortiz (Fort Pierce Central), Alex Giglietti (Viera), Luke Agcaoili (Viera), Aiden Madden (Fort Pierce Central), David Benjamin (Vero Beach), Jabore Brown (Treasure Coast)
The favorite: Fort Pierce Central. To be the best you have to beat the best and the Cobras have been the best for five years running.
Team to watch: Viera. With 11 projected starters back and 9 of 10 region qualifiers, the Hawks are in the best position to provide a challenge to the top spot.
District duals: Dec. 12 at Fort Pierce Central
District IBT: Feb. 16 at Viera
Kabra Says: This is one of the last districts that Kabra Wrestling predicted and the order has switched multiple times but we’ll take a chance on picking the young upstart with more returning strength on paper - Viera.
Viera Hawks (#18 IBT | #11 Dual)
Coach: Jason Custer (3rd season)
Assistant coach: Chris Zuniga
22-23 dual record: 13-8
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:5-2A13; 2021:6-2A13; 2020:4-2A13; 2019:6-2A13; 2018:7-2A13; 2017:7-2A13; 2016:4-2A13; 2015:4-3A5; 2014:5-3A5; 2013:4-3A5; 2012:2-3A5
Last state champion: Ty Cartmell, 2011 (189)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nate Olson, 34-8, RQ-BR, DC; Richard Magiday, 26-31, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: #6-120 Alex Giglietti, Jr., 42-12, SQ, R2, DC; #6-132 Luke Agcaoili, Jr., 48-17, SQ, R4, D2; #6-150 Brian Mitchell, Sr., 51-11, SQ, R2, D2; #11-157 Edwin Torres, Jr., 38-20, RQ-BR, D2; #12-190 Jordan Hayes, Sr., 35-23, RQ-BR, D2; #17-144 Elan Bennett, Sr., 27-19, RQ-BR, D2; Lenny Ortiz, Jr., 13-38, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: "This is my third year, and for many of the kids on the team, this is their third year of wrestling. Which is nuts. In order to go from district runner up or losing in the blood round at regionals to go to states or the kids that made the state tournament to take that next step in terms of being on the podium, all the work they've put in from spring until now - we haven't stopped. The wrestling and tournaments we are going to and all of the in house work that we're doing, I think that's the big thing."
On the third year: "A wrestler really doesn't hit their stride in my opinion, until probably their third year. I think personally, that was my third year wrestling in Pennsylvania, in high school. That's the first year I had a winning record was my sophomore year high school. So for many of them, they're just now hitting their peak. So I'll say, potential is there but it only gets you so far. I feel good where we're at and it's really continuing to hone the skills."
On what they expect of the team: "There's three things that we want you to do. We want you to have fun, we want you to work hard. And we want you to treat others with respect. If you do those three things, have an open mind, I'm going to teach you the way to do it.
Outlook: Last year’s team completed the first back-to-back winning season for the school since 2012, which was also the last time the Hawks were district runners-up. The future is bright with all three state qualifiers coming back and 9 of the 10 region qualifiers.
Fort Pierce Central Cobras (NR | #20)
Coach: Roger Allcroft (12th season)/Pat Seidel
Assistant coaches: Sean Harris, Michael O'Neil, Megan Allcroft, Billy McArdle
22-23 dual record: 34-3
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:1-3A9; 2018:2-3A9; 2017:2-3A9; 2016:2-3A9; 2015:1-3A9; 2014:2-3A9; 2013:4-3A9; 2012:4-3A9
Last state champion: Gabriel Jacas, 2022 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Connor Harris, 48-15, SQ, R4, D2; Daniel Echeverria, 56-9, 7th, R2, DC; Ashton Hager, 38-18, RQ, D2; Damion Allison, 39-22, SQ, R4, D3; JT Apicella, 52-11, 6th, R2, DC; Bryan Malara, 31-13, RQ, D2; Malankov Daceus, 30-15, RQ-BR, D2; Alaq Dowd, 50-18, 6th, R4, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-215 Hernan Ortiz, Sr., 53-10, 8th, R3, DC; #8-190 Aiden Madden, Sr., 42-11, SQ, R3, DC; #13-175 Colin Madden, Jr., 37-14, RQ, D2; #16-120 Myles Henkel, So., 40-19, SQ, R4, DC; #19-144 Jaden Romanello, Jr.; Konrad McArdle, Sr.; Caleb Cassidy, Sr.; Jayden Coates, Jr.; Jordan Sierra, Soph.; Isaac Scalabrin, Jr.
New wrestlers: Luckner Luma, So.; Troy Shader, Fr.; Skyler West, Fr.; Jeremia Clark, So.; Nicholas Clark, Fr.; Xavier Edwards, Fr.; Caleb Chaux, Fr.; Finn O'Brien, Jr.; Trent Scalabrin, Fr.; Kaden Wilkes, So.; Logan Madden, So.; Alexander Musser, So.; Layne Cassidy, So.;
What they are saying: "We're just trying to get better. We know we're young but we've been wrestling hard and lifting hard all year long. We were working all year long and now we're excited to see these guys fill in the blanks. Next up."
On young guys stepping in: "We just tell them you're next up and deal with it and do everything you can to win. We'll see if the cream rises to the top. So they'll be out there, they'll have their shot and we won't dwell on the past."
On where they’re at: "We did a comparison a couple months ago about where we were last year to where we were this year and we hope to be at the same exact pace come February with these kids getting experience and the chance to wrestle.
Outlook: An epic senior class has come and gone but the Cobras room is not empty and they’ll have veterans and rising youngsters ready to take those spots.
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
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Treasure Coast Titans
Coach: Kevin Carter (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Tyler Antoine, Kerry King, Mirame Succes
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:2; 2021:2; 2020:2; 2019:3-3A9; 2018:4-3A9; 2017:1-3A9; 2016:1-3A9; 2015:5-3A9; 2014:6-3A9; 2013:10-3A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Brinalli Brown, 27-6, SQ, R3, DC; Rocco Hayden, 26-8, SQ, RC, DC; Ahmed Toom, 10-8, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: #10-175 Jabore Brown, Sr., 19-3; Kyle Leaich, Sr., RQ-BR, D4; Duran Tucker, So., RQ, D4; Zinos Mastroeni, Jr., RQ, D4; Danilo Degarcia, Jr., RQ, D4; Loubens Baptiste, So., RQ, D4; Dylan Reid, Jr., 20-11, RQ, D5.
New wrestler: Albert Zapata (Transfer from PA)
What they are saying: “My returning guys have got a chip on their shoulders. Last year was rough for a first-time head coach. We grinded all summer in the practice room.”
Outlook: The Titans will look to make improvements in the second year under Carter.
Vero Beach Indians
Coach: Ken Colao (6th at school/43rd overall)
Assistant coach: Moses Villalpando
22-23 dual record: 6-0
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:4; 2020:5; 2019:5-3A9; 2018:5-3A9; 2017:6-3A9; 2016:5-3A9; 2015:8-3A9; 2014:4-3A9; 2013:9-3A9; 2012:9-3A9
Last state champion: John Duran, 2009 (112)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Cooper Patton, 40-3, SQ, RC, DC; Johnathon Roberts, 31-1, 2nd, RC, DC; JaQuone Jean, 25-8, SQ, R2, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #8-157 David Benjamin, Sr., 32-7, SQ, R4, DC; #14-106 Gregori Rodriguez, Jr., 24-11, RQ-BR, D2; Kevin Benjamin, Jr., 25-4; Kamani Messam, Sr., 6-12, RQ, D4; Alex Viveros, Jr., 15-16, RQ, D5; John West, Sr.; Will Mullan; Jason Nguyen.
New wrestlers: Matt Haake; Prince Ngyuen; Vin Depaolo; Romeo Vargas; Tawain Satathmajit; Talen Mock; William Dasilva; Tobias Axelsson; Joe Romero; Trey Piakis; Jeremy Swanson.
What they are saying: “We are continuing the culture of working hard in practice. We have over 50 wrestlers this year and they are pushing one another.”
Outlook: The Benjamin brothers lead a team that is loaded in numbers and looking to improve on last year.
Martin County Tigers
Coach: Doug Fanelli (6th at school/9th overall)
Assistant coaches: Jared Browning, Steve Brandt
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:4; 2021:6; 2020:7; 2019:7-3A9; 2018:7-3A9; 2017:4-3A9; 2016:4-3A9; 2015:4-3A9; 2014:8-3A9; 2013:7-2A14; 2012:4-2A14
Last state champion: Matt Browning, 2002 (119)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jonathan Sopher, 33-5, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #9-120 Corbin Fjalstad, Jr., 37-9, SQ, R3, D3; #14-215 Reece Smith, Sr., 33-11, RQ-BR, D3; #19-157 Andrew Jochum, Sr., 23-10, RQ, D3; Gabriel Paez, Jr., 22-15, RQ, D4; Aiden Montgomery, Jr., 22-20, RQ, D3; Jack Duke, Sr., 29-16, RQ, D3; Sterling Jensen, Sr., 15-24, RQ, D4; Kyle Wilcox, Sr., 20-17, RQ, DC; Jayden Santiago, Sr., 18-16; Chase Harley, Sr., 24-11.
What they are saying: “This is the most talented and experienced Martin County team in 15 years.”
Outlook: State qualifier Fjalstad leads a group of seven returning region qualifiers for the Tigers.
Melbourne Bulldogs
Coach: Robert Hickman
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:6; 2021:3-2A13; 2020:3-2A13; 2019:6-3A5; 2018:4-3A5; 2017:2-3A5; 2016:4-3A5; 2015:5-2A13; 2014:7-2A13; 2013:6-2A13; 2012:2-2A13
Last state champion: Michael Mahl, 2000 (145)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gavin Howe, 28-13, RQ, D3; Kendrick Wright, 18-10, RQ-BR, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jack Travers, So., 24-22, RQ, D3; Taha Rizk, So., 12-24, RQ, D3; Cannan McCarthy, So., 9-17, RQ, D4; John Wright, Sr., 22-18, RQ, D3.
Outlook: The rebuild continues at a program that had no real format or training program established just a few seasons ago. Last year they took six wrestlers to regions after just two the year before.
Centennial Eagles
Coach: Troy Surloff (18th season)
Assistant coaches: Ricardo Delgado, Mark Johnson, Angela Joyner
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:5; 2021:7; 2020:6; 2019:6-3A9; 2018:6-3A9; 2017:7-3A9; 2016:7-3A9; 2015:6-3A9; 2014:7-3A9; 2013:8-3A9; 2012:6-3A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jayden Jackson, 22-12, RQ, D2
Notable returning wrestlers: None
New wrestler: Eddie Keyes
What they are saying: “We are very new, young, and ambitious.”
Outlook: There’s a whole new roster for the Eagles this season.