3A-13 Preview: Can Douglas hold off charging challengers for fourth straight?

BY BRANT PARSONS

Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.

Last season: Six different wrestlers won district titles for Douglas, who edged Coral Springs by just 17 points.

How did Kabra do?: We thought it would be close - and it was - and we correctly picked the order.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: David Leiva (Douglas), Rocco Duygulu (Douglas), Jaylan Brown (Coral Springs), J'Vier Romeus (Coral Springs)

The favorite: Douglas. We know it won’t be easy for the Eagles, but there is experience in the wrestlers stepping into the starting line-up and they’ll still be tough to top.

Team to watch: Coral Springs. The district runners-up last season could return up to 11 region qualifiers from last year’s team.

District duals: Thursday, December 19 at TBD

District IBT: Unknown at press time

Douglas Eagles (#16/#14)

Coach: Kenny Gendason (9th at Douglas, 14th overall)

Assistant coaches: Dan Sanchez, Rob Granda

23-24 dual record: 13-3

Recent district results: 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:Qu; 2020:4-3A12; 2019:3-3A12; 2018:2-3A12; 2017:4-3A12; 2016:5-3A12; 2015:9-3A12; 2014:5-3A12; 2013:3-3A11; 2012:2-3A11

Last state champion: Joe Kent, 2007 (189)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Evan Ng, 7-7, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: David Leiva, Sr., 36-3, 3rd, R3, DC; Rocco Duygulu, Sr., 39-7, 6th, R4, DC; James Messmer, Sr., 26-5, RQ-BR, DC; Keegan Lake, So., 17-11, RQ, DC; Jackson Zajkowski, Sr., 29-9, RQ, DC; Jacob Balk, So., 18-15, RQ, D2; Kevin Steinberg, Jr., 13-11, RQ, D3; Arav Shintre, Jr., 28-15, RQ, DC; Jeremy Lopez, Sr., 11-8, RQ, D2; Lucas Sigueira, Sr., 13-10, RQ, D4; Timothy Carroll.

New wrestler: Santi Caro, Fr.

What they are saying: “Most of our wrestlers have stuck together the last four years to give us a great opportunity to do bit things this season.”

On potentially winning fourth-straight: “I think it’ll be big. I can’t remember the last time Douglas did that, even with their really powerful programs back in the day. It’s just a testament to these kids who all started together in ninth grade.”

On the program: “It’s just a nice group that somehow, every single year continues to amaze us. And when we start up our middle school program, hopefully we’ll get some kids out of that within time. It’s all coming together.

Outlook: The Eagles are chasing a fourth straight district title and are led by state placers Leiva and Duygulu who are both looking to move up the podium alongside a team of wrestlers that makes this a deep team.

The Florida High School Wrestling Season District Previews

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Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

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

Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings

Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules

For Kabra+ members (Join here)

Rankings: Class 3A | Class 2A | Class 1A | Girls | Team

Coral Springs Colts (NR/#25)

Coach: Daniel Jacob

Recent district results: 2024:2; 2023:2; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:1; 2019:2-3A12; 2018:1-3A12; 2017:2-3A12; 2016:2-3A12; 2015:2-3A12; 2014:2-3A12; 2013:1-3A11; 2012:1-3A11

Last state champion: John Moran, 1994 (119)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kevlar Ferguson, 7-12, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: J'Vier Romeus, Sr., 34-12, RQ, DC; Jaylan Brown, Jr., 38-11, RQ-BR, DC; Shai Keery, Sr., 40-8, RQ-BR, DC; Alex Haley, Jr., Jr., 20-14, RQ, DC; Tyler Green, Jr., 20-17, RQ, D2; Bendjy Ferdinand, Sr., 14-11, RQ, D2; Chase Martin, Jr., 26-12, RQ, D2; Adan McGregor, So., 8-7, RQ, D3; Daniel Penaranda, So., 14-16, RQ, D4; Colin Reynolds, Jr., 15-19, RQ, D4; Deion Macon, Sr., 17-21, RQ, D4.

Taravella Trojans

Coach: Stephane Villard (Fourth year)

Assistant coaches: Claude Villard, Neil Arnold

Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:3; 2022:5; 2021:5; 2020:4; 2019:4-3A12; 2018:8-3A12; 2017:6-3A12; 2016:6-3A12; 2015:5-3A12; 2014:11-3A12; 2013:6-3A11; 2012:6-3A11

Last state champion: Matthew Lavigna, 1993 (160)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tariq Qaiyim, 17-10, RQ, D2; Giovanni Perez, 9-9, RQ, D3; Chris Cenoble, 20-7, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jacob Rosen, Sr., 32-10, RQ-BR, DC; Victor Dixon, Sr., 27-10, RQ, DC; Caiden Canales, Sr., 11-15, RQ, D3; Ethan Haines, Jr., 11-13, RQ, D3; Andrew Hines, Sr., 12-13, RQ, D3; Abraham Ballesteros, Jr., 20-17, RQ, D2; Amir Sameem, So., 13-13; Angel Santiago, Jr., 7-2; Devin Przchodny, Sr., 8-8; Enzo Amado, So.; Caden Ankele, Jr.; Wyatt Johnson, Jr.; Daniel Garcia, Sr.; Jayden Pelletier, Sr.; Jadason Jimenez, So.

New wrestler: Nick Mastrianni, Fr.

What they are saying: “The team is energized. It’s a close group of young men who believe they can compete.”

On Jacob Rosen: “We have great leadership from the top. Jacob is a big reason we have made strides the past four years.”

Outlook: The Trojans continue to improve and could see some more success this season. Rosen and Dixon are both ranked in Kabra Wrestling’s Top 25 to enter the season.

Fort Lauderdale Flying L’s

Coach: Tim Smith

Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:4; 2022:2; 2021: 3-2A14; 2020:2-2A14; 2019:5-3A12; 2018:3-3A12; 2017:5-3A12; 2016:4-3A12; 2015:6-3A12; 2014:7-3A12; 2013:5-2A15; 2012:3-2A15

Last state champion: Rodney Billett, 1981 (220)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Trevor Regli, 39-10, RQ, DC; Ty Thomas, 18-7, RQ, D2; Ishamel Francois, 19-12, RQ, D2; Kyle Ford, 27-8, RQ, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Mason Kondratyuk, Jr., 22-15, RQ, D2; Kealeandre Flaman, Sr., 13-13, RQ, D3; Hunter Pangia, Sr., 21-13, RQ, D3; Elton Angulo, Sr., 10-9, RQ, D2; Keijuan Williams, Sr., 18-8, RQ, D3; Griffinn Deshields, So., 21-14, RQ, D4; Damani Burks, So., 20-13, RQ, D3; Ricky Weisman, So., 10-14, RQ, D2; Matt Blanton, Sr., RQ, D4; Alex Johnson, So., 17-11, RQ, D3.

Monarch Knights

Coach: Troy Yarbrough

Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:5; 2022:4; 2021:6; 2020:6; 2019:7-3A12; 2018:6-3A12; 2017:3-3A12; 2016:7-3A12; 2015:7-3A12; 2014:9-3A12; 2013:4-3A11; 2012:4-3A11

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Samaj McClain, 17-8, RQ, DC; Sean Dalton, Jr. (Transfer to Coral Springs)

Notable returning wrestlers: Tyler Metellus, So., 15-11, RQ, D3; Ethan Pierce, Sr., 12-11, RQ, D4; Elisha McNab, So.; Ty Herbster, So.; Drew Weaver, So.; Arturo Rodulfo, Jr.; Gabriel Fanco, Sr.; Aiden Franco, So.; Justin Grimm, Jr.

What they are saying: “We have a lot of newcomers with potential that have been working hard over the past few months and we have the biggest line-up since I've been at Monarch. “

On Metellus: “He has worked very hard in the off season and I expect him to have a great season.”

Outlook: The Knights have a younger team, but they also have a bigger team with Metellus and Pierce leading the way.

Coral Glades Jaguars

Coach:

Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:6; 2020:7; 2019:9-3A12; 2018:10-3A12; 2017:9-3A12; 2016:10-3A12; 2015:11-3A12; 2014:10-3A12; 2013:2-3A11; 2012:5-3A11

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None