3A-4 Preview: Toss-up district will come down to who has the best depth in lineup

BY BRANT PARSONS

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

Last season: Ocoee was the top team in the closest district in the state from top to bottom. Only 56.5 points separated first from last as the Knights edged West Orange by 12 points.

How did Kabra do?: Our pick was Olympia and they finished third. We did tap Ocoee as a team to watch and despite having graduating some hammers from the year before, the Titans won their first district title since at least 2012.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

The favorite: Ocoee. This race feels wide open, but we need to put a team here.

Team to watch: Olympia. This race feels wide, open, be we needed to put another team here.

District duals: Wednesday, January 8 at Ocoee, 4 p.m.

District IBT: Saturday, February 22 at Horizon, 9 a.m.

Ocoee Knights

Coach: Robb Karbowsky (7th at school)

Assistant coaches: Omar Torres, Lazano Devega Myers

23-24 dual record: 10-5

Recent district results: 2024:1; 2023:2; 2022:4; 2021:7-3A3; 2020:8-3A3; 2019:10-3A2; 2018:10-3A2; 2017:9-3A2; 2016:3-3A2; 2015:7-3A2; 2014:8-3A2; 2013:9-3A3; 2012:9-3A3

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Wayne Brady, 25-13, RQ, D2; Justin Wilson, RQ, D3; Devin Andrews, RQ, D4; Jonathan Fournier, 18-16, D5.

Notable returning wrestlers: Clauderle Petit, Sr., RQ, D2; Silas Metayer, Jr., 20-9, RQ, DC; Nazzio Huyler, Sr., 24-17, RQ, D2; Jordan Essix, Jr., RQ, D4; Mike Innocent, Jr., RQ, D2.

What they are saying: “We have a young, hungry team who's eager to build on last season's success.”

Outlook: The Knights won the district duals and IBT title last season and are looking to build off of that this season.

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

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

Olympia Titans

Coach: Jeremy Bourst (19th at school)

Assistant coach: Brian Blocker

23-24 dual record: 9-8

Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:1; 2022:3; 2021:4-3A9; 2020:8-3A9; 2019:8-3A2; 2018:6-3A2; 2017:4-3A2; 2016:9-3A2; 2015:4-3A2; 2014:5-3A2; 2013:3-3A3; 2012:2-3A3

Last state champion: Joe DeLisle, 2007 (215)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Madden Bourst, 29-10, SQ, R3, DC; Tony Ho, 25-10, RQ-BR, DC; Ramzi Maali, 7-9, RQ, D3; Devon Hickey, 16-17, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: Matthew Cobb, Jr., 18-16, RQ, DC; Landon Arnold, So., 8-17, RQ, D4; Brian Nguyen, Jr., 6-11, RQ, D4; Mason Bourst, So.; Keyshawn Woods, So.; Marshawn Woods, So.; Carson Rutledge, Jr.; Alfredo Hurtado, So.; Greg Campanella, Sr.

New wrestler: Gregory Keaton, Sr. (Transfer from Ocoee)

What they are saying: “We feel like we can compete to win our district again this year.”

Inside the numbers: The Titans have had the highest team GPA in Class 3A each of the last two years.

Outlook: One year after winning the district title, the Titans took a step back to third place last year but they have the numbers to get back on top this season.

South Lake Eagles

Coach: Manny Costa (1st at school)

Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:7; 2022:7-2A8; 2021:7-2A5; 2020:6-2A5; 2019:2-2A5; 2018:3-2A5; 2017:4-2A5; 2016:4-2A5; 2015:5-2A5.

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Alex Vila, Sr., 18-8, RQ, DC; Aden Pierce, Jr., 36-8, RQ, DC; Jacob Imboden, Jr., 12-17, RQ, D4; Emmanuel Jones-Baez, Jr., 18-20, RQ, D2; Tegan Beltram, Jr., 21-9, RQ, D3; Chase Coello, Jr., 17-15, RQ, D2; Jesse Barker, Jr., 10-3.

Outlook: Massachusetts Hall of Fame coach Costa was talked about of retirement and will be leading the Eagles this season.

West Orange Warriors

Coach: Wesley Blevins

Recent district results: 2024:2; 2023:3; 2022:8; 2021:4-3A3; 2020:4-3A3; 2019:1-3A2; 2018:2-3A2; 2017:3-3A2; 2016:4-3A2; 2015:1-3A2; 2014:3-3A2; 2013:4-3A3; 2012:4-3A3

Last state champion: Corey Park, 1985 (112)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Raymond Cavey, 41-5, 3rd, R2, DC; Alex Ames, 16-18, RQ, D3; Ayden Rieck, 18-10, RQ, DC.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Giordanny Perez, Sr., 13-9, RQ-BR, DC; Cole Crouch, Sr., 17-13, RQ, D2; Magnus Putigna, Jr., 14-13, RQ, D2; Christopher Wilson, So., RQ, D4.

Dr. Phillips Panthers

Coach: Matt Seaberg

Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:4; 2022:5; 2021:6-3A9; 2020:4-3A9; 2019:4-3A2; 2018:3-3A2; 2017:5-3A2; 2016:5-3A2; 2015:5-3A2; 2014:4-3A2; 2013:5-3A3; 2012:5-3A3

Last state champion: Gerald Greaves, 2021 (285)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Rayshard Tillman, RQ, D3; Pablo Rodriguez, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Fabian Boykin, Sr., RQ, DC; Jean Pierre Villavicencio, Sr., RQ-BR, D2; Chemir Philippe, Jr., RQ, D3; John Poussin, Sr., RQ, D3; Brian Emmanuel, Jr., RQ, D4.

Apopka Blue Darters

Coach: Nicholas Balkevicius (First year)

Assistant coach: Janice Pedroza

Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:6; 2022:1; 2021:1-3A3; 2020:1-3A3; 2019:6-3A2; 2018:1-3A2; 2017:1-3A2; 2016:1-3A2; 2015:2-3A2; 2014:1-3A2; 2013:2-3A3; 2012:1-3A3

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): David Bowerman, RQ, DC.

Notable returning wrestlers: Enrique Zeuteno, Sr., 4-6, RQ, D3; Brandon Roberts, Jr., RQ, D2; Tjah Paillant, Sr.; Carter White, Sr.; Sebastian Olivencia-Grafals, Sr.

What they are saying: “This team is willing to put in the hours on the mat and super eager to wrestle. I am very impressed with the progress I've seen with my team in the very short time I've been with them.”

Outlook: Balkevicius takes over a program that has had back-to-back poor seasons after winning three straight district titles.

Windermere Wolverines

Coach: Aaron Drone (3rd season)

Assistant coaches: Jeremy Covey, Lucas Drone, Tyler Drone, Nikolay Musarskiy

Click here for 24-25 schedule

23-24 dual record: 1-4

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:5; 2022:2; 2021:3-3A3; 2020:3-3A3; 2019:2-3A2; 2018:7-3A2.

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Lucas Drone, 35-13, RQ, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Raphael Taquechel, So., 28-14, RQ, DC; Daniel Pullen, Jr., 5-14, D5; Asa Rush, So., 3-17; Trystan Vasquez, So., 4-23; William Atencio, So., 4-12

New wrestlers: Franco Bustamante; Egehan Yilhan; Bryan Alcivar

What they’re saying: “We are returning many wrestlers from last years team. We will still be young, but excited to grow from last year’s experience.”

Outlook: The Wolverines are still a young team with region qualifier Taquechel coming back.

Horizon Hawks

Coach: Anthony Byrd (2nd at school/5th overall)

Assistant coach: Matt Smith

Recent district results: 2024:8-2A8; 2023:6-2A8; 2022:5-1A7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Matteo Lasorsa, 27-12, SQ, R4, D2; Vinci Armas, 18-9, RQ, D3; Charlie Torbert, 12-12, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Joey Torres, Sr. 8-5; Giovanni Lasorsa, So., 9-7; Ethan Chan, Jr., 3-2

New wrestler: Jefferson Santos; Blake Motley

What they are saying: “We are young and new with only three wrestlers with more than one season experience.”

Outlook: The Hawks enter their fourth season as a program and the first in Class 3A. Ninety percent of the roster has just 1-2 years experience so this is a team still growing and learning the sport.