3A-7 Preview: Wide-open district race could go to number of teams

BY BRANT PARSONS

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

Last season: Only 52.5 points separated No. 1-No. 7 in this district last year with Lakewood Ranch edging Plant City by 10.5 points at the top.

How did Kabra do?: We picked against our favorite and got it right with Lakewood Ranch winning it’s second in three years.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Leonardo Perdomo (Bloomingdale), Chris Dinsdale (Lennard), Trent Jacobs (Sumner), Brendon Clark (Sumner), Anthony Cubero (Bloomingdale), Dylan Williams (Bloomingdale), James Aguilar (Riverview), Jonathan Lattimore (Armwood)

The favorite: Bloomingdale. With Lakewood Ranch gone, the Bulls move into the favorite position in a district that seems fairly wide open.

Team to watch: Sumner. Take your pick on teams. The Stingrays are a mix of youth and high-level wrestlers. That could be enough to scare a few teams.

District duals: Monday, January 9 at Sumner

District IBT: Friday, February 21 at Riverview

Bloomingdale Bulls

Coach: Mark Church

Recent district results: 2024:3; 2023:1; 2022:4; 2021:1-3A6; 2020:3-3A6; 2019:7; 2018:3; 2017:10; 2016:5; 2015:7-3A8; 2014:7-3A8; 2013:5-3A6; 2012:4-3A6

Last state champion: Chris Figari, 2009 (160)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): James Singer, 50-6, 4th, RC, DC; Mizael Morales, 42-9, SQ, R3, DC; Luke Bever, 37-18, SQ, R3, D2; Rudy Rasmussen, 21-17, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Anthony Cubero, Sr.; Leonardo Perdomo, Jr., 42-15, SQ, R3, DC; Dylan Williams, So., 30-19; Anthony Hidalgo, Jr., 24-23, RQ, D4; Brandon Lemke, So., 24-15, RQ, D4; Ronald Milrod, Sr., RQ, D4; Gavin White, So., RQ, D4.

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

Sumner Stingrays

Coach: Erik DeJesus

Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:4; 2022:2-2A9; 2021:7-2A6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jack Cleversey, 35-11, RQ, DC; Jacob Saaverda, 21-21, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Trent Jacobs, Sr., 0-0; Jasiah Solomon, Sr., 42-6, RQ-BR, DC; Brendon Clark, Sr., 42-8, 8th, R2, DC; Ruben Butler, Sr., 17-18, RQ, D4; Kenneth Elie, Sr., 34-14, RQ-BR, D2; Antonio Guzman, Jr., 30-14, RQ, D2.

What they are saying: “We are still a fairly young team with a ton of underclassmen. My senior returners will be the strength of the team and at this point the weakness of the team, if I’m being honest, is coaching.”

Outlook: A solid group of seniors will lead the Stingrays this season. DeJesus is the only coach heading into the season with his assistant taking a break and his girls coach getting promoted into administration. He’s adding help, but feeling the pressure of leading two teams into the season.

Riverview Sharks

Coach: Ryan Hall

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:3; 2022:5; 2021:2-3A6; 2020:1-3A6; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:3; 2016:1; 2015:2-3A8; 2014:3-3A8; 2013:3-3A6; 2012:3-3A6

Last state champion: Nicholas Romero, 2022 (132)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aidyn Wolfe, 56-4, 4th, R3, DC; Romarion Farquharson, 40-17, SQ, R2, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: James Aguilar, Jr., 48-8, SQ, R4, DC; Jacob Bowen, Sr., 45-14, RQ, D2; Paul Rios, Jr., 40-14, RQ, D3; Tristan Mayberry, Jr., RQ, D4; Aidan Hart, Sr., RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Juvandy Robinson, Jr., 31-18, RQ, DC (Transfer from Bell Creek)

Strawberry Crest Chargers

Coach: Justin Weaver

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

Last state champion: Cullen Telfer, 2015 (113)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Cody Anderson, 55-5, 5th, R3, DC; Andrew Raab, 42-6, RQ, DC; Devin Blunt, 47-8, 7th, R3, DC; Zander Spurway, 45-12, RQ-BR, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Anthony Lucarini, Sr., 12-4, RQ-BR, DC; Georgie Rivera, Sr., 35-13, RQ, D3; Braden Schwarz, Jr., 30-17, RQ, D2.

Newsome Wolves

Coach: Stephen Gilbert

Recent district results: 2024;6; 2023:5; 2022:3; 2021:5-3A6; 2020:2-3A6; 2019:2-3A6; 2018:3-3A6; 2017:2-3A6; 2016:5-3A6; 2015:4-3A8; 2014:5-3A8; 2013:7-3A6; 2012:5-3A6

Last state champion: Kohl Drake, 2020 (160)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Owen Melovich, RQ, D3; Samuel Herzburg, 24-16, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: Nikita Sapozhnikov, Sr., 31-13, RQ, DC; Rourke Drake, Sr., 29-14, RQ, D2; Michael McKeever, Sr., 37-13, RQ, D2; Brandon Hall, Sr., 21-20, RQ, D3; Anthony Biancarosa, Sr.

Lennard Longhorns

Coach: Keygan Foster

Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:7; 2022:6; 2021:7-3A6; 2020:7-3A6; 2019:8-2A8; 2018:11-2A8; 2017:9-2A8; 2016:2-2A8; 2015:5-2A10; 2014:6-2A10; 2013:2-2A9; 2012:2-2A9

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Christian Stibich, 20-12, RQ-BR, D2; Mekhi Perkins, 26-12, RQ, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Chris Dinsdale, Sr., 44-7, 8th, RC, DC; Urijah Guzman, Jr., 50-13, RQ-BR, D3; Dawson Buzbee, Sr., 24-18, RQ, D4; Zach Bartling, Sr., 28-17, RQ, D3.

Wiregrass Ranch Bulls

Coach: J. Edward Ketler (6th year)

Assistant coaches: Kevin Jacques, Dan Norstrand

23-24 dual record: 8-11

Recent district results: 2024:9; 2023:11; 2022:7-2A6; 2021:7-3A7; 2020:8-3A7; 2019:8-3A7; 2018:9-3A7; 2017:9-3A7; 2016:10-3A7; 2015:9-2A8; 2014:6-2A8; 2013:9; 2012:7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Peter Simkins, Jr., 41-24, RQ, D4;

Notable returning wrestlers: Lorenzo Sanchez, Jr., 34-15, RQ, D4; Adam Joshua Beckford, Sr., 18-12, RQ, D3; Tyler Mascarelli, Sr., 34-18, RQ, D3; Sean Williams, Sr.; Francis Callazo-Birrel, Jr.

What they are saying: “This year’s team has put in a lot of work over the summer and is ready to be challenged. They have some experience under their belt and are looking to try and take the next step in their wrestling journey. Many of our kids have traveled throughout the summer and have continued their off-season training, so now they want to see the fruits of their labor. They have raised the bar of their expectations.”

On the program growth: “Just a few years ago our team only had five kids when I took over the program. That year, I took my first kids to states. Since then, we have built this program from the ground up with a full varsity line up, nearly a full JV program and now a full girls team. We are now producing state qualifiers and state placers. And what is more important is that more kids are getting to enjoy the great wrestling experience.”

Outlook: A full line-up should help the Bulls as they work to improve across the board.

Plant Panthers

Coach: Jay Powers (3rd season)

Assistant coaches: Eric Springer, Tatiana Perez

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:10; 2022:4; 2021:5-3A7; 2020:4-3A7; 2019:5-3A7; 2018:4-3A7; 2017:4-3A7; 2016:6-3A7; 2015:6; 2014:4; 2013:8; 2012:9

Last state champion: Will Putnam, 2018 (285)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Matthew Castello, 14-11, RQ, D4; Bjorn Berryman, 14-9, RQ, D4; Gabe Powers, 19-12; Koda Sciuto, 10-7; Parker Milling, Sr., 24-17, D6 (Transfer to Robinson)

Notable returning wrestlers: Rico Gordon, Sr., 18-14, RQ, DC.

What they are saying: “We are young with mostly underclassmen. Rico is my one notable returner.”

Outlook: Gordon is back after winning a district title last season and the senior will look to go deeper into the postseason.

Armwood Hawks

Coach: Adam Cain (2nd at school)

Assistant coaches: Lane Best, John Lombardo

Recent district results: 2024:11; 2023:9; 2022:8; 2021:8; 2020:8; 2019:3-2A7; 2018:4-2A7; 2017:9-2A7; 2016:8-2A7; 2015:7-2A7; 2014:8-2A7; 2013:5-2A9; 2012:6-2A9

Last state champion: Donoven Hough, 2013 (113)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Daniel Delashaw

Notable returning wrestlers: Jonathan Lattimore, Sr., 25-7, RQ-BR, D3; Jake Gunter, Sr., 21-12, RQ, D2; Greg Lott, Sr.; Jayden Cain

Outlook: Year two of Cain taking over the program has some wrestlers on the cusp of reaching Kissimmee.

Wharton Wildcats

Coach: Dwayne Davis

Recent district results: 2024:12; 2023:13; 2022:6-2A6; 2021:8-3A7; 2020:7-3A7; 2019:10-3A7; 2018:5-3A7; 2017:7-3A7; 2016:2-3A7; 2015:4; 2014:5; 2013:7-3A7; 2012:4-3A7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None