Region 1A-1: Preview and Predictions

FRIDAY-SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1, 2025 - at Bay High School

Friday: Weigh-in: 10 a.m. (CST) | Wrestling starts: 12 p.m. (CST)

Saturday: Weigh-in: 8 a.m. (CST) | Wrestling starts: 10 a.m. (CST)

Welcome to one of my favorite traditions - the region previews.

For those that are reading one for the first time, here's a quick summary of what the region preview is.

I start first by printing out each bracket - yes, this is one of the things I'm old school on.

I notate where wrestlers are ranked in the Kabra Wrestling Rankings and then start to break it down even more.

I look for head-to-head matchups, common opponents, and how each wrestler has been trending in the stretch run.

I then question my rankings - and myself - and play out the entire bracket.

What follows is my best guess for how 1A-1 will play out.

You can print the 1A-1 region bracket here. (PDF)

I've carefully predicted the four state qualifiers in the order that I think the will finish. I've also listed wrestlers that could prove me wrong and make it to Kissimmee.

I will be wrong with these picks, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I love when kids prove me wrong (or prove me right).

These previews and predictions are meant to bring excitement to one of the exhilarating and heartbreaking weekends in sports.

I assure you that I have no bias in my picks and truly wish the best for every wrestler competing this weekend.

And as always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.

Now onto the preview:

Kabra's Picks

1. #1 Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee)

2. #13 Thiago Finuff (Liberty County)

3. #18 Malik Leonard (Florida High)

4. #20 Andrew Makeev (Bolles)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Soren Bakkar (Bishop Kenny); Miles Rinkus (Rocky Bayou Christian)

Opening round match to watch: Toby Hammett (University Christian) vs. Tripp Guess (Paxon)

Kabra says: In a weight class where wrestlers have struggled with youth and consistency, one thing we have been sure of is Jolicoeur as a favorite to win here. He’s a three-time state qualifier and placed fourth in the state last year. His journey to a title continues here this weekend with his second region title. The rest of the podium? Oh boy, it could get fun.

Kabra's Picks

1. #6 Koa Deloach (North Bay Haven)

2. #9 Tyler Johnson (Wewahitchka)

3. #16 John Cheney (Florida High)

4. #20 James Leiby (Stanton Prep)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #21 Patrick Cooksey (Wakulla); Lance Grayson (Bishop Kenny)

Opening round match to watch: Breydan Peugh (Union County) vs. Cooksey

Kabra says: Deloach has tech-falled Johnson in all three of their meetings, including last week’s district title. That makes him a strong favorite here in our eyes. The match to keep an eye on Friday is the possible Leiby-Cooksey quarterfinal, the winner here likely has a smoother ride to the podium.

Kabra's Picks

1. #2 Preston Neufeld (North Bay Haven)

2. #8 Landon Higginbotham (Yulee)

3. #6 Justin Contreras (Suwannee)

4. #10 Matthew Thaxton (Wakulla)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Thomas Pluhar (Rocky Bayou Christian); Jacob Justice (Freeport)

Opening round match to watch: Wyatt Feltgen (Florida High) vs. Pluhar

Kabra says: With four wrestlers in the Top 10, we can’t fully say that the semifinal bout between Neufeld-Contreras would be the decider here - but it could go a long way. Both wrestlers have placed at state, with Neufeld finishing fifth last year after winning the region title and Contreras earning eighth place as a sophomore.

Kabra's Picks

1. #5 Sterling Hollingsworth (Florida High)

2. #6 William Harvey (Wakulla)

3. #11 Dylan Lunsford (Bishop Kenny)

4. #12 Leonardo Torres (Stanton Prep)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #14 Lincoln Brehmer (Yulee); Devin Vasquez (Bay)

Opening round match to watch: #23 Taylor Martinez (Wolfson) vs. Rylan Milian (Suwannee)

Kabra says: Hollingsworth took the season series lead with Harvey after winning by a major decision in last week’s district final. There are some potential roadblocks in each other’s way to a fourth meeting. If the brackets do go as we predict, Lunsford has a major decision win over Torres at the Optimist in December and they could be battling for third.

Kabra's Picks

1. #3 Jake Parker (Wewahitchka)

2. #4 Jasper Croom (Florida High)

3. #8 Mikah Ikeda (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

4. #10 Howard Hill (St. Johns Country Day)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #13 Ethan Warchol (Bishop Kenny); #18 Lucas Flannery (Yulee)

Opening round match to watch: Jayden James (Suwannee) vs. Elijah Sanon (Andrew Jackson)

Kabra says: Of all of the 168 weight classes we’ve studied, this one was definitely was one of the leaders for most time spent thinking about it. We don’t have a Parker-Croom head-to-head to study, but we have Parker going 1-1 against Liberty County’s Jay Brown and Croom losing their one match. Of course there’s no guarantee both will get here. A potential semifinal between Parker and Ikeda should attract a few extra eyes. The Episcopal sophomore went 2-0 with two decision wins (7-3, 4-3) against Parker to start the season at Border Wars, but Parker got him back at Gator Brawl, winning 15-12.

Kabra's Picks

1. #2 Cael Kubatzke (Fernandina Beach)

2. #8 David Drake (Bay)

3. #10 Jay Brown (Liberty County)

4. #9 Colt Sanders (Wakulla)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Diego Torres (Stanton Prep); Brayden Reed (Florida High)

Opening round match to watch: #23 Jon-Luke Chartier (Yulee) vs. Thomas Coppedge (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

Kabra says: Kubatzke placed second in the state last year and enters this weekend as a healthy favorite here. Most of our time was spent being concerned about 2-4 on the podium. Drake has a technical fall victory over Sanders and if he wins again, we could see a district final rematch for third place here between the Wakulla freshman and Brown.

Kabra's Picks

1. #3 Jack Mulnix (North Bay Haven)

2. #4 Keaton Ellis (Florida High)

3. #5 Jareb Lauramore (Baker County)

4. #6 Nate Jacobs (Wakulla)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Chase Justice (Freeport); #22 Jaylen Bennett (Bay)

Opening round match to watch: Bennett vs. Ethan McFeely (Yulee)

Kabra says: Ellis has beaten Lauramore this season and Mulnix hasn’t faced any of the his top three challengers here. We even thought about putting names a in a hat because this should be a closely battled bracket.

Kabra's Picks

1. #7 Turner Glenn (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

2. #9 Taz Kinghorn (Baker County)

3. #14 Terence Hinson (Florida High)

4. #18 Aaron Robinson (Wakulla)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #19 Alex Solorio (Rutherford); #23 Deven Bradshaw (Bay)

Opening round match to watch: #20 Arthur Vanderpool (Suwannee) vs. Ethan Shiver (Fernandina Beach)

Kabra says: Returning state qualifier Glenn gets the nod here from us but it is worth nothing that the top three ranked wrestlers here haven’t seen each other this season. A critical match for the podium should take place in the quarterfinal round at the top of the bracket with Robinson and Solorio linked up. Robinson won their match this season by fall.

Kabra's Picks

1. #1 Marshall White (Suwannee)

2. #14 Nicholas Heineman (Marianna)

3. #13 Camden Garcia (Providence School)

4. #17 Will Lundgren (North Bay Haven)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #24 Worth Athey (Episcopal of Jacksonville); Hassan Hlodalla (Fernandina Beach)

Opening round match to watch: Heineman vs. Sebastian Overland (Baker County)

Kabra says: White is the favorite here so that part was easy to figure out. A key match will be if Heineman and Lundgren meet in the quarterfinals. Heineman is 2-0 between the two with a win by fall and a 9-2 decision.

Kabra's Picks

1. #4 Michael McNair (Yulee)

2. #10 Bear Siegal (North Bay Haven)

3. #12 Torynn Johns (Suwannee)

4. #18 Josh Mercer (Liberty County)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #23 Colby Crompton (Freeport); Wyatt Elixson (Union County)

Opening round match to watch: Brayden Manning (Wakulla) vs. Crompton

Kabra says: Returning state qualifier McNair carries the favorite tag into this weekend but a semifinal bout between Siegal and Johns has our attention. They have not met this season but a spot in the region finals could be on the line if they do face each other here.

Kabra's Picks

1. #5 Gibson Moore (South Walton)

2. #8 Jordan Haigler (Florida High)

3. #10 Tommy Rollins (Baker County)

4. #12 Clay Starling (Suwannee)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #23 Liam Bradley (Bishop Kenny); #24 Austin Weise (Yulee)

Opening round match to watch: Demari Randolph (Trinity Christian) vs. Roy Hughes (Marianna)

Kabra says: Moore finished in fourth place last year and is our pick to return to Kissimmee for a third time by winning the region here. Haigler placed two seasons ago as a freshman and looks ready to return himself. Watch for Rollins-Starling in the quarterfinals - and then maybe the consolation final.

Kabra's Picks

1. #6 Christian McGarity (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

2. #12 Grant Silverfield (Bolles)

3. #7 Clay Nelson (Rocky Bayou Christian)

4. #14 Landon Slater (Suwannee)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #20 Kaden Shaw (South Walton); #22 Zoltin Wilson (Freeport)

Opening round match to watch: Silverfield vs. Wilson

Kabra says: The two state placers in this bracket are both in the top half and have not seen each other this season. That makes their possible semifinal the match to watch here.

Kabra's Picks

1. #3 Phoenix Barbour-Yerka (Yulee)

2. #9 Asher Burris (Bozeman)

3. #5 Calvin Ross (Wewahitchka)

4. #20 Blake Barodte (Wakulla)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #21 Joseph Stronko (Baker County); #22 Anthony Fancher (Fernandina Beach)

Opening round match to watch: Mark Rinaman (Episcopal of Jacksonville) vs. Landon Hollister (Marianna)

Kabra says: The two best in the region heading into the weekend are both in the top half of this bracket. They’ll likely meet in the semifinals. The bottom half has four wrestlers ranked between 20 and 24 and the last spot on the podium will be from that group.

Kabra's Picks

1. #4 Cayden Ricks (Yulee)

2. #9 Holden Corbin (Suwannee)

3. #5 Keith Forbes (Wolfson)

4. #13 Felix McDuffy (Fernandina Beach)

Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #14 Taylor Davenport (Baldwin); #17 Maddox Davidson (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

Opening round match to watch: Davenport vs. Davidson

Kabra says: If you could see our paper bracket for this weight class, you’d see the issues and notes we took while breaking it down. Nothing is ever easy in picking heavyweights, but this one seems even tougher. In the end, we went with Ricks’ collection of wins over Forbes’ resume this season, but that one is as big a toss-up as we could find here. Our two wrestlers to watch start with each other. That’s always fun.

Next

2025 Region 1A-2 Preview