Class 1A State Duals Preview

Region Finals

11:00 AM

NOTE: Team rankings are Kabra Wrestling’s team dual rankings for Class 1A.

#8 Suwannee vs.

#11 Episcopal

1A-1 Region Final

All-Time region finals record | How they got here

Suwannee: 0-0, First appearance in region finals

The District 2 champions defeated Bay and Wakulla to punch their ticket to Kissimmee.

Episcopal: 0-0, First appearance in region finals

After winning District 3, the Eagles knocked out Baker County 48-30 and edged past Yulee 42-35.

Ranked wrestlers

Two debutants meet in the region final after Clay and Wakulla had a stranglehold on this region final the first five years. Both of these teams are battled tested in duals with much of their schedule this season being dual tournaments.

There are some interesting head-to-head matches that could mark this dual but many times, Suwannee is the team with the edge. Look for Episcopal to try and take advantage of their strong spots but in the end, Suwannee will have one or two close wins to seal the dual.

Suwannee: 106: #2 Eli Jolicoeur (38-3); 113: #9 Justin Contreras (29-4); 120: #2 Topher Pearson (30-5); 126: #5 Brody Boehm (34-3); 138: #19 Ayden Kirby; 145: #12 Marshall White (14-4); 152: #7 Austin McKinney (41-1); 160: #3 Austin Howard (34-3); 170: #10 Dustin Wood (27-6); 182: #19 Benjamin Lewis.

Episcopal: 120: #11 Turner Glenn (11-2); 126: #17 Scott Busey (22-4); 132: #13 Nicholas Pressley (12-2); 138: #13 Cohen Chesser (14-7); 152: #14 Chance Wolffe (10-1); 160: #14 John Fernandez (10-3); 170: #11 Brennan Doherty (20-4); 182: #12 Christian McGarity (15-5); 195: #9 Lawson Perry (11-3).

Breaking down the dual

Kabra Says

#1 Jensen Beach vs.

#3 Mater Lakes

1A-4 Region Final

All-Time region finals record | How they got here

Jensen Beach: 2-1, Won the state title in 2022 after beating Mater Lakes in the region final

The District 13 champions blasted Coral Springs Charter 73-6 before slipping past No. 6 Cardinal Gibbons 41-30.

Mater Lakes: 0-1, Lost to Jensen Beach last season in region final

After falling in the District 15 final, the Bears bounced back with a 57-14 win at Key West and then won their revenge match with No. 5 Somerset 34-29.

Ranked wrestlers

This is a rematch of last year’s roller-coaster ride of a dual between these two that saw Jensen Beach come out nine points ahead. Expect this one to be close again as these teams are both deep with talent.

Mater Lakes earned a spot back here after avenging a loss in the district final to Somerset. They are loaded and one of just a handful of teams that could put a scare into the defending state champions. Jensen Beach gets the pick from us to win again, but this one could turn into another thrill ride depending on where it starts.

Jensen Beach: 106: #6 Ben Norris; 113: #2 Gian Ortiz; 120: #1 Sebastian Degennaro; 126: #1 Ryan Mooney; 132: #5 Charlie Armstrong; 138: #5 Mikel Pierce-Walker; 145: #1 Jewell Williams; 152: #3 Dylan Fox; 160: #6 Colton Byrd; 182: #6 Malachi Harriel; 195: #3 Nate Sopotnick; 220: #13 Toby Rooney.

Mater Lakes: 106: #8 Mason O'Dell (15-2); 113: #10 Kellen Mesina (16-6); 120: #7 Anthony O'Dell (7-4); 120: #12 Bruce Li (22-4); 126: #4 Ethan Tran (15-3); 132: #9 Malikai Badillo (14-5); 138: #10 Eric Hodge (9-4); 145: #5 Emmanuel Celestin (17-2); 152: #5 Kalias Nazario (16-4); 160: #12 Emmanuel Nazco (13-5); 170: #7 Calogero Mazzrillo (10-5); 195: #6 Branden Marrero (8-2); 220: #2 Damian Soto (17-1).

Breaking down the dual

Kabra Says

#7 Hernando vs.

#9 Palm Bay

1A-2 Region Final

All-Time region finals record | How they got here

Team A: 0-5, Have reached the region final in all six years of the state duals competition

The District 5 champions defeated Weeki Wachee 51-24 last Thursday to secure a spot in the region final.

Team B: 2-0, Defeated Hernando last year for the second-consecutive season

The Pirates return to the region final for the third straight year after the District 8 champs beat Avon Park 57-15 and McKeel Academy 70-9.

Ranked wrestlers

Four of the five years that Hernando has reached the region final, they’ve lost to the team that reached the state final. This may be the best Leopards bunch to come to Kissimmee thus far with a solid collection of depth. Palm Bay has the star power on a younger line-up and will look to their big guns to score bonus points while some other step up to steal some wins.

This one should be exciting to watch and could come down to the final bout. I’ll give the slight edge to Hernando to finally get their region duals title.

Hernando: 113: #12 Kyle Pearson (16-5); 120: #8 Jordyn Valle (18-5); 132: #8 Kenneth Pritz (17-4); 138: #11 T.J. Rodier (19-4); 145: #9 James Gadson (14-5); 152: #12 James Garrett (16-4); 170: #17 Julius Eltzroth (14-8); 195: #10 Jayshawn Nantce (20-3); 285: #2 Devin Williams (18-2).

Palm Bay: 132: #4 Roman Maldonado; 138: #3 Ronald Theilacker; 145: #15 Avery Jackson; 152: #1 Nathan Furman; 170: #2 Brycen Turner; 285: #6 Leonard Chrsitian.

Breaking down the dual

Kabra Says

#10 Zephyrhills Christian

vs. #2 First Baptist-Naples

1A-3 Region Final

All-Time region finals record | How they got here

Zephyrhills Christian: 0-0, First appearance in region finals

The Warriors won the District 10 title and then advanced to Kissimmee with a 63-18 win over Hudson and 60-24 victory over Robinson.

First Baptist-Naples: 0-0, First appearance in region finals

The District 12 champions toppled Bayshore 66-12 and then knocked off then No. 2 Lemon Bay 42-21.

Ranked wrestlers

Both of these programs have been building some special the past few seasons and both are lineups are still very young. The first appearance for both might feature some early nerves but it should settle into a fun dual.

The development of Zephyrhills Christian has been exciting to see but this First Baptist team is ready to make another big splash on the state level after a strong performance in the IBT last March. Look for First Baptist to win this and move closer to a shot at the state championship.

Zephyrhills Christian: 106: #4 Reed Yakes; 113: #16 Jordan Lopez; 126: #19 Kyle Gallo; 132: #6 Talon Maple; 138: #8 Landen Holley; 152: #8 Javier Lopez; 170: #16 Jeremiah Chavis; 220: #5 Elijah Austin.

First Baptist-Naples: 106: #11 Everett Stephens (20-5); 113: #4 Asher Bacon (10-0); 120: #3 Jonathan Moder (16-9); 132: #3 Andres DiGrigoli (14-3); 138: #6 David Byelick (19-7); 145: #2 Michael Kersey (16-3); 152: #4 Joe Castellone (18-4); 160: #4 Gavin Patton (11-3); 170: #12 Roy Reyes (9-5); 182: #1 Christian Moder (19-1); 285: #1 Caleb Rodriguez (12-1).

Breaking down the dual

Kabra Says