G1A-1 Preview: Lincoln looking to repeat as district champions

BY BRANT PARSONS

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

Last season: Lincoln outscored Crestview by 64.5 points to win the school’s first-ever girls district title.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Camdyn Elliott (Gulf Breeze), Ashley Shaw (Chiles), Sayuri Caceres (Lincoln), Cadence Lyons (Chiles), Sigrun Metzger (Crestview), Lahela Turnquest (Tate), Alexis Brown (Crestview), Holly Sanders (Chiles)

The favorite: Lincoln. Even with a couple key losses, the Trojans seem to be the team to beat again this year.

Team to watch: Chiles. Two state qualifiers will be joined by a couple solid transfers.

District IBT: Feb. 9 at Mosley

Kabra Says: Lincoln has been building a girls program to match their boys in depth and even with losses to graduation and transfer, the Trojans still have the numbers and should be enough to top Crestview, Chiles, and North Bay Haven.

Lincoln Trojans

Coach: Mike Crowder (29th season)

Assistant coaches: Jake Burch, Reggie Toombs

See the 23-24 schedule here

Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:4

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ciera Stennett, 12-10, RQ, DC; Marisa Abarca, RQ, DC; Jordan Herron, Fr., 11-6, RQ, D3 (Transfer to Chiles)

Notable returning wrestlers: #5-100 Sayuri Caceres, So., 22-12, 8th, R3, D2; #13-125 Amelia McKnight, So., 15-12, RQ-BR, D3; Sydney Merrill, Sr., RQ, D4; Stacey Martinez, Jr., RQ, D4; Cassidy Papka, Jr., RQ, D2.

On Sayuri: "She does get a little fired up and we've worked on just relaxing and letting loose. We've been working on going out there and getting it done and just keep doing what you're doing and wrestle hard."

Outlook: Caceres enters the season as one of the favorites to contend for a state title and the rest of the roster is growing and improving.

Crestview Bulldogs

Coach: Robbie Gaines

Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:3

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Freydis Metzger, 17-3, SQ, R3, DC; Savannah Joleman, 5-9, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-110 Sigrun Metzger, Jr., 23-3, 7th, R2, DC; Hannah Chrismast, Jr., 3-11, RQ, D5; Laila Archer, Sr., 16-6, RQ-BR, D3; Reyannah Sturges, Jr., 6-13, RQ, D4.

New wrestler: #10-105 Alexis Brown, Jr., RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer from Milton)

Chiles Timberwolves (#14)

Coach: James Marschka (19th season)

Assistant coaches: David Lunn, Brad Hoard, Dale Jackson, Garrett Marschka

Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: #4-130 Ashley Shaw, Sr., 32-4, 3rd, RC, D2; #5-170 Cadence Lyons, Sr., 20-2, SQ, RC, DC.

New wrestlers: Jordan Herron, So., 11-6, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Lincoln); #11-140 Holly Sanders, Jr., 17-12, SQ, R4, D4.

The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews

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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

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

North Bay Haven Charter Buccaneers

Coach: Zane Turnipseed (3rd at school/6th overall)

Assistant coaches: David Mercado Sr., Jon Myers, Sam Buatu, Wes Lumpkin

Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:16

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Katherine Lundgren, 33-6, RQ-BR, DC.

Notable returning wrestlers: #18-105 Hayden Hauck, 8th, 20-10, RQ-BR, D4; Aleiyah Willett, Jr., 17-11, RQ, D5; Julia Falgout, Jr., 19-12, RQ, D2; Briyanna Peralta, Sr., 13-14, RQ, D4.

New wrestler: Gracelynn Janssen, So., 13-24, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Mosley)

What they are saying: "We have two or three seniors. And they know that they're not going to be where they want to be this year as a team. But they're still that excited about recruiting a middle schooler that might not pay off for a year or two. They've kind of become little assistant coaches in the way they help in contact with girls. They're recruiting them, they're training up the brand new ones. Yes, the buy in has been huge."

Outlook: The girls program has grown from two girls - to six girls - to over 12 entering this season.

Choctawhatchee Indians

Coach: Rodrigo Damore

Assistant coach: Josh Carroll

Recent district results: 2023:5;2022:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: #16-115 Mary McKinney, So., 20-14, RQ-BR, D2; #17-135 Alexea Lawson, Sr., 19-13, RQ-BR, D3.

What they are saying: “I think both Alexea and Mary are hungry. And the fire between the two of them because both want to be the first girl to place for the school at the state tournament. They both have made wrestling number one for them and they've put in a lot offseason time and they're both very motivated."

Outlook: McKinney and Lawson have both been working hard through the offseason and come into the year looking to improve on last season.

Wewahitchka Gators

Coach: J Rushing (3rd season)

Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:1

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Kameron Easter, Fr., 15-12, RQ, D3; Mia Beatty, Fr., 14-16, RQ, D4; Avery Forehand, So., 11-14, RQ, D3.

Niceville Eagles

Coach: Rachel Groft/Matt Hanlon

Recent district results: 2023:6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Isabella Wall, 8-6, RQ, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #19-140 Alexis Krumnow, Sr., 11-7, RQ-BR, DC; Charlotte Mardis, So., 4-11, RQ, D4; Alexis Orcutt, Sr., 7-6, RQ, D2.

Gulf Breeze Dolphins

Coach: Dave Daily

Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:13

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Helena Alcantar, Sr., 23-5, 5th, R2, DC (Transfer)

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #1-100 Camdyn Elliott, So., 22-2, 2nd, RC, DC; #11-115 Lily Powell, Jr., 20-5, RQ-BR, D2.

Florida High Seminoles

Coach: Clay Allen (14th season)

Recent district results: 2023:11; 2022:11

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jaylyn Middleton, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Olivia Gibson, 7th, RQ-BR, D5; Claire Ajose-Adeogun, Fr., RQ, D3.

What they are saying:

Outlook:

Mosley Dolphins

Coach: Jeremiah LaFountain (1st year head coach/5th at school)

Assistant coaches: Ludger Denis, Eric Nolan, Devin Butler, Maggie Brannon

See the 23-24 schedule here

Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:2

Last state champions: Valarie Solorio, 2022 (100); Henlee Haynes, 2022 (170)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Amanda Adams, 6-19, RQ, D5; Henlee Haynes; Gracelynn Janssen, So., 13-24, RQ, D4 (Transfer to North Bay Haven)

Notable returning wrestler: Rowdy Johns, Jr., 9-18, RQ, D2; Annabelle Brannon; Trinity Brannon; Morgan Klems

New wrestler: Bri Walker

What they are saying: “It’s growing. We have more wrestlers for the boys and girls teams than I have ever witnessed with the program.”

Fort Walton Beach Vikings

Coach: Tobi Marez

Recent district results: 2023:14; 2022:6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #14-155 Remi Martin, Jr., 9-4, RQ, D2.

Pace Patriots

Coach: Reggie Allen

Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:8

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Evelyn Pluskamp, 26-7, RQ, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Morgan Johnson, So., 23-11, RQ, D6.

New wrestler: Kiiaana Gavere, So., RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer from Milton)

Milton Panthers

Coach: Alex Alvarado (2nd season)

Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:10

Last state champion: Aireaana Gavere, 2023 (130)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aireaana Gavere, SC, RC, DC; Alexis Brown, So., RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer to Crestview); Kiiaana Gavere, So., RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer to Pace).

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None.

Tate Aggies

Coach: Aaron Telatovich

Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:12

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-120 Lahela Turnquest, Jr., 26-18, 7th, R2, DC.

Rutherford Rams

Coach: Jarod Melvin (5th season)

Recent district results: 2023:15; 2022:14

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Hannah Santore, 1-11, RQ, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Michelle Brickley, Jr., 8-6, RQ, D5.

Arnold Marlins

Coach: Michael Lapadat (3rd season/13th overall)

Assistant coaches: Scott Koral

Recent district results: 2022:17

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Leah Tierese.

Wakulla War Eagles

Coach: William Pafford

Recent district results: 2023:16

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Austin Brown, Sr., RQ, D2.

Bozeman Bucks

Coach: Robert Dobbs

Recent district results: 2023:17; 2022:9

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None