G1A-12 Preview: Fort Myers looking to win third straight title in rising district

BY BRANT PARSONS

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

Last season: Fort Myers finished 45 points ahead of both Palmetto Ridge and Riverdale.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Kiera Partello (Barron Collier), Jazlyn Diaz (Riverdale), Regan Thomas (Naples), Hayle Peck (Palmetto Ridge), Claire O'Donnell (Canterbury), Hailee Moder (First Baptist-Naples), Noelia Varela (Riverdale), Priscilla Figueiredo (Fort Myers), Gabriella Vasquez (Bishop Verot), Naomie Sylvestre (Immokalee), Genesis Turrubiartez (Immokalee), Cheyenne Porter (Palmetto Ridge), Brianice Silguero (Immokalee)

The favorite: Fort Myers. The Green Wave has won two titles under Ashley Stowell.

Team to watch: Palmetto Ridge. There are four state qualifiers back for the Bears this season.

District IBT: Feb. 9 at Cypress Lake

Kabra Says: The district team race continues to tighten here, but until someone tops Fort Myers, we’re going to pick them.

Fort Myers Green Wave

Coach: Ashley Stowell (3rd season)

Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Carter Nelson, 10-14, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #7-120 Priscilla Figueiredo, Sr., 10-8, RQ, DC; #12-190 Jayla Teague, Sr., 13-9, SQ, R3, D2; #13-170 Daphney Pierre, Sr., 22-7, SQ, R2, DC; #16-145 Vallanda Antoine, Sr., 23-15, SQ, R3, DC; Taylor Easterbrook, Sr., 14-15, RQ, D3; Ryann Thomas, Jr., 11-14, RQ, D3; Ella Edsell, Jr., 9-17, RQ, D3.

Riverdale Raiders (#15)

Coach: Danny Rodriguez (1st year/2nd overall)

Assistant coach: Alicia Fellows

Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tatiana Soto, 21-4, RQ, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #2-110 Jazlyn Diaz, So., 42-7, 2nd, RC, DC; #7-140 Noelia Varela, Jr., 33-12, SQ, RC, DC; #14-125 Blanca Cespedes, Jr., 34-7, RQ, DC; #20-110 Skyler Randolph, Jr., 31-15, RQ-BR, D4; Andrea Garcia, So., 8-10.

Palmetto Ridge Bears

Coach: Blaine Ison (9th at school/14th overall)

Assistant coaches: Justin Rodriguez, Kain Mills, Ryan Tutt, Josh McIntosh

Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:6

Last state champion: Alyssa Favara, 2022 (190)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: #5-105 Hayle Peck, Sr., 29-8, SQ, R2, DC; #9-135 Cheyenne Porter, Jr., 6-2; #13-115 Emily McIntosh, So., 30-20, SQ, R4, D2; #16-170 Jasmine Toomer, So., 26-14, SQ, R3, D2; #18-130 Delenis Rogert Perez, So., 21-9, SQ, R4, D2.

The Florida High School Wrestling 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

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

Immokalee Indians

Coach: Filiberto Gorosquieta (8th season)

Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:4

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Rebecca Aviles, 17-10, SQ, R3, D2; Jenesis Sanders; Faith Casso, 12-8, RQ-BR, D3.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #8-120 Naomie Sylvestre, Sr., 23-10, SQ, RC, D3; #8-135 Genesis Turrubiartez, Sr., 22-6, 8th, R2, DC; #9-190 Brianice Silguero, Sr., 25-7, 8th, R2, DC; Sandra Andres, Sr., RQ, D4.

Bishop Verot Vikings

Coach: Gerry Braun (2nd year/19th overall)

Assistant coaches: Jason Bowman, Chris Lantagne, Mike Vasquez

Recent district results: 2023:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Taylor Benaitis, 3-10, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: #8-105 Gabriella Vasquez, Sr., 16-7, SQ, R3, D3; Lainey Hooper, Jr., 11-8, RQ-BR, D2; Anna Lesniak, Jr., 6-9, RQ, D4; Kendall Sullivan, Sr., 10-7.

What they are saying: "The girls have been the most impressive group on our program. Since last year ended, our girls are the most consistent wrestlers in the spring, summer and the fall. The six from last year have just been tremendous.”

Outlook: The room keeps growing for the girls at Bishop Verot with a dedicated bunch ready to make school history in Kissimmee.

Cypress Lake Panthers

Coach: Paul Rothenberg (16th at school/16th overall)

Assistant coaches: Aryeh Mehl, Chuckie Kerkesner

Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:2

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Angelica Ortiz-Renteral, 13-9, SQ, R2, D2; Destine'E Thomas, 19-4, 4th, RC, DC.

Notable returning wrestlers: #20-155 Kendy Sierra, Sr., RQ-BR, D3.

Outlook: Sierra returns after coming within one win of the state tournament last season.

First Baptist-Naples Lions

Coach: Mike DiGrigoli

Recent district results: 2023:11; 2022:14

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-115 Hailee Moder, Fr., 23-5, SQ, RC, DC.

New wrestler: Mia Parker, 7th.

Canterbury

Coach: Tariq Humes (2nd season)

Assistant coaches: Aaron Jackson, Anna Brooks

Recent district results: 2023:15

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: #6-140 Claire O'Donnell, So., 7-6, SQ, R4, D2.

Gulf Coast Sharks

Coach: Austin Ward

Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:10

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Hailee Thompson, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Sofia Carballeda, Jr., RQ, DC; Jayda Montolva-Solis, Sr., RQ-BR, D2.

Fort Myers Gateway Eagles

Coach: Elizabeth Dreiske

Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:21

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Hallie Green, Sr., 9-10, RQ, D2; Ilyana Sterrett, Jr., 3-10, RQ-BR, D4.

Barron Collier Cougars

Coach: Anthony Partello

Recent district results: 2023:15; 2022:13

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #2-100 Kiera Partello, So., 31-8, 4th, RC, D3.

LaBelle Cowboys

Coach: Matt Miller (9th season)

Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:8

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Krystal Trong, 8-11, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: #12-155 Grace Freeman, Jr., 16-7, SQ, R2, DC.

South Fort Myers Wolfpack

Coach: Andre Metzger

Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kayah Bonilla-Mas, 24-8, SQ, R2, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Falaune Paulin, Sr., 8-9, RQ, D4; Frances Moore, So., 6-8, RQ, D4.

Lely Trojans

Coach: Tige Thompson (10th season, 12th overall)

Assistant coach: J. Flores

Recent district results: 2023:9

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Shumarah Pierre, 13-9, RQ, D2; Margarita Colocho, 8-10, RQ, D5.

Notable returning wrestler: Eurika Milien, Sr., 11-11, RQ, D4.

Fort Myers Evangelical Sentinels

Coach: Clint Thompson (3rd season)

Recent district results: 2023:17

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Mackenzie Thompson, Sr., 13-8, RQ, D3.

Estero Wildcats

Coach: Evan Dawes (2nd season)

Assistant coach: Curtis Headlee

Recent district results: 2023:18; 2022:11

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Rebecca Reisen, Sr., 9-19, RQ, D3.

Naples Golden Eagles

Coach: Jeff Wesson (2nd season)

Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:11

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: #3-105 Regan Thomas, Sr., 32-8, 3rd, RC, DC.

Outlook: State placer Thomas returns for her senior year with her sights set on a state title.

Golden Gate Titans

Coach: Thomas Kleinmeyer

Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:16

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Tayah Morgan, So., 3-8, RQ, D3.

Lehigh Lightning

Coach: John Doscher

Recent district results: 2023:19; 2022:14

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Potential notable returning wrestlers: None