G1A-16 Preview: Two returning individual state champs highlight toughening district
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: South Dade qualified 10 for regions and won the team title by 20.5 points over North Miami.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Sofia Delgado (Miami Coral Park), Mya Bethel (North Miami), Isis Severe (North Miami), Emily Jaspe (Mater Academy), Kaitelynn Oliver (South Dade), Chloe Parets (Florida Christian), Geraldine Honore (South Dade), Anisah Paz (South Dade), TJ Broadnex (South Dade), Alexa Paz (SLAM Academy), Rebekkah Kinkade (South Dade), Arianna Garcia (South Dade), Rachel Silva (Florida Christian), Tessa Diaz (Doral Academy), Valentina Mora (Miami Beach)
The favorite: South Dade. Two district titles in two years for the Bucs who keep growing in numbers.
Team to watch: Florida Christian. This is a team that has been working hard on growing and building the numbers inside the room.
District IBT: Feb. 9 at Coral Park
Kabra Says: The district has two individual returning state champions and some teams committed to growing their girls programs. South Dade is the head of the district but there are teams that are building with them.
South Dade Buccaneers (#9)
Coach: Chico Duran (4th season)
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aviatzi Gonzalez, 12-10, RQ-BR, D2; Kathleeen Fisher, 22-8, SQ, R2, DC; Maria Sanifel, 20-10, RQ-BR, D3; Yoseline Perez, 30-5, 2nd, RC, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-130 Geraldine Honore, Jr., 26-11, 8th, R4, DC; #6-135 Anisah Paz, Sr., 29-7, SQ, R2, DC; #6-145 TJ Broadnex, Sr., 15-10, RQ-BR, D4; #8-110 Rebekkah Kinkade, Jr., 19-9, 8th, R2, D2; Beyonce Espinosa, Jr., 18-10, RQ-BR, D3.
New wrestler: #5-125 Kaitelynn Oliver (Transfer from Miami Southridge); #8-115 Arianna Garcia (Transfer from Coral Reef).
What they are saying: "Being willing to go and travel outside the area and find competition and go to tournaments and run the program exactly the same way as the boys are run is, is what's making wrestling grow so fast. It's helping girls wrestling. They practice with they boys, they're in our room at the same exact time. I don't think there's any other sport that the boys and the girls practice together but they practice together and they're going through the same regimented practices that the boys are. They're doing the same laps and they go in the weight room do the same workout."
Outlook: South Dade has won two straight district titles and returns a group that should all improve on last year’s performances with a challenging schedule that will test them all year long.
North Miami Pioneers (#10)
Coach: John Severe (8th season/14th overall)
Assistant coach: Shawn Pierre
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2
Last state champion: I-Cart Galumette, 2023 (110); Mya Bethel, 2023 (155)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): I-Cart Galumette, 29-1, SC, RC, DC; Shayana Stcyr, 17-10, RQ-BR, D3; Tydaisa Mack, 5-1; Wencheele Jacotin, 14-6, RQ, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-155 Mya Bethel, Jr., 27-0, SC, RC, DC; #3-120 Isis Severe, Jr., 28-6, SQ, R3, DC; Hephlie Joseph, Jr., 4-9, RQ, D5; Lesane Hied, So., 8-9, RQ, D5.
New wrestler: ShenShaila Baron
Fast fact: Two-time state champion Bethel has yet to lose a single match in high school and this summer she won a national title at Fargo.
Outlook: Bethel is one of the most dominant wrestlers in Florida and she proved it again this summer. She’ll look to stay unbeaten in high school this season.
Miami Coral Park Rams (#17)
Coach: Angel Vazquez
Recent district results: 2023:6
Last state champion: Sofia Delgado, 2023 (140)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-140 Sofia Delgado, Sr., 25-0, SC, RC, DC; #20-130 Carmen Dragustiovis, Jr., 14-8, RQ, D2; Ashley Merein, Sr., 16-10, RQ, D3; Isabella Maya, Sr., RQ, D4; Athena Nacer, Sr., 5-6, RQ, D4.
Mater Academy Lions
Coach: Eduardo Lamazares
Recent district results: 2023:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Eriesa Coney, 11-14, SQ, R4, D3; Daniella Flores, 19-7, RQ-BR, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #4-140 Emily Jaspe, Sr., 20-4, 4th, R3, D3; #11-145 Eriesia Coney, Sr., 22-8, SQ, R3, D3; #19-115 Camilla Delgado, Jr., 16-11, RQ, D3; Angelina Cortes, Jr., 8-13, RQ, D3; Samantha Ferrer, Jr., 12-15, RQ, D4; Shenshaila Baron, Jr., 5-16, RQ, D3.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
Click on link to see preview
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
Ferguson Falcons
Coach: Luis Cabal
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:13
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Myna Estrada, 15-4, SQ, RC, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #15-155 Emily Pomar, Jr., RQ-BR, D2; #20-190 Sydney Secure, Sr., RQ-BR, D2; Ava Gomez, So., RQ, D2.
Doral Academy Firebirds
Coach: Willy de Armas (3rd season)
Assistant coach: Alexis de Armas
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alejandra Notni, 12-5, SQ, R3, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: #8-235 Tessa Diaz, Jr., SQ, R3, D3; #13-100 Rebecca Marin, Fr., 9-6, SQ, R2, DC.
What they are saying: "They've been wrestling the whole offseason to get ready for this year. They are very excited. We hold them to the same standards as the old boys do. You have to put in the work if you want to get out of it what you want to get out of it."
On the growth of the program: "Since the girls have been proficient for the past two years, I've been getting a lot of messages from girls in our school saying they want to come out and they to compete. So the numbers are growing. Hopefully we grow a lot this year and get to where we can put out a whole team of girls. That would be awesome."
Outlook: Two state qualifiers return for the Firebirds, who are seeing the numbers in their girls program grow each season.
Florida Christian Patriots
Coach: Nick Alvarez
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Isabella Garcia, 26-8, SQ, R3, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-125 Chloe Parets, Sr., 20-14, 8th, R4, D4; Sofia Rodriguez, Jr., 10-13, RQ, D4.
New wrestler: #7-130 Rachel Silva, Jr., 14-2, SQ, RC, DC (Transfer from Somerset).
What they are saying: “We should have a full girls team this year.”
Outlook: Parets made school history last season by becoming the school’s first female state placer and they added another state qualifier in Silva to a growing room.
Key West Conchs
Coach: Chaz Jimenez (15th season)
Assistant coaches: Saint Pierre Anilus, Rich Fox, Leslie Saballos
Recent district results: 2023:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Shannon Briggs, 13-5, 2nd, R3, DC; Ailee Briggs, So., 19-6, 2nd, R2, D2 (Transfer to Lemon Bay).
Notable returning wrestlers: #11-105 Sheyla Figueira, So., 25-13, SQ, R3, D3; Natalie Arguello, Sr., 13-9, RQ, D2.
What they are saying: “These girls have put in the work.”
Outlook: The Briggs family has moved out of Key West but there’s a state qualifier and region qualifier coming back for the Conchs.
Coral Gables Cavaliers
Coach: Thomas Hardy
Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ajaanii Malone.
Notable returning wrestlers: #19-120 Kamora Willis, Jr., 12-5, RQ-BR, D2.
Outlook: Willis is back after falling a match short of Kissimmee last year.
Southwest Miami Eagles
Coach: Mick Arteaga
Recent district results: First season in FHSAA competition
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #18-135 Scarlett Sans, So., 17-4; Isabella Tellez, So., 14-8.
Homestead Broncos
Coach: Cedrick Stewart (1st season at school)
Assistant coaches: Franklin Torres, Frank Melo, Fernando Melo
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Esmeralda Ortiz, Jr.
Outlook: It’s Stewart’s first year in charge and he’s looking to build both the boys and girls teams up.
Miami Beach Hi-Tides
Coach: Fred Robby (15th season)
Assistant coach: Hector Jimenez
Recent district results: 2023:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alyssa Nazario, 20-5, 5th, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #9-155 Valentina Mora, So., 19-13, SQ, R4, D2.
Outlook: A state placer is gone, but state qualifier Mora is back.
Coral Reef Barracudas
Coach: Miguel Dominguez (12th season at school, 24th overall)
Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:13
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #20-125 Samantha Rocha, Sr., 10-4, RQ-BR, D2.
Outlook: Rocha fell just short of a state tournament trip last season after reaching the district final.
Braddock Bulldogs
Coach: Sergio Hernandez (3rd as head coach/21st at school)
Recent district results: 2023:11; 2022:12
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Analy Banuelos, 15-1, 2nd, RC, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
Miami Palmetto Panthers
Coach: Anthony Fadelle (7th season)
Recent district results: 2023:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #14-135 Eysis Estes-Brinson, So., 20-6, RQ-BR, DC.
Outlook: Estes-Brinson returns for her second year of wrestling after narrowly missing a trip to the state tournament a year ago.
Miami Jackson Generals
Coach: David Francis
Recent district results: 2023:14; 2022:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Emari Oquendo, So., RQ-BR, D3.
SLAM Academy Titans
Coach: Joseph Plair
Recent district results: 2023:15; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #6-130 Alexa Paz, Jr., SQ, R2, D4.