G1A-3 Preview: Defending state champions looking for more silverware
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: State champion Matanzas scored 206 points to win a deep district where four teams have over 100.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Mariah Mills (Matanzas), Kendall Bibla (Matanzas), Cheyenne Cruce (Middleburg), Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra), Christina Borgmann (Flagler Palm Coast), Tiana Fries (Matanzas), Katherine Stewart (Bartram Trail), Ava Burre (Bartram Trail), Lily Bradshaw (Middleburg), Ani Brown (Matanzas), Ana Vilar (Flagler Palm Coast), Aryan Benson (Tocoi Creek), Joslyn Johnson (Flagler Palm Coast), Gabrielle Proctor (Flagler Palm Coast), Skyla Fisher (Middleburg), Brooklyn Watt (Matanzas), Lillian Heflin (Ridgeview)
The favorite: Matanzas. Last year’s girls state champions will look a little different this year, but they’re still one of the teams to beat.
Team to watch: Middleburg. Bolstered by state champion Cruce, the Broncos are on the rise.
District IBT: Feb. 10 at Matanzas
Kabra Says: Matanzas found their stride for last year’s postseason and I imagine the Pirates will be firing again on all cylinders come Friday.
Matanzas Pirates (#1)
Coach: Mike Fries (3rd season)
Assistant coaches: TJ Gillin, Jeremiah Marschka, Sebastian Rizzo, Josh Bower, Caleb Bower
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1
Last state champion: Kendall Bibla, 2023 (145)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Brielle Bibla, 37-4, 2nd, R2, DC; Isabella Tietje, 10-9, SQ, R4, D2; Christina Borgmann, Jr., 36-5, 2nd, RC, DC (Transfer to Flagler Palm Coast); Gabrielle Proctor, Jr., 20-18, SQ, R2, D2 (Transfer to Flagler Palm Coast)
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-110 Mariah Mills, Jr., 36-5, 3rd, RC, DC; #1-145 Kendall Bibla, Jr., 30-6, SC, R2, D2; #2-135 Tiana Fries, Jr., 33-7, 5th, R3, DC; #4-235 Ani Brown, Jr., 15-16, 6th, R3, DC; #10-140 Saiomy Cabrera, Sr., 19-12, SQ, R3, D3; #10-170 Brooklyn Watt, Jr., 25-11, 7th, R3, D2; Autumn Jarvis, Jr., 13-16, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: Jazlynn Golder, Jr., 6-15, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Mainland)
What they are saying: “Last season's ‘young’ team is now returning with more experience and depth.”
Outlook: The defending state champions are ranked No. 13 in the country and looking to improve on that with a second run to a state title.
Middleburg Broncos (#8)
Coach: Coll Robertson (3rd season/6th overall)
Assistant coaches: Richie Dusinberre, Jamie Harrison
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2-1A2
Last state champion: Cheyenne Cruce, 2023 (190)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gracie Bradshaw, 37-7, 3rd, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #1-190 Cheyenne Cruce, Jr., 39-0, SC, RC, DC; #4-105 Lily Bradshaw, So., 16-10; #8-100 Skyla Fisher, So., 25-14, SQ, R3, DC; #11-110 Memphis Moses, So., 23-19, SQ, R3, D2; #15-120 Sarah Walsh, So., 27-16, RQ, D2; .
What they are saying: "We're gonna keep pushing, and keep trying to get more girls out, because that's the biggest thing. Like we have five, six solid girls that are going to compete and hopefully be placing at state this year. But when it's six people placing compared to their seven, we're going to come up short every single time. So we'll just keep pushing forward, try and get more girls out. And then start getting these first place trophies instead of second."
On Cruce: "It's first setting the standard and then it's almost inspirational for all these girls to see, I can go and compete now in what used to be a man sport or a guy sport. And I can succeed, they don't have to compete against the guys, they're competing against girls and they're getting the same opportunity that these guys are in a sport that requires you to be tough and I feel like in our area, a lot of these kids have to be tough to make it through high school. So she's giving these girls a different outlet."
On disappointment of finishing second: "In my classroom, I'm looking at our back-to-back district runners-up trophies and then a region runner-up trophy and it's embarrassing. I hate to be like that, but come on, we could do better. Now, last year, district runner up and region runner up to the eventual team state champs, that's nothing to be too upset about. But you know, runner up is just... we don't want that, we want more."
Outlook: Cruce made school history by becoming Middlesburg’s first-ever state champion wrestler last season. The team returns a strong nucleus to lead that team and will look to add numbers to use depth for more postseason accolades.
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
Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs (#4)
Coach: David Bossardet
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #2-140 Ana Vilar, Jr., 12-6, 6th, R3, D2; #6-105 Joslyn Johnson, So., 20-13, RQ-BR, D2.
New wrestlers: #2-130 Christina Borgmann, Jr., 36-5, 2nd, RC, DC (Transfer from Matanzas); #6-155 Gabrielle Proctor, Jr., 20-18, SQ, R2, D2 (Transfer from Matanzas)
Bartram Trail Bears (#11)
Coach: Sam Harris
Assistant coaches: Johan Olarte, Alex Vugman, Rich Maritato; Matthew Rodriquez
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Vanessa Stobe, 12-15, RQ-BR, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #2-145 Katherine Stewart, Sr., 33-4, 2nd, RC, DC; #3-155 Ava Burre, Sr., 28-8, 3rd, RC, DC; #11-190 Hannah Matalobos, Sr., 8-12, SQ, R3, D4; #19-170 Paige Stewart, Sr., 10-5, RQ-BR, DC; Claire Townsend, Sr., 7-16, RQ, D3; Kyla Crooks, Jr., 8-10, RQ, D3; Giannina Simponpietri, Jr., 10-13, RQ, D2; Izabella Betancourt.
What they are saying: "Having people like Catherine Stewart in the room, Ava Burre, Hannah Matalobos, Claire Townsend, those seniors have been a tremendous part in instilling the foundation of culture that the type of program we want to be and the type of people we want to be."
Outlook: The program is growing and the senior leadership is firmly part of that growth. Stewart and Burre both have their sights on the top of the podium after their performances in the state tournament last year.
Ponte Vedra Sharks
Coach: Nadine Fiege (4th season)
Assistant coach: Alexa Christoforatos
22-23 dual record: 3-0
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:2
Last state champion: Olivia Richie, 2022 (140)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Sophia Mallon, 11-11, RQ, D3; Olivia Richie, 28-4, 3rd, RC, DC; Josie Sagasser, 11-7, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #2-115 Erin Rizzuto, Jr., 35-1, 3rd, RC, DC; #10-120 Natalia Choquegonza, Jr., R4, D2; #18-125 Donavanne Hofmann.
Tocoi Creek Toros
Coach: Darick Dunham (3rd at school/12th overall)
Assistant coaches: John O’Shea, Steven Giffel
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Julia Rich, 8-14, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-145 Aryan Benson, Sr., 29-9, 7th, R3, D3; Kassidy Grundy, So., 10-15, RQ, D5; Olivia Jackson, Jr., 2-17, RQ, D4; Saniyah Callahan, Sr., 12-12, RQ, D4; Sophia Avetisova, Jr., 2-14, RQ, D4.
Beachside Barracudas
Coach: Lance Day
Recent district results: 2023:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Karson Kremski, So., 17-8, RQ, D3; Rachell Zeledon, Sr., 6-7, RQ, D4.
Nease Panthers
Coach: Bradley Lucas (5th season)
Assistant coaches: Chuck Rutan, Phil Mauro, Olivia Carr
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Julianna Fiorello, Sr., RQ, D3; Clare Sullivan, So., RQ, D3.
Outlook: Nease continues to try and build the girls team up, but they’ve been struggling to keep the numbers up in the room.
Ridgeview Panthers
Coach: Steve Inman
Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:11-1A2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-190 Lillian Heflin, Jr., SQ, R2, D3; Cheyanne Moralez, Sr., 4-8, RQ, D4.
Buchholz Bobcats
Coach: Thomas Pankey (18th season)
Assistant coach: Kiona Upegui
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kiona Upegui, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they are saying about adding Upegui to the coaching staff: "Of all the athletes that I've coached, she's in the top 10 of most dedicated wrestlers ever. And even though she's graduated, she's probably missed less than five practices all offseason and it's just established her in the room. She knows them, they're still peers to her but we're hopeful we're going to start this girl's program up in a new way."
Outlook: The Bobcats are working to grow their girls program and will see the start of its own booster program as it continues to grow.
Clay Blue Devils
Coach: James Reape (29th season)
Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:4
Last state champion: Madisyn Blackburn, 2022 (130)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aubreanna Apple, 32-3, 3rd, RC, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: None
New wrestler: Vasheer Burke
Creekside Knights
Coach: Rick Marabell
Assistant coach: John Highsmith
Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Anjel Balkenbush, 13-7, D6.
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they are saying: "We have we have about five or six girls right now. We have one girl that's returning. We have a few young girls that are in my club that are going to come become into Creekside and I'm excited because I'm seeing some really good girls coming up. That I think, for the future for us, it's going to make the girls just as powerful as the boys team."
Outlook: The program is growing in interest and it will start to pay off with success in the coming seasons.
Pedro Menendez Falcons
Coach: David Jensen
Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:12
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Emma Brackett, RQ, D6.
Notable returning wrestlers: Amelia McNeely, So., 0-6, RQ, D5; Nadia Campbell, So., 2-11, RQ, D4.