G1A-3 Preview: Middleburg chasing first district title after three-straight seconds
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Matanzas topped Middleburg by 134 points.
How did Kabra do?: We picked the champion and our team to watch finished in second place.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Cheyenne Cruce (Middleburg), Kailani Barrientos (Oakleaf), Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra), Natalia Choquegonza (Ponte Vedra), Skyla Fisher (Middleburg), Sarah Walsh (Middleburg)
The favorite: Middleburg. Bolstered by state champion Cruce, the Broncos are on the rise.
Team to watch: Ponte Vedra. The Sharks have the top-level wrestlers and depth to compete for top spot.
District IBT: Unknown at press time
Middleburg Broncos (#13/#12)
Coach: Jamie Harrison (2nd at school)
Assistant coaches: Henry Geller
Recent district results: 2024:2; 2023:2; 2022:2-1A2
Last state champion: Cheyenne Cruce, 2024 (190)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Callia Kuroski, 9-11, RQ, D3; Lauren Hughes, 10-14, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Cheyenne Cruce, Sr., 32-0, SC, RC, DC; Skyla Fisher, Jr., 20-9, SQ, RC, DC; Sarah Walsh, Jr., 18-18, SQ, R4, D3; Memphis Moses, Jr., 24-16, SQ, R4, D2; Lily Bradshaw, Jr., 16-13, RQ-BR, D2; Toni Silcox, Jr., 13-11; Riley Toomey, Jr., 12-14, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: “The girls are seasoned. They are no strangers to success and have set a standard that they expect to exceed every year. They aren’t satisfied with just being state qualifiers anymore.”
On Cheyenne Cruce: “She’s just tough and she loves wrestling. She doesn’t really have that soft mentality. The way she was raised and how she always looked up to her brother and followed him from sport to sport gave her the mindset that has helped her succeed so much in wrestling.”
On goals: “We want more of the same, but not more of the same. The past two years we’ve gotten four girls to the state tournament but last year we only had a single state placer. This year we want all the girls going to be on the podium.”
Outlook: Cruce is back looking to finish her career with a third state title and should have some more teammates on podiums with her as this team now boasts a veteran lineup with a talented group of juniors.
The Florida High School Wrestling Season 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
Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Ponte Vedra Sharks (NR/#9)
Coach: Josean Gonzalez (7th at school/16th overall)
Assistant coaches: Jordan Matthews, Gary Define
Recent district results: 2024:4; 2023:4; 2022:2
Last state champion: Olivia Richie, 2022 (140)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Erin Rizzuto, Sr., 30-5, 2nd, R2, D2; Natalia Choquegonza, Sr., 33-8, 4th, RC, DC; Donavanne Hofmann, Jr., RQ-BR, DC; Sofia Saldana, Jr.; Eden Thomashunis, Jr., RQ, D3; Autumn Natal, So., RQ, D4; Laken Wesseling, Jr., D6; Jaclyn Scheidegger, Jr., D5.
Beachside Barracudas
Coach: Lance Day
Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Sara Zeneli, Jr., RQ-BR, D3; Karson Kremski, Jr., 18-11, RQ, D2; Isabelle Schneider, So., RQ, D4; Kylie Rodriguez, Jr., RQ, D5; Emily Hauce, Jr., RQ, D3.
St. Augustine Yellow Jackets
Coach: Chris Geores (Fourth season)
Assistant coach: Jason McFarlane
Recent district results: 2024:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Trinity Wanamaker, Sr., 18-9, RQ, D4; Taylor Pelchat, Jr., 23-8, RQ-BR, D3.
What they’re saying: “Our goal for those to is get to the state tournament and see what happens when you get there.”
On Taylor: “She’s done everything you can think of to get better over the summer. She went to three camps this summer, she went to Super 32 Early Entry.
On Trinity: “Her blessing is that she’s so active in everything at the school. She’s the cadet commander for the ROTC program. She did wrestle over the summer and went to a couple camps too.”
Outlook: Both Wanamaker and Pelchat made their mark a season ago and this year they’ll look to break through and earn a trip to Kissimmee.
Oakleaf Knights
Coach: Rory Roderick (2nd season)
Assistant coach: Bryce Green
Recent district results: 2024:6-1A2; 2023:2-1A2; 2022:3-1A2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jazmine Moore, 14-9, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestler: Kailani Barrientos, Jr., 24-2, 3rd, RC, DC.
Pedro Menendez Falcons
Coach: David Jensen
Recent district results: 2024:8; 2023:13; 2022:12
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Ella Manchester, Sr., RQ-BR, D3; Emilia McNeely, Jr., RQ, D5; Sage Lehman, Jr., D6; Lana Miletello, Sr., RQ, D4.
Creekside Knights
Coach: Rick Marabell (17th season)
Assistant coaches: John Highsmith, Chase Diehl
Recent district results: 2024:10; 2023:12; 2022:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Lauran Wilson, Jr., 12-11, RQ-BR, D3; Zara Exilus, So., 12-11, RQ, D3.
What they are saying: “We are slowly building our girls program. I think they see how successful the boys are and they want to be a part of it.”
On the two returners: “Those two did fantastic last year. They were both first year wrestlers and they almost went to states. They are both tough girls.”
Outlook: The numbers are starting to grow for the Knights and returning wrestlers Exilus and Wilson should help lead the progress.
Tocoi Creek Toros
Coach: Darick Dunham (4th at school/15th overall)
Assistant coaches: John O’Shea, Steven Griffel, Doug Maritato
Recent district results: 2024:6; 2023:5; 2022:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aryan Benson, 17-11, SQ, R4, D2; Saniyah Callahan, 28-9, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Kassidy Grundy, Jr., 16-14, RQ, D3.
Nease Panthers
Coach: Bradley Lucas (6th season/12th overall)
Assistant coaches: Chuck Rutan, Phil Mauro, Olivia Carr
Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Clare Sullivan, Jr.
What they are saying: “Clare has been great in trying to recruit more and more girls to the program.”
On Olivia Carr being on the staff: “She was our last state placer. Along with the coaching, she’s there to also guide those girls and to recruit more girls, because it’s nicer to see a female coach verses all the males telling you want to do. Hopefully this year we see that turning point where we get more and more girls to come out.”
Outlook: The Panthers are still working on the trials and tribulations of building a girls program. In Sullivan they have some interested in that and working to help.
Bartram Trail Bears
Coach: Sam Harris/Johan Olarte (Second season)
Assistant coaches: Matthew Rodriquez, Alonzo Davis, Thomas McCane, Rich Maritato
Recent district results: 2024:5; 2023:3; 2022:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Katherine Stewart, SC, RC, DC; Ava Burre, 5th, R2, DC; Hannah Matalobos, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Giannina Simponpietri, Sr., D5.
What they are saying:
Outlook:
Ridgeview Panthers
Coach: Steve Inman
Recent district results: 2024:11; 2023:10; 2022:11-1A2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Cheyanne Moralez, RQ, D5.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Zoey Flower, Jr., 6-6, RQ, D2.
Buchholz Bobcats
Coach: Billy Pankey (19th season)
Assistant coaches: Kiona Upegui, Jack Buchanan, Hunter Childress, Armando Acosta
Recent district results: 2024:12; 2023:6; 2022:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kaia Stewart, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Jaeda Lumpkins, So., RQ, D4.
What they are saying: “It’s a fresh group. We have five girls and that’s without any recruiting. I would like to have a nice number like 10 to spread out and build the same kind of camaraderie as the boys.”
On Coach Upegui: “She’s done a great job. She connects with them and has that experience of having wrestled too.”
Outlook: Growth is the key goal of the Bobcats. They want to increase their numbers to up the intensity in the room and create a true team environment. There is excitement at Buchholz for what the girls team can become, they just need some more to buy in.
Clay Blue Devils
Coach: James Reape (30th as head coach, 32nd overall at Clay)
Assistant coaches: Luke Frame, Lyndon Dunham, Julie Briendel Hill
Recent district results: 2024:13; 2023:9; 2022:4
Last state champion: Madisyn Blackburn, 2022 (130)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Vasheer Burke, Jr., 27-5, RQ, D2.
Fleming Island Golden Eagles
Coach: PJ Cobbert
Recent district results: 2024:14
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Auryanna Phelps, So., RQ, D5.
Keystone Heights Indians
Coach: Shaun Goetzman
Recent district results: 2024:15; 2022:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Kathryn Brossette, Sr., D5.