G1A-4 Preview: Lake Brantley will try to hold off surging challengers
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Lake Brantley brought home the school’s first girls district title, beating Oviedo by 47 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Bry Kaminsky (Orange City University), Cheyenne Wigley (Mainland), Shyann Tate (Hagerty), Lilah Nation (Lake Brantley), Kiersten Flanagan (Winter Springs)
The favorite: Lake Brantley. The district champions return nearly everyone from a season ago.
Team to watch: Oviedo. The Lions had a great season with just over half of the weight classes filled a year ago. They have more wrestlers this year.
District IBT: TBD
Kabra Says: This district should be closer this season in the team race, but Lake Brantley might have the head start with so many returning wrestlers.
Lake Brantley Patriots
Coach: Ian Finnerty
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Angali Rodriquez, 7-11, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #10-115 Lilah Nation, Jr., 18-12, SQ, R4, DC; #13-145 Lanyla Hudspeth, Sr., 8-8, SQ, R4, DC; #15-135 Devon Baumgardner, Jr., 7-17, SQ, R4, D5; #16-105 Vanessa Martin-Soto, Sr., 10-12, RQ, D2; #20-235 Alaysia Linton, So., 3-17, SQ, R4, D3; Charlotte Eldridge, So., 6-14, RQ, D2; Ella Belt, So., 17-13, RQ, D3; Mikaela Matheny, So., 2-8, RQ, D4; Gabriella Nieves, Jr., 5-9, RQ, D4.
What they are saying: "We have had the numbers the last couple of years, but I find it is really hard. You know, this is a new sport to get a majority of the student athletes to buy into the process, because they don't even know the process and they haven't seen anybody succeed at a high level around them in a new sport."
On Lilah Nation: "She is a harder worker than anybody in the room, guys or girls. She's just such a tough kid and she is the one that sets it sets the example for everybody else."
Outlook: Despite the struggles of building a program, the Patriots are defending district champions and return all but one of their top performers from last season. Look for this team to be even better with another year of experience.”
Oviedo Lions
Coach: Zach Waters (9th season)
Assistant coaches: Joe Onofor, Wyatt Forsberg, Trey Godwin, Chris Miceli, Nick Kriger, Brett Simonelli, Reid Holden
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Amy Trevino, 7-10, RQ, D3; Jana El'harake, 23-8, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: #20-140 Delaney Graves, Jr., 17-10, RQ, D4; Amelia Vamadoe, Jr., 8-13, RQ, D3; Sarah Edmiston, Jr., 12-7, RQ, DC; Haley Mitchell, So., 12-12, RQ, D2; Oakley True, So.
New wrestler: Grace Doyle (Transfer from Lake Mary)
What they are saying: "We had a good handful of new wrestlers and I just wanted to get our numbers up. We've taught kids how to wrestle. Then the next step for the returners is to get over the hump in getting them competing in the region semifinals and pushing into the state qualifiers. So the program as a whole has more numbers."
Outlook: The Lions finished second in the district last season with just eight wrestlers. They’re looking to increase the numbers this year and that added depth should pay off."
Orange City University Titans
Coach: Andy Rothenberg (3rd season as HC/8th season)
Assistant coaches: Brandon Alanis, Jeffrey Howard
Recent district results: 2023:14; 2022:1
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jaelyn Sunseri, 32-15, 6th, R4, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #3-135 Bry Kaminsky, Sr., 31-4, RQ-BR, DC; Sydney Legates, Sr., 9-19, RQ, D4; MaryEllen Wingate, So., 19-18, RQ, D3; Delilah Lehrer, Jr., RQ, D3; Saelie Perez, Jr., 11-23, RQ, D4; Tanesha Byron, Fr.
What they are saying: "Two years ago, we won the district with seven girls, you know, and they're seeing the success that comes from that of being tight knit and having each other's back and pushing each other and I think that they're buying in."
On Kaminsky:"She's very much a leader on the team. She's been the girl's captain for three years now and she’s kind of like the mom that pulls everybody together."
Outlook: The team has some talented wrestlers coming back, with a few of them having legit state tournament goals. Kaminsky has been putting in the work this offseason and has high aspirations for what she can accomplish when the season ends.
The Florida High School Wrestling District Previews
Click on link to see preview
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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
Mainland Buccaneers
Coach: Damon Samson
Assistant coach: Matthew Lawrence
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:3-1A3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jah'Mya Hill, 31-13, 7th, R2, D2; Katherine Meza Perez, 23-12, SQ, R4, D2; Jazlynn Golder, Jr., 6-15, RQ, D3 (Transfer to Matanzas).
Notable returning wrestlers: #7-190 Cheyenne Wigley, Sr., 31-5, 7th, R2, DC; #12-170 Eva Rojas, Jr., 13-15, SQ, R4, DC; Ariel Workman, So., 4-15, RQ, D6; Trinya Tillman, Sr., 9-12.
New wrestler: Jeslene Gonzalez, So., 7-11, RQ, D3 (Transfer from Seabreeze)
What they are saying: "We don't have a lot of girls but everyone who is returning has been on the team for a couple of years now. We just need to expand now.
On Cheyenne Wigley: "Having her leadership and just her personality, she is one of the nicest kids and brings nothing but positivity to the team. Having her around really drives the team forward."
Outlook: The Buccaneers have a smaller team after the graduation of a state place and a state qualifier, but the girls coming back are ready to take the next step this season.
Hagerty Huskies
Coach: Paul Cuozzo
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Karson Cuozzo, 19-19, RQ, D5; Megan Dathe, 15-14, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: #12-145 Shyann Tate, So., 32-6, SQ, R3, DC; #14-190 Jenna Childers, So., 19-17, RQ-BR, DC; Christine Grimm, Sr., 7-13, RQ, D4; Sophia Sciulli, Jr., 7-15, RQ, D5; Aryana Pickens-Trujillo, Sr., 5-25, RQ, D4; Korielle Brodsky, Sr.
Lake Mary Rams
Coach: Billy Strickland
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jocelyn Mery, 5-12, RQ, D4; Olivia Boni, 15-12, RQ, D3; Ahmya Stokes, 23-11, SQ, RC, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Bianca Ribeiro-Barbosa, So., 9-15, RQ, DC; Savannah Strickland, Jr., 14-15, RQ, D4; Tayla Sutton, Sr., 11-14, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: Alexandra Estrada Morales, Sr.
Outlook: Lake Mary has around 20 wrestlers in the room to start the season as the program continues to grow.
Sanford Seminole
Coach: Simeon Everett
Recent district results: 2023:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Brianna Pena, 21-4, 4th, R2, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Rylee Queene, So., 5-9, RQ, D2; Hailey Meadows, Sr., 18-14, RQ, D2; Chaunti Clark, So., 14-14, RQ, D5.
DeLand Bulldogs
Coach: Chris Folsom (9th season)
Assistant coaches: Ray Knowles, Christian Lohsen, Jacob Toledo
Recent district results: 2023:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Yossy Flores, 8-7, RQ-BR, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Grace Lashinsky, Jr., 17-6, RQ-BR, D2.
Winter Springs Bears
Coach: Rocky Ciero (7th season)
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alysha Morales, 3-9, RQ, D3; Layla Redd, 14-14, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #9-125 Kiersten Flanagan, Sr., 20-8, SQ, R3, DC; Melanie Alequin, Sr., 5-20, RQ, D3.
Deltona Wolves
Coach: Keith Wallace (19th season)
Assistant coach: Mike Kerns
Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #19-125 Raegan Hatch, So., 10-5, RQ, D2.
What they are saying: “I think we will have a few more girls wrestling this year, but only time will tell.”
Seabreeze Sandcrabs
Coach: Paul Shuler
Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:13-1A3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jeslene Gonzalez, So., 7-11, RQ, D3 (Transfer to Mainland)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Caitlyn Cavalluzzo, Jr., 8-10, RQ, D4.
West Port Wolf Pack
Coach: Paul Dodge
Recent district results: 2023:11; 2022:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jayden Dodge, RQ-BR, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
Lake Howell Silver Hawks
Coach: Kyle Sonriver
Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ava Barhorst, 15-5, RQ, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None