G1A-5 Preview: Dr. Phillips looking to make it a three-peat

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

Last season: It was district title No. 2 for the Panthers, who edged Apopka by 29 points.

Wrestlers to watch: Jada Jones (Apopka), Hananeel Gregoire (Apopka), Nehemie Gregorie (Apopka), Aliyah Gonzalez (Winter Park)

The favorite: Dr. Phillips. The Panthers kept on producing team titles last year.

Team to watch: Ocoee. The team will have eight returning region qualifiers in the room this season.

District IBT: Feb. 9 at Ocoee

Kabra Says: This is a tough one to pick when we don’t have any information on two of the top teams, so we’ll go with the team we do know about and pick Apopka to win.

Apopka Blue Darters (#7)

Coach: Leon Wilson

Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:2

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Samantha Sherman, 26-6, SQ, R3, DC.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #2-190 Jada Jones, Sr., 27-4, 3rd, R2, DC; #3-100 Hananeel Gregoire, So., 26-12, 5th, R4, DC; #5-135 Nehemie Gregorie, Sr., 29-4, 5th, RC, DC; #12-110 Shelby Sherman, Sr., 32-4, 4th, R2, DC; Shamari Smith, So., 19-8, RQ, DC; Emma Tweedy, Sr., 9-11, RQ, D5; Michelle Hernandez, Jr., 12-12, RQ, D3; .

Ocoee Knights

Coach: Pernell Croskey

Assistant coaches: Omaito Torres, Lazano De Vega Myers

22-23 dual record: 2-0

Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:4

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Amaliangel Rodriguez, RQ, D3; Hannah Haworth, RQ, D4; Cierra Young, 19-8, RQ-BR, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Amerie Desangles, So., RQ, D5; Amariyah Myrie, Sr., RQ, D3; Bailee Spitulski, So., 13-10, RQ, D2; Layla Ceballos, So., 13-9, RQ, D3; Melanie Saucedo, Sr., 17-9, RQ-BR, D2; Alenis Cabrera, Sr., RQ, D4; Ayanna Robinson, Jr., RQ, D4.

New wrestlers: Hannah Perez, Fr.; #13-235 Yami Herring, Jr., 15-4, RQ-BR, DC (Transfer from Jones)

What they are saying: “We are going to have a lot of depth and battles for spots.”

Outlook: The Knights continue to get better and this could be the deepest team yet for Ocoee.

Dr. Phillips Panthers

Coach: Matt Seaberg

Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1

Last state champion: Juliana Diaz, 2022 (120)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Victoria Ceballos, 31-8, RQ, D2; Leah Fountain, 19-8, RQ, DC; Worsham Mia JoLee, 13-10, RQ, D4; Jessy Jarret, 25-6, RQ, DC; Amy Etienne, 28-6, RQ, DC; Emily Rivera, 32-9, SQ, R4, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #12-100 Ava Ceballos, Jr., 31-9, RQ-BR, D2; #16-235 Tanyah McCain, Jr., 15-8, RQ-BR, D2; Gabrielle Burgoon, Sr., 5-14, RQ, D4; Melody Deanda, Jr., 12-7, RQ, D3; Maria Paterakis, Jr., 13-8, RQ, D4; Amari Etienne, So., 8-8.

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

Jones Tigers

Coach: Jayquon McEntyre (3rd season)

Assistant coaches: Christina Boyer, Brysen Thorpe

Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:7-1A6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Yami Herring, Jr., 15-4, RQ-BR, DC (Transfer to Ocoee)

Notable returning wrestlers: #15-170 Jikayla Hutto, Jr., 20-11, RQ-BR, D3; Chante Lindsey.

South Lake Eagles

Coach: Brant Pawlowski

Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Grisbet Guzman, 27-11, 7th, R2, D2; Zoe Williamson, 35-5, 5th, R2, DC.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Haley Harvey, Jr., 6-10, RQ, D3; Justina Acevedo, Sr., 13-13, RQ, D4; Talia Augustin, Jr., 7-15, RQ, D2; Joy Lawson, So., 2-9, RQ, D5.

Evans Trojans

Coach: Brent Bourgeois (2nd at school/6th overall)

Assistant coach: David Hellinger, Diane Varnadore

Recent district results: 2023:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Sunjay Scott-Smith, 6-12, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Virchelle Young, Sr., 9-11, RQ, D4; Chonaya Noel, Sr., 16-7, RQ-BR, D2.

What they are saying: “I have a lot of new faces that I've been signing up to join the girls team and I'm looking forward to hopefully having close to a full lineup this year. It just depends on how many stay after a month or two but I've had a lot of participation lately. Hopefully that stays afloat.” – Brent Bourgeois

On top girls being involved in multiple sports: "A lot of my girls that I have, I really don't see that much. They split a lot of time between their other sports, which is fine with me because they do a dang good job just being with me for that amount of time."

Outlook: Noel reached the blood round last season while also playing on the basketball team and Young split time with the weightlifting team. Both are looking to go deeper this postseason on a team that should have more wrestlers in the room.

Colonial Grenadiers

Coach: Andy Pitts (11th season)

Assistant coaches: James Norman, Stephen Ohl, Daniel Krausz

22-23 dual record: 2-0

Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:5-1A6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Azsa Baptista, SQ, R4, D2; Maya Quiroa, RQ, D4; Irmarys Samalot, RQ, D6.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jada Castillo, Sr., RQ, D4; Kaley Cantanero-Gonza, So., RQ, D6.

Winter Park Wildcats

Coach: Craig Russell

Recent district results: 2023:9; 2022:9-1A6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Maria Santana, 3-11, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: #9-105 Aliyah Gonzalez, Sr., 13-6, RQ-BR, DC; #17-235 Barbara Fernandez, Jr.; Carly Hanecak, So., 1-10, RQ, D5; Sonya Hayett, Sr., 2-12, RQ, D5; Summerlin Armstrong, Sr., 5-10, RQ, D5;

West Orange Warriors

Coach: Tyler Montes

Recent district results: 2023:8; 2022:7

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): #16-135 Ariana Martinez, Sr., 16-9, RQ-BR, D3 (Moved)

Notable returning wrestlers: #11-235 Thalia Rodriguez, So., 16-15, SQ, R4, D3; #18-100 Jazmine Villacana, So., 20-12, RQ, D3.

Outlook: State qualifier Rodriguez is back and could be joined by region qualifier Villacana to lead the team.

Horizon Hawks

Coach: Jean Leazard

See the 23-24 schedule here

Recent district results: 2023:13; 2022:9

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Deleilah Viteri, Jr., 20-7, RQ, D2; Jade Noble, Sr., 4th, R3, DC in 2022

Windermere Wolverines

Coach: Aaron Drone (2nd season)

Assistant coach: Tyler Drone

Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:3

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None

Notable returning wrestlers: Alicia Williams, So., 10-5, RQ, DC; Emily McCormack, So., 14-20, RQ, D2.

Outlook: Two district finalists are back for the Wolverines.

Olympia Titans

Coach: Jeremy Bourst (18th season)

Assistant coach: Brian Blocker

Recent district results: 2023:14; 2022:8

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None.

Notable returning wrestlers: Alzira McNeil, 12-11, RQ, D5.

Edgewater Eagles

Coach: Julie Leisher (2nd year)

Assistant coach: Ishan Le’Vere

Recent district results: 2023:12; 2022:4-1A6

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Leah Ben-Israel, RQ, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: None

What they are saying: “We are a young team with many underclassmen, but we are shaping up to have the most girls we've ever had.”

Wekiva Mustangs

Coach: Nathan Hauser

Assistant coaches: John Hauser, Tony Imbriani

Recent district results: 2023:10; 2022:10

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Ramiyah Steele, RQ, D3; Bianna Hertilien, Sr., 8th, R2, DC (Moved)