Girls Region 1A-2: Preview and Predictions
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2024 - At Kissimmee Osceola High School
Weigh-in: 8 a.m. | Start: 9:15 a.m.
Welcome to one of my favorite traditions - the region previews.
This is the sixth season I've written these but for those that are reading one for the first time, here's a quick summary of what the region preview is.
I start first by printing out each bracket - yes, this is one of the things I'm old school on.
I notate where wrestlers are ranked in the Kabra Wrestling Rankings and then start to break it down even more.
I look for head-to-head matchups, common opponents, and how each wrestler has been trending in the stretch run.
I then question my rankings - and myself - and play out the entire bracket.
What follows is my best guess for how 1A-2 will play out.
You can print the 1A-2 region bracket here. (PDF)
I've carefully predicted the four state qualifiers in the order that I think the will finish. I've also listed wrestlers that could prove me wrong and make it to Kissimmee.
I will be wrong with these picks, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I love when kids prove me wrong (or prove me right).
These previews and predictions are meant to bring excitement to one of the exhilarating and heartbreaking weekends in sports.
I assure you that I have no bias in my picks and truly wish the best for every wrestler competing this weekend.
And as always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Now onto the preview:
Teams to watch
1. Hernando; 5. Orlando Freedom; 6. Apopka; 9. Timber Creek; 18. Lake Gibson.
Kabra's Picks
1. #2 Hananeel Gregoire (Apopka)
2. #10 Aniyah Whayne (Kissimmee Osceola)
3. #12 Miabella Lopez (Orlando Freedom)
4. #17 Alea Morales (Celebration)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #15 Marialis Colon (McKeel); Josephine Reeves (Jones)
Opening round match to watch: Morales vs. Jayla Azcona (Bartow)
Kabra says: Gregoire is the big favorite in this weight class as she is undefeated this season against girls. Whayne and Colon could set up for a wonderful semifinal with a lot on the line as Lopez could be awaiting the loser in the blood round.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Gabriele Tedesco (Lake Gibson)
2. #3 Maite Coutinho (Orlando Freedom)
3. #10 Miayalee Oritz Martinez (George Jenkins)
4. Danielle Haskins (Hudson)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Gianella Walczak (Springstead); Aliyah Gonzalez (Winter Park)
Opening round match to watch: Stacy Pule (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. Hanna Perez (Ocoee)
Kabra says: Tedesco is one of the top 105 pounders in the country and she’s as big a favorite as there is this weekend. The intrigue here could come at the fourth spot, where there are at least six girls that could make a legit argument for why they’re good enough to go to state.
Kabra's Picks
1. #2 Keana Bush (Hudson)
2. #9 Julia Brocato (WC Cypress Creek)
3. #13 Shelby Sherman (Apopka)
4. #16 Kylie Schulz (East River)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #20 Daniela Rodriguez (Kissimmee Gateway); Cameron Lord (Sunlake)
Opening round match to watch: Lord vs. Yhoalibeth Ruiz (Orlando Freedom)
Kabra says: Bush is a returning region champion and looks to take another title home this weekend. She’s the clear leader and the four district champions look like a potential podium here.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Emma Bauknight (Hernando)
2. #4 Paola Ramirez (Kissimmee Osceola)
3. #9 Isabel Duarte (Orlando Freedom)
4. #19 Saniya Gordon (East River)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Jessica Perrott (McKeel); Jeanna Mervil (Jones)
Opening round match to watch: Jerry Giddens (Nature Coast) vs. Mervil
Kabra says: Bauknight and Ramirez are on a collision course to meet in the final. Earlier this year, Bauknight scored a 2-0 victory between the two and both will be looking to up their game even more. The rest of the podium is less certain though Duarte has the skill and experience to make it to Silver Spurs. That fourth spot could go to any of a handful of quality wrestlers.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Sydney Bridenstine (Hernando)
2. #4 Delialah Betances (Liberty)
3. #19 Yiriliz Albert-Tejas (East River)
4. #20 Maelyn Argerenon (Tenoroc)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Lilyana Rodriguez (Crystal River); Marlee Karounos (Horizon)
Opening round match to watch: Shyanne Marble (Ocoee) vs. Leticia Viana (Orlando Freedom)
Kabra says: All of the attention here is likely on the potential final, which would be a rematch from the Knockout final, won 1-0 by Bridenstine. Betances was state champion in Georgia last season and Bridenstine is looking to move up the podium in Florida after finishing fourth.
Kabra's Picks
1. #5 Jasmine Serrano (Springstead)
2. #7 Daniela Espinal (Hernando)
3. #18 Taylor Thomas (Timber Creek)
4. #20 Alissa Brown Washington (Orlando Freedom)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #19 Alianna Mason (Jones); #Gabrielle Asabi (Wesley Chapel)
Opening round match to watch: Izabella Kullman (Sunlake) vs. Washington
Kabra says: Serrano majored Espinal in the district finals and they could meet with a title on the line again in this one. The one to watch is Freedom’s Washington. She was a state placer a year ago and has been slowly getting back into form after missing most of the year due to an injury. If it clicks again this weekend for her, all best are off on how this podium might look.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Callie Alfieri (Gulf)
2. #9 Kyla Rodriguez (Kissimmee Osceola)
3. #8 Nehemie Gregoire (Apopka)
4. #12 Kiley Earle (McKeel)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #13 Angelyn Glazier (Lake Region); Julia Salgado Campos (Hernando)
Opening round match to watch: Shelby Fillyaw (Harmony) vs. Maria Peoples (Bartow)
Kabra says: The focus for Alfieri is on next weekend - but she has to get there in a good position first. She’s the favorite here and we think she’ll win her third region title this weekend. Unfortunately, there are only four spots in this bracket to make it to state and there are five wrestlers here in the Top 13.
Kabra's Picks
1. #8 Nathalia Espinal (Hernando)
2. #12 Sky Athey (Orlando Freedom)
3. #19 Jayla Sanders (Bartow)
4. Kiley Vinson (Harmony)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Carly Hanecak (Winter Park); Jessenia Feliciano-Garri (Timber Creek)
Opening round match to watch: Feliciano-Grant vs. Amariyah Myrie (Ocoee)
Kabra says: The three ranked wrestlers in this weight class haven’t seen each other by our notes, so there could be a few surprises here. We like the experience of Espinal and Athey to shine through here.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Kristy More (Sunlake)
2. #5 Isabella Tolentino (East River)
3. #4 Hayden Proulx (Timber Creek)
4. #11 Olivia Brown (Hernando)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #12 Ericka Hernandez (Kissimmee Osceola); #18 Nicollette Watson (Wiregrass Ranch)
Opening round match to watch: Brown vs. Hernandez (Best first rounder of the region round)
Kabra says: Three wrestlers in the Top 5 and five in the Top 12 makes this one of the brackets to watch this weekend. It doesn’t wait to get crazy with 11 vs. 12 in the first round with a 1-1 series record between the two. Then a potential semifinal looks between No. 3 and No. 4 - this one is going to be crazy the whole way through.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Alexia Davis (McKeel)
2. #8 Makenzie Eltzroth (Hernando)
3. #5 Kaylie Collado (Poinciana)
4. #10 Emily McCormick (Windermere)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #13 Melanie Saucedo (Ocoee); #14 Daliane Thompson (Apopka)
Opening round match to watch: #19 MyaNah Carter vs. Thompson
Kabra says: No. 4 and No. 5 find themselves on the bottom half of this bracket with a possible semifinal date looming. Davis owns a 10-8 win from the season, so expect more fireworks if they meet again. That winner could face Ironman winner Eltzroth in the finals, if they can battle through a top half that won’t be easy. There are eight ranked wrestlers in this weight class.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Chloe Shull (Timber Creek)
2. #10 Mariah Earl (Hernando)
3. #13 Jade Camacho (Oak Ridge)
4. #17 Sarina Jones (Auburndale)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Akemi Cunha (Winter Haven); Chante’ Lindsey (Jones)
Opening round match to watch: Genesis Velazquez (Orlando Freedom) vs. Michelle Hernandez (Apopka)
Kabra says: The bottom half of this bracket looks tough with three ranked wrestlers led by Earl. The bracket is also marked by some potentially tough quarterfinal round matches. After missing last year’s postseason with an injury, Shull is a determined senior and our favorite here.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Grace Leota (Hernando)
2. #2 Megan Preston (Wiregrass Ranch)
3. #4 Jikayla Hutto (Jones)
4. #5 Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz (Orlando Freedom)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #12 Kira Hendrix (Mulberry); Lily Tucker (Kissimmee Osceola)
Opening round match to watch: Alzira McNeil (Olympia) vs. Hendrix
Kabra says: Four of the top five wrestlers in the state according to Kabra Wrestling are going to toe the line here with a potential state final rematch in the semifinals and a 1-2 meeting in the finals possible. With such star power in the bracket, will be worth watching is Hendrix and others can create some havoc.
Kabra's Picks
1. #2 Emari Brown (Harmony)
2. #3 Jada Jones (Apopka)
3. #8 Chloe Stinnett (Hernando)
4. #10 Lilly Yambor (Kissimmee Gateway)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #12 Jada Noble (Horizon); #15 Amari Etienne (Dr. Phillips)
Opening round match to watch: Soraya Castillo (Nature Coast) vs. #20 Martina Nielson (Timber Creek)
Kabra says: With seven ranked wrestlers, there are no guarantees in this bracket, but Brown and Jones could be meeting again in the final here. Brown owns a major decision win while Jones pinned Brown earlier in the season. If those two reach the finals, the battle for the rest of the podium promises to be a good one.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Rotchiva Clermont (Orlando Freedom)
2. #5 Judlie Laplante (Oak Ridge)
3. #10 Mia Jones (Mulberry)
4. #17 Yamii Herring (Ocoee)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Aniya Miranda (Wesley Chapel); Annabelle Oquendo (Colonial)
Opening round match to watch: Nina Stanton (Boone) vs. Oquendo
Kabra says: Clermont and Laplante have met twice this year with the Orlando Freedom junior going 2-0. They could meet in the finals for the second straight week, but there are some landmines in this bracket with wrestlers like Jones who could mess up our bracket.