Girls Region 1A-3: Preview and Predictions
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2024 - At North Fort Myers High School
Weigh-in: 9 a.m. | Start: 10:30 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-3 will play out.
You can print the 1A-3 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
10. Bell Creek; 15. Riverdale; 18. Boca Ciega; 18. Charlotte; 18. Lemon Bay; 18. Venice
Kabra's Picks
1. #5 Kiera Partello (Baron Collier)
2. #6 Mia Parker (First Baptist-Naples)
3. #7 Sophie Booe (Palm Harbor University)
4. #9 Grace Jawulski (Newsome)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #13 Ashlie Schlegel (Palmetto); #18 Caitlynn Beausoleil (Lakewood Ranch)
Opening round match to watch: Katherine Brooks (Tarpon Springs) vs. Marra Geraci (Booker)
Kabra says: Partello and Parker are 1-1 on the season after the Baron Collier sophomore won the district title, but there’s no guarantee we get the rubber match here because a Parker-Booe semifinal match looms and that could be a special one to watch.
Kabra's Picks
1. #5 Arden Swindle (Strawberry Crest)
2. #6 Skyler Randolph (Riverdale)
3. #7 Haylee Peck (Palmetto Ridge)
4. #8 Gabriella Vasquez (Bishop Verot)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Emily Doolittle (North Fort Myers); #14 Phoenix Crane (East Lake)
Opening round match to watch: Isabella Angulo (St. Petersburg) vs. #20 Hannah Ferret (Bloomingdale)
Kabra says: Swindle has pinned Randolph twice this season and that’s why she gets the nod in our projected final - but projected is the key word. This bracket is loaded. There are eight ranked wrestlers here and six in the top 14. There is some extreme talent that could place at the state tournament that is going to be left behind here. The blood round matches in this one should be some of the most competitive in the state.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Jazlyn Diaz (Riverdale)
2. #6 Reagan Thomas (Naples)
3. #8 Zoey McDonald (Palmetto Ridge)
4. #15 Isabella Hull (North Fort Myers)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Courtney Hodges (Steinbrenner); Leila Memon (East Lake)
Opening round match to watch: Evie Fierro (Durant) vs. Amora Arismendez (Lemon Bay)
Kabra says: We’ve seen a lot of the District 12 wrestlers in this bracket this season and that makes them the favorites going into the weekend because we know what they’ve done. But watch out for Hodges and Memon who enter this weekend after having success this season. For our top pick, Diaz broke a 1-1 tie with a win in the district final and that’s enough to make her a slight favorite in our prediction game.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Iyonna Church-Ross (Charlotte)
2. #12 Shaniah Martinez (East Bay)
3. #13 Jayla Jones (Tampa Bay Tech)
4. #16 Vanessa Whitelock (Admiral Farragut)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Mackenzie Thompson (Evangelical); Alexis Hunter (Braden River)
Opening round match to watch: Aiyanna Edwards (Boca Ciega) vs. Aubrey Ard (Booker)
Kabra says: A chance for a final between two unbeaten wrestlers could take place here. Church-Ross has been dominant all season long and there is nothing to suggest the Knockout champion is going to be slowed here. The bracket is set up for an interesting filling of the rest of the podium and at least one state-worthy wrestler will come up short here.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Milana Borrelli (Venice)
2. #2 Abby DiCenzo (Bell Creek)
3. #9 Naomie Sylvestre (Immokalee)
4. #11 Hailee Moder (First Baptist-Naples)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #14 Ryann Thomas (Fort Myers); Taylar Draffin (Sumner)
Opening round match to watch: Taraji Jones (Boca Ciega) vs. Erin Casey (Steinbrenner)
Kabra says: There’s a new location for Borrelli but same expectations. The Venice senior won a state title at Lake Nona last season and is back, and healthy. She’s a solid favorite to repeat and she’ll also get the biggest test she could ask for with second-ranked DiCenzo on the other side of the bracket. If those two reach the final as expected, there will be quite a battle for the last two spots
Kabra's Picks
1. #6 Gabriella Sergi (North Fort Myers)
2. #8 Blanca Cespedes (Riverdale)
3. #17 Gabriella Mitchell (Port Charlotte)
4. Stephanie Browning (Gaither)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Addison Hartley (Palm Harbor University): Caylegih Reid (Berkeley Prep)
Opening round match to watch: Sha’ni Lawrence (Tampa Bay Tech) vs. Delaney Faulkner (Palmetto)
Kabra says: Sergi enters the weekend as the favorite thanks to her win by fall over Cespedes during the season. Another meeting between the two would be a treat. We have lots of questions about the rest of the bracket, but it’s not for lack of talent. The final two spots will go to some worthy wrestlers, we’re just not sure we can predict that any better than anyone else at this point. Watch this weight class.
Kabra's Picks
1. #6 Julianna Caisse (Palm Harbor University)
2. #15 Kamiah Ross (Armwood)
3. #14 Solana McCaughen (North Port)
4. #18 Taylor Miranda (Cape Coral)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #16 Jayda Hagood (St. Pete Northeast); #20 Alyssa Doolittle (North Fort Myers)
Opening round match to watch: Hagood vs. Doolittle
Kabra says: Caisse has shown herself to be the favorite here but this bracket is interesting on how the rest of the competition will work itself out. The top quadrant features three ranked wrestlers from 15-20 and in total, there are five in the Top 20 that will be competing for those three slots.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Ailee Briggs (Lemon Bay)
2. #4 Melanie Lamb (North Fort Myers)
3. #6 Jada Williams (Bell Creek)
4. #9 Madison Diener (Bloomingdale)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #11 Ariel Goble (Strawberry Crest); Da’Maria Raymond (Boca Ciega)
Opening round match to watch: Afiyah McLean (Tampa Bay Tech) vs. Raymond
Kabra says: Five wrestlers in the Top 11 will toe the line in this bracket and that means a strong wrestler will be left home in a fortnight. Briggs is the top wrestler in the state and the favorite here. This bracket might hinge on what happens in the top quarterfinal if Lamb and Williams meet there. Lamb owns a win this season and will look to make it two.
Kabra's Picks
1. #9 Genesis Turrubiartez (Immokalee)
2. #19 Jasmine Toomer (Palmetto Ridge)
3. #15 Oluwafikay Aroyewun (Bell Creek)
4. #17 Aniya Coffil (North Fort Myers)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Emily Hernandez (Manatee); Savannah Ozer (Sickles)
Opening round match to watch: Iyanna Murray (Tampa Bay Tech) vs. Hernandez
Kabra says: A Top 15 matchup looms in the quarterfinals here with Turrubiartez owning a 1-0 season series lead over Aroyewun. The top half of this bracket is the tougher one on paper with three ranked wrestlers, but don’t start thinking the bottom one is an easy walk in the park to predict.
Kabra's Picks
1. #9 Mya Bolton (Port Charlotte)
2. #11 Noelia Varela (Riverdale)
3. #16 Arianna Antinou (East Lake)
4. #17 Kendy Sierra (Cypress Lake)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Vallanda Antoine (Fort Myers); Malia Rezac (Bell Creek)
Opening round match to watch: Antoine vs. Eva Herdocia (Tampa Bay Tech)
Kabra says: The bottom half of this bracket could see four Top 20 wrestlers competing in the quarterfinals. Bolden owns a slight edge to be a favorite here, but watch for the East Lake sophomore who has just a single loss this season.
Kabra's Picks
1. #9 Riley Lancaster (Admiral Farragut)
2. #14 Alayjah Campbell (Robinson)
3. #20 Ilyana Sterrett (Fort Myers Gateway)
4. Grace Freeman (Labelle)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Yadira Rivas (Plant City); Natalie Avila (Bayside)
Opening round match to watch: Bianka Valdes (Alonso) vs. Abigail Del Rosario (Tampa Bay Tech)
Kabra says: Lancaster owns a win over Campbell and the two of them could meet in the finals here. Lancaster’s 34 wins is the most in the state for this weight class as she has been battled tested. The rest of the podium appears to be more of a toss-up with us giving the edge to returning state-qualifier Freeman.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Lana Clayton (Newsome)
2. #14 Jayla Teague (Fort Myers)
3. #20 Jamiyah Wade (Boca Ciega)
4. Isabella McFarlen (King)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Isabelle Broedes (Plant City); Alyssa Dunn (Admiral Farragut)
Opening round match to watch: Karla Sierra (Cypress Lake) vs. Dunn
Kabra says: Clayton enters the weekend with a single loss and the mark of favorite in this bracket and it’s an earned honor. The senior has quality wins this season and battled the second-ranked wrestler in the state tough. The rest of this podium is more wide open and should make some interesting consolation rounds leading up to the blood round.
Kabra's Picks
1. #7 Daphney Pierre (Fort Myers)
2. #11 Brianice Silguero (Immokalee)
3. #13 Janhiya Jackson (Boca Ciega)
4. Karliana Arteaga (Braden River)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Zadaryhea Moore (Tampa Bay Tech); Aliyah Hodge (St. Pete Northeast)
Opening round match to watch: Madie Selig (Aubrey Rogers) vs. Hodge
Kabra says: Could we see a district final rematch between Pierre and Silguero? The Fort Myers senior is 2-0 in meetings so far this season. Jackson’s biggest match thus far was in the Boca Ciega room where she had to get the nod past a Top 15 wrestler to even start - so she’s battle-prepared for anything this bracket can throw her.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Kinea Moore (Boca Ciega)
2. #6 Grace Vernine (Admiral Farragut)
3. #7 Cerenity Whiting (Countryside)
4. #8 Aniya Herbin (Jefferson)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #11 Eliana Johnson (Bell Creek); #12 Luna Martinez (Tampa Bay Tech)
Opening round match to watch: Johnson vs. Herbin
Kabra says: Can we first talk about this first round matchup to watch? Bell Creek’s Johnson wins a district title with a solid performance and her reward is facing the wrestler who placed third in state. The truth is, this bracket is loaded and it’s also the heavyweight bracket - where ANYTHING can and usually does happen. The podium will look different than we are projecting, just how different?