Kabra+: Class 3A state wrestling preview and predictions
BY BRANT PARSONS —Welcome to our 2022 state tournament preview and predictions.
This is yearly tradition that is meant to be both a viewing guide and fun way to look ahead to the best three days of the season.
For this set of predictions, the process didn’t change.
I take each bracket and make notes on it - including Kabra Wrestling rankings - and then play out each match in each bracket to determine the state placers and add a couple wrestlers to watch.
Since these are based on my rankings, and I am fully confident in my rankings, you’ll notice my picks never stray too far from them.
The final standings don’t always match my rankings because some brackets just don’t play out that way - and there are a couple notable times where I take a flyer and disagree with the rankings. I’m a fun guy like that.
What you’ll read in this preview is a snapshot in time on what I felt would happen in this tournament when I wrote the preview. If I was to go through and write it again, I’m sure there are some that would be different. There does tend to be a good deal of scratching out on my brackets when I do this.
As always, there is no bias that goes into these picks and they are meant for entertainment purposes only. I don’t cheer for my bracket to be right, in fact, the most memorable moments related to these previews are the kids that proved me wrong and then told me that they did.
In fact, when I’m covering the state tournament, I often don’t even remember the picks that I made. I’m too excited just watching the great action.
Best of luck to each of the state qualifiers that will compete this weekend. Just reaching the state tournament is such a tremendous accomplishment and no matter what you do this weekend at Silver Spurs Arena, you are a success that has accomplished great things through this powerful sport.
And if you prove me wrong, please let me know.
The Picks
Team Race
Final standings
1. South Dade
2. SW Miami
3. Palmetto Ridge
4. Kissimmee Osceola
5. Fort Pierce Central
182
1. Dominic Joyce (North Port)
2. Peyton Turner (Newsome)
3. Tony Carter (Mandarin)
4. Christopher Sanchez (South Dade)
5. Ranson Coons (Lakewood Ranch)
6. Marcelo Gonzalez (Flagler Palm Coast)
7. Kason Nichols (Buchholz)
8. Juan Quintero (Wellington)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: Franklyn Fernandez (SW Miami); Aiden Vega (Palmetto Ridge)
First round matches you can't miss: Carter vs. Coons; Turner vs. Nichols
Kabra Says: An inspired Joyce has looked tough all season and he’ll have a tough road to a title with Sanchez possible in the quarters and No. 2 Carter in the semis. The undefeated Carter has an intriguing opening round match with No. 3 Coons, who lost to Joyce in the region semifinals and then won his blood round before injury defaulting in his third place match. This opening round match could be one of the ones to watch if he’s back healthy.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
London Parsons contributed to this story.
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