Perfect Flagler day, Middleburg and Sandalwood make history, and Lincoln Park back on top | Wednesday recap
BY BRANT PARSONS — Top-ranked Flagler Palm Coast hosted the girls 1A-4 district tournament on Wednesday and also celebrated its seniors.
The day was perfect — literally.
The Bulldogs went 9-for-9 on the day with all nine of their wrestlers winning district titles.
“I haven’t seen that before but we are keeping it in perspective,” Flagler Palm Coast coach David Bossardet said about the perfect day. “Districts is a necessary step to get to the state tournament and our girls understand that. We don’t talk about winning district titles, they have their mind set on other goals.”
Five seniors celebrated their final home event with Mariah Mills (110), Christina Borgmann (130), Ana Vilar (135), Tiana Fries (145), and Kendall Bibla (170) winning titles.
Juliana Mills (100), Joslyn Johnson (105), Alisha Vilar (140), and Alexa Calidonio (155) also finished on top of the podium as the Bulldogs outscored runner-up Lake Mary by 104 points.
The first-time district champions for Flagler Palm Coast are looking to win its first girls state team title next month.
“We need to keep blocking out other people’s expectations of us and just go out and wrestle as hard as we can,” Bossardet said. “It we can stay focused and do that, good things will happen for them.”
DeLand’s Grace Lashinsky improved to 30-0 on the season while winning the 115-pound title. Matanzas’ R’Cardenay Michel (120) and Ani Brown (190), and Oviedo’s Claudia La Costa Perez (125) and Shyann Tate (235) all won individual titles.
Middleburg celebrates their first district title in their home gym on Wednesday. (Courtesy of Middleburg Wrestling)
Middleburg girls make history
For three straight seasons, Middleburg finished as a district runner-up.
On Wednesday, the Broncos made school history and won their first girls wrestling team title, finishing atop district G1A-3.
“For these girls to win this means a lot,” Middleburg coach Coll Robertson said. “It shows how much this team has grown in numbers since Cheyenne’s first year when they were runner-ups with only two girls on the team.”
Lily Bradshaw (100), Cyndi Almonte (140), and Cheyenne Cruce (190) won individual titles for Middleburg.
It was Cruce’s fourth career district title. The senior is going for her third state title this season.
“Cheyenne got to wrestle in front of her home crowd one last time,” Robertson said. “She’s been such a huge part of the program so it was a bittersweet moment watching her last match in our gym.”
Almonte won her title by beating a Top 25 wrestler.
“She came in with a less than stellar record but listened and wrestled well on her way to winning her first individual district title,” Robertson said.
Toni Silcox (105), Sarah Walsh (110), Memphis Moses (115), and Leyna Link (155) all reached the finals for the Broncos, who advanced 10 wrestlers to next weekend’s region tournament.
“The team showed me how much they’ve improved since the beginning of the season,” Robertson said. “Coach Jamie Harrison has done a great job preparing these young ladies for the postseason.”
Bartram Trail finished in second place, its highest-ever girls team finish. The Bears had Aubrey Thibodeau (130) and Vivian Williams (145) win individual crowns.
Other individual winners were Ponte Vedra’s Erin Rizzuto (105) and Natalia Choquegonza (110), Gainesville’s Grace Diaz (115), St. Augustine’s Trinity Wanamaker (120) and Taylor Pelchat (125), Oakleaf’s Kailani Barrientos (135) and Lamees Hudson (170), Creekside’s Zara Exilus (155), and Clay’s Kayleen Barnard (235).
Sandalwood poses with the school’s first girls wrestling district trophy. (Courtesy of Sandalwood Wrestling)
Monster improvement leads to Sandalwood’s first
In the first two seasons that Sandalwood competed in girls wrestling, they finished in ninth and 12th place.
On Wednesday, the Saints won their first girls district title, scoring 132.5 points to top G1A-2.
“It was extremely special to these girls,” Sandalwood coach Ron Reidell said. “They worked hard all year and were happy to see their efforts rewarded. It was especially meaningful to me to see the work they have all put into this championship.”
Abigail Ciarletto (105), Isabel Flowers (120) and Sara Goodman (125) each won an individual title for the Saints, whose last wrestling district title came in the 1990s.
“The difference was what we do every day,” Reidell said. “The grind we put our teams through day in and day out prepares them to be successful for things like this.”
All eight of Sandalwood’s wrestlers advanced to next weekend’s region tournament.
Columbia finished second with just four wrestlers competing. Carlee Morrison (170) and Josie Raulerson (235) each won titles for the Tigers.
Seven teams collected the other nine individual titles with Yulee’s Devin Hovan (100) and Felicity Johnson (110), Raines’ Maryah Jones (115), Fletcher’s Aidan Arthur (130), Baker County’s Kylee Hopkins (135), Riverside’s Iyana Lee (140) and Paris Robinson (155), First Coast’s Lilian Ison (145), Westside’s Tiffany Robbins-Reed (190) finishing on top of the podium.
Lincoln Park returns to the top of G1A-13
After winning its first district team title in 2023, Lincoln Park finished in fourth a season ago. On Wednesday, the Greyhounds returned to the top of G1A-13 with a strong team performance.
“The girls today showed me perseverance and dominance,” Lincoln Park coach Kevin Carter said. “Even when matches were tough they never gave up and fought until the whistle blew. I’m so proud of these girls. I told them I don’t want second, and won’t accept second place we will win first place, and they did.”
Rickkyuna Wilson (110) and Chaniya Saintill (155) led the way with first place finishes for Lincoln Park.
“Rickkyuna was a monster on the mat today dominating with a finals win to become a district champ for the second time,” Carter said.
Also booking a spot in next week’s region tournament was Lilyana Calzadilla, Gia Jones, Laraina Hill, Quisiera Wilson, Kaelyn Toombs, and Kelis Guy.
“Laraina showed great courage as just last week she lost to (Shyonte Stinson) by a technical foul and today she lost by only two points in the semis,” Carter said. “Then she responded with a pin to take 3rd place. Overall, I’m proud of all my girls.”
Vero Beach finished 12 points back of Lincoln Park and advanced all eight wrestlers to the region tournament.
Fort Pierce Central’s Kha’Lyah Delva (145) and Mia Johnson (170) earned individual titles while the Cobras finished third in the team race.
Also winning district titles were Jensen Beach’s Brooke VanEtten (105) and Sydney Jones (125), Centennial’s Caitlin Bohrer (115) and Cholelynn Caldwell (130), Westwood’s McKayla Noble (100), Takyla Jackson (135), and Ta’Nodja Williams (140), Sebastian River’s Gabby Vallejo (120) and Zanis Outten (235), and Okeechobee’s Navaeh Robinson (190).
Click here for complete results from G1A-13 (PDF)
On Wednesday’s Schedule
G1A-9: at Armwood, 2:30 p.m.
G1A-10: at Boca Ciega, 3 p.m.
G1A-14: at Wellington, 5 p.m.
G1A-15: at South Broward, 12 p.m.
G1A-16: at Coral Park, 11 a.m.
Thursday’s duals
Apopka at Celebration, 7 (Senior Night)
Bradford, Union County at Baker County, 5 (Braggin Rights Dual) (Senior Night)
Cardinal Mooney at Sarasota Riverview
Florida Christian, Miami Northwestern at Felix Varela, 4
Heritage at Olympic Heights
Lake Mary at Pine Ridge, 6
Merritt Island at Rockledge
Miramar at Southwest Miami (Senior Night)
Westminster Christian at Belen Jesuit
Zephyrhills at Pasco, 6 (Senior Night)
TBD at Harmony (Senior Night)
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.
