Matches we want to see: Class 1A region duals
We wish we could be everywhere on Thursday night, but since we cannot, here is a list of matches we hope you get to see at each region venue.
Of course there is no guarantee that any of these matches will happen - duals are so amazing to watch with wrestlers being moved around to try to get the maximum amount of points for a team - but if these matches do take place, they’ll be an even bigger treat on a really fun night.
We’ve also looked ahead at some matches that could take place if each team advances. In each location, there are some region semifinal duals that seem more likely than others, but we still looked at a number of possibilities for each match.
Best of luck to everyone competing on Thursday night!
ALL RANKINGS ARE FROM THE KABRA WRESTLING RANKINGS THAT ARE UPDATED WEEKLY FOR KABRA+ MEMBERS
1A-1/2: at North Bay Haven, 5 p.m. (CT)
#7 North Bay Haven vs. #11 Florida High | #6 Suwannee vs. Rocky Bayou
Matches to look for:
120: #3 Jasper Croom (Florida High) vs. #7 James Oliver (North Bay Haven)
They were both at the Panhandle Championships this past weekend, but they haven’t met yet this season.
157: #3 Marshall White (Suwannee) vs. UNR Clay Nelson (Rocky Bayou)
White has tough all season long and should be a big favorite in this match, but Nelson has been one of Rocky Bayou’s best wrestlers and enters Thursday night on the heels of a 6-0 performance at the Panhandle Championships.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
113: #1 Preston Neufeld (North Bay Haven) vs. #2 Topher Pearson (Suwannee)
These two just met up with Neufeld earning a hard-fought 6-5 decision over Pearson.
120: #7 James Oliver (North Bay Haven) vs. #9 Justin Contreras (Suwannee)
Oliver scored a major decision over Contreras over the weekend and could see each other again here.
1A-3/4: at Fernandina Beach, 6 p.m.
#14 Fernandina Beach vs. Union County | Baker County vs. #15 Episcopal
Matches to look for:
175: #6 Nolan McKelvy (Fernandina Beach) vs. #8 Alexander Cortese (Union County)
These two haven't met yet this season, but could be a preview of a key region match down the line.
126: #8 Jareb Lauramore (Baker County) vs. #14 Mikah Ikeda (Episcopal)
These two met this past weekend and the Baker County junior scored a 9-6 win.
Match if both teams advance to watch:
165: #2 Enzo Gamba (Fernandina Beach) vs. #4 Benny Lewis (Baker County)
If both district teams advance, this would be the match to watch in the region semifinals.
1A-5/6: at Weeki Wachee, 6 p.m.
#16 Weeki Wachee vs. The Villages | #19 Mount Dora vs. #18 Hernando
Matches to look for:
144: #5 Ricky Bowermaster (Weeki Wachee) vs. #18 Jayce Charpentier (The Villages)
The one Top 20 matchup on paper between the two, Bowermaster pinned Charpentier in the one meeting this season.
175: #9 Anthony Dawson (Mount Dora) vs. #12 Morgan Johnston (Hernando)
Notes on this one: Both of these wrestlers have beaten Jordan Jandro - Dawson by fall and Johnston by 3-2 decision.
215: #6 Russell Fickett (Mount Dora) vs. #8 Kian Blyss (Hernando)
An exciting match on its own, this one could also have huge point implications in the dual.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
157: #4 Shaw Garrett (Hernando) vs. #17 Diego Maysonet (Weeki Wachee)
A potential ranked matchup if both teams advance.
1A-7/8: at McKeel Academy, 6 p.m.
#20 McKeel Academy vs. #12 Cocoa Beach | #10 Palm Bay vs. Avon Park
Matches to look for:
138: #8 William Day (Cocoa Beach) vs. #11 Jacob Reber (McKeel Academy)
One of the potential key matchups in the dual, Day majored Reber in their one meeting.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
157: #6 Bradley Torres (McKeel Academy) vs. #9 Zachary Emery-Foster (Palm Bay)
If these two teams advance, this could be a key matchup of Top 10 wrestlers.
285: #5 Leonard Christian (Palm Bay) vs. #6 Madden Fredenburg (Cocoa Beach)
These two will meet a lot more as the season winds down whether they meet here or not, but so far Christian has the edge with a 6-1 and 2-0 win.
1A-9/10: at Anclote
Anclote vs. Robinson | #4 Zephyrhills Christian vs. Dunedin
Matches to look for:
144: #17 Garrett Roberts (Robinson) vs. UNR Julian Bell (Anclote)
Bell has been ranked this season and a win in this bout could help him find his way back to the Top 20.
285: #9 Elijah Austin (Zephyrhills Christian) vs. #15 Saul Martinez (Dunedin)
A heavyweight bout that could be worth watching in the region quarterfinals.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
190: #2 Jeremiah Chavis (Zephyrhills Christian) vs. #5 Arron McCarty (Robinson)
Chavis has been on a role and heads into this part of the postseason looking to continue to make an impact on the state. McCarty won’t be a pushover and this match would be a chance for each to gauge where they’re at.
1A-11/12: at Lemon Bay, 6 p.m.
#9 Lemon Bay vs. First Baptist-Naples | #17 Aubrey Rogers vs. Bayshore
Matches to look for:
215: #4 Marcos Silos-Sanchez (Bayshore) vs. #16 Darian Alvarez (Aubrey Rogers)
Doubt the first-year school at your own risk, the Patriots are here to pull off another stunner.
132: #2 Jonathan Moder (First Baptist) vs. #3-126 Jack Oliver (Lemon Bay)
Maybe some moves will be made and we’ll end up with this one taking place.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
120: #8 Logan Kelly (Lemon Bay) vs. #20 Bekim Zherka (Aubrey Rogers)
The lineup is littered with tough wrestling Zherkas, a win here for cause some to wonder if a second upset is in the cards.
1A-13/14: at Jensen Beach, 6 p.m.
#5 Jensen Beach vs. Coral Springs Charter | #3 Cardinal Gibbons vs. Lincoln Park
Matches to look for:
144: #7 Preston Lindsay (Coral Springs Charter) vs. #15 Blake Walker (Jensen Beach)
Lindsay scored a win over Byelick in their district dual meeting and he’ll look to get more points here.
165: #3 Jason Simmons (Cardinal Gibbons) vs. #7 Trenton Hogan (Lincoln Park)
This is a great chance for the junior Greyhound to get his signature win of the season.
175: #4 Dominic Pantuso (Cardinal Gibbons) vs. #11 Joseph Richardson (Lincoln Park)
Two guys who would love to position themselves for the second half of the season with a big win here.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
132: #5 Ben Norris (Jensen Beach) vs. #8 Michael Palermo (Cardinal Gibbons)
Each team has its big-time hammers who will look to maximize their dual points, making matches like these even more important.
165: #3 Jason Simmons (Cardinal Gibbons) vs. #6 Brayden Hogg (Jensen Beach)
Hogg’s ability to keep this close, or even pull an upset, will go a long way to which team goes to Kissimmee.
1A-15/16: at Somerset, 5:30 p.m.
#1 Somerset vs. Florida Christian | #13 Key West vs. #2 Mater Lakes
Matches to look for:
120: #5 Matteo Gonzalez (Somerset) vs. #12 Leonardo Trejos (Florida Christian)
This could be one of two ranked matches in this dual.
Matches if both teams advance to watch:
If it’s a 1-2 match up here, nearly every weight class will be a must see.
106: #2 Keagan Messina (Mater Lakes) vs. #4 Carlos Sainz (Somerset)
Messina scored a 3-0 win in their first meeting. Every dual point matters in this one.
113: #3 Jake Austin (Somerset) vs. #5 Kellen Messina (Mater Lakes)
Austin had a major decision win and just a 7-5 win - that’s a point difference in a dual, and every point will count here.
120: #4 Bruce Li (Mater Lakes) vs. #5 Matteo Gonzalez (Somerset)
Li won the first match-up between the two by a 3-1 margin.
190: #4 Rafael Lopez (Somerset) vs. #5 Kevin Breton (Mater Lakes)
Another big match between two Top 5 wrestlers, Lopez won the first meeting by a major decision.
215: #3 Damian Soto (Mater Lakes) vs. #5 Adrian Tejada (Somerset)
These two wrestled a back-and-forth match in the district final and we sure hope they meet again here.
