Matches we want to see: Class 2A region duals
If there was a magical way we could see each region dual in person, we would be there. But since there is not, here are some matches that we would be excited to see if we could.
There is no guarantee that any of these matches will take place - the art of coaching a dual will cause some wrestlers to move around - 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 those wrestler’s teams advance. 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 (and Friday)!
ALL RANKINGS ARE FROM THE KABRA WRESTLING RANKINGS THAT ARE UPDATED WEEKLY FOR KABRA+ MEMBERS
2A-1/2: at Gulf Breeze, 4 p.m. (CT)
#13 Gulf Breeze vs. #17 Chiles | #9 Lincoln vs. Fort Walton Beach
Matches to look for:
106: #4 Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze) vs. #13 Jason Marsala (Chiles)
This could be the only head-to-head meeting in this dual between ranked wrestlers.
120: #10 Zak Vosburgh (Fort Walton Beach) vs. #14 Joe Tucker (Lincoln)
One of two matches between the two teams that could involved ranked opponents.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
120: #10 Zak Vosburgh (Fort Walton Beach) vs. #11 Aiden Macken (Gulf Breeze)
FWB has a tall task to get past a solid Lincoln team, but if these two are in the semifinals, I’d love to see the follow-up meeting to Vosburgh’s 5-2 win.
126: #11 Coby Shields (Gulf Breeze) vs. #14 Zakary Jurado (Lincoln)
If these two teams are in the semifinals, I think the dual will come down to a handful of matches - this being one of them.
2A-3/4: at Oakleaf, 5 p.m.
#11 Oakleaf vs. #15 Clay | #3 Fleming Island vs. #12 Middleburg
Matches to look for:
120: #4 Jordan Mukaddam (Fleming Island) vs. #6 Grady Woodard (Middleburg)
These two met in the Joe Bees final this past weekend and was the Fleming Island senior who took home the 6-1 decision.
132: #3 Sebastian Bonachea (Oakleaf) vs. #11 Drew Holmquist (Clay)
On paper, Bonachea is the favorite here, but sometimes in duals, it matters how you lose too and Holmquist could work to keep this one close.
150: #2 Kaden Schaefer (Fleming Island) vs. #6 Wyatt Leduc (Middleburg)
Schaefer is one of the top-level wrestlers in Class 2A but Leduc is talented too. The Fleming Island senior won the Bees final between these two with a major decision and four points or more in this dual will be wanted.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
126: #8 Shane Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island) vs. #9 Rylan Herrera (Clay)
Should we get an Uncivil War meeting in the region semifinals, this could be a fun one with Duhaylungsod owning two decision wins this season.
157: #16 Ghais Cooper (Oakleaf) vs. UNR Dylan Beck (Fleming Island)
They each have a win against each other this season.
2A-5/6: at Fivay, (Friday, Jan. 12)
#20 Land O’Lakes vs. River Ridge
Because all of 2A-6 has decided to not participate in the state duals series, the winner of the District 5 final replay will advance to Kissimmee. These two teams will wrestle as part of the tournament at Fivay this weekend.
Matches to look for:
126: #5 Jet Griffis (Land O’ Lakes) vs. #18 Zachary Kotsubka (River Ridge)
The one ranked match-up before movement. This could be a some key points River Ridge can keep LOL from scoring.
2A-7/8: at Lake Gibson, 6 p.m.
#1 Lake Gibson vs. Lyman | #14 Winter Springs vs. Kissimmee Gateway
Matches to look for:
138: #2 Ryan Phillips (Winter Springs) vs. #18 Ariel Molina (Kissimmee Gateway)
The one ranked meeting that could take place in this region quarterfinal dual.
144: #3 Austin Chung (Lake Gibson) vs. #11 Cameron Popeck (Lyman)
This is the Greyhounds first-ever appearance in the region quarterfinals and they get the #1 team in the country.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
190: #12 Jacob Rodriguez (Winter Springs) vs. #16 Connor Hackett (Lake Gibson)
This could be a good match - the only like opponent for each is Auburndale’s Adrian Castillo, who Rodriguez won 10-4 and Hackett lost to 7-1.
2A-9/10: at Tampa Jesuit, 6 p.m.
#2 Tampa Jesuit vs. #19 Palmetto | #5 Manatee vs. #8 Braden River
Matches to look for:
132: #7 Luke Arthur (Manatee) vs. #20 Nico Serrano (Braden River)
On paper, it seems that there are few weight classes where there are close matchups ahead of the dual, but that could always change with coaching movements.
138: #1 Jayden Bowles (Tampa Jesuit) vs. #9 Jacob Wyatt (Palmetto)
Bowles pinned Wyatt in their one meeting so far in what could be a Top 10 meeting in this dual.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
126: #3 Isaac Cedeno (Manatee) vs. #4 Reid Yakes (Tampa Jesuit)
132: #5 Xavier Albo (Tampa Jesuit) vs. #7 Luke Arthur (Manatee)
144: #4 Mason Basile (Tampa Jesuit) vs. #5 Jake Samuels (Manatee)
Mantee would have the depth if they reach the region semifinals while Jesuit has the hammers. That dual could come down to a few tightly-contested matches.
2A-11/12: at Charlotte, 6 p.m.
#4 Charlotte vs. South Fort Myers | Naples vs. Port Charlotte
Matches to look for:
144: #2 Jonathan Martinez (South Fort Myers) vs. #7 Carson Bennett (Charlotte)
The SFM senior has a win by fall over Bennett this season.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
126: #10 Maddox Williams (Port Charlotte) vs. UNR Cody Holt (Charlotte)
They may have met in the district duals, but we never got the score sheet, so we’re not sure their history.
2A-13/14: at Merritt Island, 5 p.m.
#7 Merritt Island vs. South Fork | Okeechobee vs. #10 Heritage
Matches to look for:
126: #12 Gustavo Ferreira (Heritage) vs. #13 Flaco Frank (Okeechobee)
They split meetings at Jensen Beach, so let’s a rubber match less than a week later.
215: #9 Harper Noel (Heritage) vs. #12 William Crum (Okeechobee)
A potential Top 12 meeting could take place in this dual too.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
157: #6 Tre Driggett (Merritt Island) vs. #7 Stephan Perry (Heritage)
Driggett owns a 6-3 decision over Perry this season and if these two meet again, some key points could be on the line here.
2A-15/16: at Miramar, 5 p.m.
#16 Miramar vs. Homestead | #18 Mater Academy vs. Archbishop McCarthy
Matches to look for:
132: #4 Gregory Mendez (Mater Academy) vs. #10 Amari Lewis (Archbishop McCarthy)
These two have met this season and Mendez earned the pinfall win.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
113: #12 Michael Maisonet (Mater Academy) vs. #15 Domonic Charles (Miramar)
Miramar is looking to return to Kissimmee and matches like this could go a long to helping that happen.
138: #11 Luis Rosa (Archbishop McCarthy) vs. #15 Famous Nealy (Miramar)
If Miramar and Archbishop McCarthy are the teams to meet, this has that same sort of important bout feels.
