Matches we want to see: Class 3A region duals
One of the best nights of the season is the region duals night the week before the state tournament. With a trip to Kissimmee on the line, the tension and excitement is some of the best during the season.
If you’re lucky enough to head out to one of these locations, we’ve picked some matches you will want to watch extra hard if they should take place.
As always, there is never a guarantee that these matches will occur - part of the fun of these duals is watching the coaches shuffle their lineup for the best possible matchups - but if they do take place, they’ll be an even bigger treat for the spectators.
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 Wednesday)!
ALL RANKINGS ARE FROM THE KABRA WRESTLING RANKINGS THAT ARE UPDATED WEEKLY FOR KABRA+ MEMBERS
3A-1/2: at Creekside, 6 p.m.
#19 Creekside vs. #15 Buchholz | #14 Flagler Palm Coast vs. Bartram Trail
Matches to look for:
126: #9 Mason Damis (Bartram Trail) vs. #14 Robert Twilley (Flagler Palm Coast)
This battle of freshman could be interesting as each are capable of wrestling above their rankings at times.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
150: #12 Laine Slayton (Buchholz) vs. #20 Hayden Herndon (Flagler Palm Coast)
In a dual where each team has different areas of strength, a match like this gains extra importance.
165: #14 Kelton Howard (Flagler Palm Coast) vs. #16 Colton Leavell (Creekside)
We haven’t seen much of Howard this year, but when we do, he’s 12-0. Leavell just went 4-0 at Fletcher this past weekend.
3A-3/4: at Timber Creek, 6 p.m.
#5 Timber Creek vs. Olympia | Ocoee vs. #10 Hagerty
Matches to look for:
157: #4 Micah Wittenburg (Timber Creek) vs. #15 Madden Bourst (Olympia)
Wittenburg has proved he can wrestle with the top guys in this weight class, but so has Bourst when he’s on.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
106: #6 Mohammad Davtalabsabet (Timber Creek) vs. #7 Hunter Jessee (Hagerty)
Their first meeting ended in the junior Wolves wrestler getting the win by fall.
175: #9 Connor Gilliam (Hagerty) vs. #11 William Muniz (Timber Creek)
If Hagerty and Timber Creek meet again, every bout will be important in the team battle - Gilliam won this meeting 1-0 in the district dual.
3A-5/6: at Kissimmee Osceola, 2 p.m.
#3 Kissimmee Osceola vs. #17 Strawberry Crest | #16 Steinbrenner vs. #13 George Jenkins
Matches to look for:
157: #9 Devin Blunt (Strawberry Crest) vs. #17 Nathaniel Cabrera (Kissimmee Osceola)
There are a few matches where the Chargers are favored, but this is the one where both have a ranked wrestler, so here’s hoping this happens.
190: #5 Timothy Peoples (George Jenkins) vs. #10 Baxter Hoffman (Steinbrenner)
A potential Top 10 match-up could take place in this regional quarterfinal.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
144: #9 Jayson Ortiz (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. UNR Braxton Gerber (George Jenkins)
Ortiz won the district duals matchup between these two 7-6.
3A-7/8: at Lakewood Ranch 6 p.m.
Lakewood Ranch vs. Riverdale | Palmetto Ridge vs. Plant City
Matches to look for:
215: #15 Houston Brand (Riverdale) vs. UNR Evan Bolick (Lakewood Ranch)
Brand comes in ranked and Bolick comes in with a 21-3 record and hoping to make a statement for his own ranking.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
113: #7 Erik Perez (Palmetto Ridge) vs. #11 Logan Borcsane (Lakewood Ranch)
If these two teams advance, this is the ranked meeting to watch for.
215: #11 Jordan Peralez (Palmetto Ridge) vs. #15 Houston Brand (Riverdale)
Peralez scored a 2-1 victory in their last meeting.
3A-9/10: at Harmony, 5:30 p.m.
#4 Harmony vs. #18 Fort Pierce Central | #9 Viera vs. Orlando Freedom
Matches to look for:
126: #1 Jesten Conty (Orlando Freedom) vs. #6 Luke Agcaoili (Viera)
The Orlando Freedom junior has been blossoming this season and will get his first big test since earning the top ranking in Class 3A.
157: #6 Edwin Torres (Viera) vs. #7 Tremaine Chester (Orlando Freedom)
A key match in this dual that could end up being a key match in the region IBT tournament too.
175: #8 John Fernandez (Harmony) vs. UNR Colin Madden (Fort Pierce Central)
Fernandez is the heavy favorite here but Madden is still looking for that signature win. Could this be the one?
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
150: #2 Shawn McCallister (Harmony) vs. #4 Brian Mitchell (Viera)
This would be a fun meeting if these two teams are in the region semifinals here.
3A-11/12: at Jupiter, 6 p.m.
Jupiter vs. #7 Wellington | #6 Olympic Heights vs. Dwyer
Matches to look for:
138: #9 Cash Ciliento (Jupiter) vs. #13 Russell Crum (Wellington)
In a deep weight class for the region, these two could get a key look at each other ahead of it.
285: #12 Liam Higgins (Wellington) vs. #14 Shantavous White (Jupiter)
Two wrestlers that can beat nearly anyone in Class 3A on their best day - but also prone to perplexing performances. This is one of the heavyweight battles to watch on Thursday.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
132: #3 Adiel Pina (Olympic Heights) vs. #4 Sam Marvel (Wellington)
Pina has a 6-4 win over Marvel and if both compete here on Thursday, I’d love to watch the rematch.
3A-13/14: at South Plantation, 5 p.m.
Douglas vs. Western | #20 South Plantation vs. Coral Springs
Matches to look for:
175: UNR Shai Keery (Coral Springs) vs. UNR Brian Senalle (South Plantation)
Could be one of the key matches of the dual.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
132: #9 Josh Whitter (South Plantation) vs. #3-120 David Leiva (Douglas)
Leiva will be at 126 a few more weeks, so could we see him bumping up to give up a Top 10 matchup?
3A-15/16: at Doral Academy, (Wednesday) 4 p.m.
#8 Doral Academy vs. #2 SW Miami | #1 South Dade vs. #11 Columbus
Matches to look for:
106: #4 Sebastian Gonzalez (SW Miami) vs. #5 Rocco Ruiz (Doral Academy)
I don’t know what weight they’ll start at, but this would be a fun one if its at 106.
175: #2 Kevin Olavarria (South Dade) vs. #7 Michael Mora (Christopher Columbus)
Olavarria has a collection of being wins this season while Mora has compiled a 40-1 record.
285: #11 Apollo Benito (Christopher Columbus) vs. #17 Daguy Massillon (South Dade)
Benito made his season debut at the John Raich with a fourth-place finish while Massillon has been improving as the season has grown.
Matches it both teams advance to watch:
126: #2 Gabriel Tellez (SW Miami) vs. #3 Nathaniel Williams (South Dade)
Tellez has two high-scoring decision wins between these two this season, so expect some fireworks here.
132: #1 Dillon Smith (SW Miami) vs. #2 Armand Williams (South Dade)
Smith is 3-1 against Williams this season, but the South Dade freshman did get that one win on Smith and South Dade wrestlers always seem to rise to the state duals occasion.
190: #1 Christopher Sanchez (South Dade) vs. #3 Myron Mendez (SW Miami)
Sanchez leads the season series between the two with a 2-1 record.
