53 matches we want to see this weekend
BY BRANT PARSONS — As we enter the sixth full weekend of the Florida high school wrestling season, there are some tasty treats that could be on the mat.
Of course we should give the usual disclaimers: We cannot guarantee that these will take place as some wrestlers might be hurt, taking a test, visiting a college, or even in another weight class.
But if these wrestlers do indeed compete in the weight classes where Kabra Wrestling has them ranked, this is just a handful of matches we hope take place.
These also might not be the finals matches - or the two best in a weight class - but when we look at the rankings, there could be some implications if they do meet.
Wrestlers have been chosen from the teams lists on Track Wrestling. We know that does not always mean those teams will compete at the event. We have reached out for team info for other events and will update this list as needed as they come in.
Cradle Cancer at Jensen Beach
Admittedly, this tournament has the most ranked wrestlers in it this weekend and there should be some great semifinals - and even some quarterfinals you wouldn’t want to miss. We could pick multiple matches to watch in each weight class if we wanted, but let’s try to narrow it down.
106: Take your pick: #1-2A Matthew Schuler (Charlotte), #2-3A Bryan Morales (South Dade), #2-2A Solomon Peterson (Heritage), #3-2A Joke Giovino (Satellite), #4-3A Sebastian Gonzalez (SW Miami)
So many options here - and a few other guys who could crash the party - but you could see some district rivals meet up and possibly a reshuffling at the top of Class 2A.
113: #1-2A Landon Quiroga (Merritt Island) vs. #2-2A Malachi Ortiz (Tampa Jesuit)
Quiroga took the top spot after winning a 5-4 decision at the Knockout Christmas Classic. But they might not even meet because this weight class also has…
113: #2-3A Adaias Ortiz (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. #3-3A Guillermo Jaramillo (South Dade)
Ortiz has won two meetings this season by a combined five points.
120: #1-3A Luis Acevedo (South Dade) vs. #1-2A Roman Lermer (Tampa Jesuit)
Two returning state champions that should be on the other side of a very loaded bracket. Acevedo picked up a two-point win in the offseason between the two.
132: #1-3A Dillon Smith (SW Miami) vs. #2-3A Armand Williams (South Dade)
These won’t be the favorites in the weight class if Max Brady is there, but could make for a fun semifinal if they’re on the same side of the bracket. Smith is 2-1 so far this season.
150: #1-3A Anderson Heap (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. #1-2A Draven McCall (Tampa Jesuit)
McCall didn’t wrestle at the Knockout, where Heap won his third career title, but two #1s meeting give us some interest.
165: #1-3A Willie White (SW Miami) vs. #1-2A Brandon Cody (Tampa Jesuit)
White is having a monster junior year for the Eagles while the steady Cody has been putting together a solid season himself.
190: #1-3A Chris Sanchez (South Dade) vs. #1-2A Jordan Mills (Matanzas)
They didn’t run into each other at the Knockout, where Mills won and Sanchez finished fourth.
Ron Peters Tournament of Champions
126: #5-3A Raymond Cavey (West Orange) vs. #8-3A Dario Duany (Lake Brantley)
They’ve met twice this season and each one was tight with Duany winning 1-0 and Cavey winning in sudden victory.
144: #6-3A Giovanni Duany (Lake Brantley) vs. #7-3A James Gonzalez (Winter Park)
Duany is 2-0 between the two this year with a win by fall and a narrow 2-1 victory.
175: #5-3A Gavin Isaacs (Lake Mary) vs. #6-3A Jake Jessee (Lake Brantley) vs. #8-3A Connor Gilliam (Hagerty)
Isaacs has a win over Jessee, Jessee has a win over Gilliam, Gilliam has a win over Isaacs.
Joe Bees Memorial Battle of the Border at Yulee
120: #5-2A Grady Woodard (Middleburg) vs. #7-2A Jordan Mukaddam (Fleming Island)
A nice region battle that could be the final here.
126: #9-1A Aaron Horr (Cocoa) vs. #13 Mikah Ikeda (Episcopal of Jacksonville)
Ikeda has been a nice bright spot for Episcopal this season and we could get an idea of where he should be at 126 this weekend where returning state qualifier Horr could be found waiting for him on the way.
150: #2-2A Kaden Schaefer (Fleming Island) vs. #5-2A Wyatt Leduc (Middleburg)
There’s no guarantee Leduc will even be here, he wrestled 144 at the district duals (where he majored #10 Keon Barrientos). If he is here, this could be a good measuring stick on where he is in the region.
165: #3-1A Benny Lewis (Baker County) vs. #9-1A Gibson Moore (South Walton) vs. #14-1A Michael McNair (Yulee)
Lewis has looked strong in limited appearances thus far (he went 9-0 at Gene Gorman) and this will be a chance for us to see just how strong of a region favorite the returning state placer is.
John Raich Memorial at Palm Beach Gardens
106: #3-3A Rocco Duygulu (Douglas) vs. Four-ranked wrestlers in 3A
Duygulu is the favorite here, but it will be interesting to see who he faces in a bracket that could have four other ranked wrestlers - and at least two just on the outside of the rankings.
113: #6-3A Jorge Bravo (Palm Beach Gardens) vs. #8 Alex Schnobrick (Olympic Heights)
You have to think they’ll meet a few more times this year with more on the line.
120: #2-3A Frederick Mitchum (Miami Southridge) vs. #3-3A David Leiva (Douglas)
Leiva is undefeated on the season at 9-0 and this will be a great gauge on where he is at the halfway part of the season should they meet. Note: We’ve been informed that Leiva will be at 126 this weekend.
285: #14-3A Ryan Miret (Columbus) vs. #16-3A Joel Leon (Seminole Ridge)
Two heavyweights with a ton of potential that could get their 2024 started off right with a big performance here.
Panhandle Championships at Mosley
106: #4-2A Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze) vs. #3-1A Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee)
It may not have the rankings implications that some of these other bouts have, but this should just be a treat for the folks that stick around to the end to watch.
113: #1-1A Preston Neufeld (North Bay Haven) vs. #2-1A Topher Pearson (Suwannee)
This is one of the potential bouts that helped spring the idea to write this piece. The former Washington state champion and runner-up will face his toughest 1A competition so far.
120: #10-2A Zak Vosburgh (Fort Walton Beach) vs. #11-2A Aiden Macken (Gulf Breeze)
I don’t know if this will end up being a final because there are some tough 1A wrestlers in the weight class, but we’d like to see these two wrestlers meet again after Vosburgh won their previous meeting 5-2.
126: #2-1A Derrick Williams (Bozeman) vs. #4-1A Jasper Croom (Florida High)
We’ve not seen much of last year’s state finalist in his new uniform, but if he laces them up this weekend, we’d love to see a battle with the Florida High freshman.
132: #2 Jay Brown (Liberty County) vs. #6 Jake Parker (Wewahitchka)
We’re highlighting this potential match but this weight class could have six ranked wrestlers in it.
Lady Bears Invitational at Palmetto Ridge
100: #7 Kiera Partello (Barron Collier) vs. #8 Mia Parker (First Baptist-Naples)
Partello has hit her stride this season while Parker has been making waves in her 8th grade season.
110: #2 Jazlyn Diaz (Riverdale) vs. #4 Keana Bush (Hudson) vs. #5 Sofia Ferran (Mater Lakes) vs. #6 Zoey McDonald (Palmetto Ridge) vs. #7 Rebekkah Kinkade (South Dade)
A whopper of a weight class with five of the Top 7 wrestlers in the state potentially going for the title here.
120: #4 Willow White (SLAM) vs. #5 Jasmine Serrano (Springstead)
Fresh off her third place finish at the Knockout where White topped Serrano twice, the two wrestlers enter the weekend as the top two wrestlers in a weight class that could see six of the Top 12.
145: #6 Noelia Varela (Riverdale) vs. #7 Genesis Turrubiartez (Immokalee) vs. #8 Anisha Paz (South Dade)
Expect at least one potentially great semifinal and final here. Varela and Turrubiartez have split meetings this season while Paz dropped a nailbiter to the Immokalee senior.
Lady Wildcats Scramble at McKeel Academy
115: #5 Paola Ramirez (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. #6 Natalia Choquegonza (Ponte Vedra)
Ramirez is 2-0 between the two wrestlers this season and we want to see what the Kissimmee Osceola sophomore has for an encore after a Knockout finals appearance.
135: #3 Bry Kaminsky (Orange City University) vs. #5 Callie Alfieri (Gulf)
These two met in the semifinals at the Knockout and both girls could have come out on top before Kaminsky held on for a 5-4 win. What a treat if we get them meeting up against so quickly. Also, this weight class could have six Top 13 wrestlers in the bracket so there isn’t even a guarantee both reach the finals.
140: #2 Ailee Briggs (Key West) vs. #4 Kristy More (Sunlake)
Briggs has won both of their meetings (a 5-1 decision and a major decision) and you would expect her to be the favorite again if they meet, but More might be the toughest competition below Briggs in the rankings.
155: #5 Riley Lancaster (Admiral Farragut) vs. #10 Alexia Davis (McKeel)
These two have split meetings this season and they could have their third introduction in the finals here.
170: #8 Lana Clayton (Newsome) vs. #9 Megan Preston (Wiregrass Ranch)
These are two Top 10 wrestlers looking for a signature 2024 win and it could happen here.
190: #4 Quisiera Wilson (Lincoln Park) vs. #7 Paisley Murphy (Wesley Chapel)
This is a chance for the rising talent Murphy to have a Top 5 win while Wilson continues to show she’s one of the best in the state.
Winter Springs Girls Tournament at Winter Springs
100: #5 Joslyn Johnson (Flagler Palm Coast) vs. #9 Miabella Lopez (Orlando Freedom)
Johnson has been on top of her game, placing third at the Knockout while last year’s state placer Lopez has been slowly working herself back into shape after an injury. Johnson pinned Lopez at the Knockout.
140: #3 Hayden Proulx (Timber Creek) vs. #5 Isabella Tolentino (East River) vs. #7 Kylie Mangum (Space Coast)
A chance to possibly see the G1A-6 frontrunner between Proulx and Tolentino with the rising Mangum looking to spoil the party.
155: #3 Chloe Shull (TImber Creek) vs. #8 Gabrielle Proctor (Flagler Palm Coast)
Shull is 1-0 against proctor with a win by fall in their meeting - but this could make for a fun final at Winter Springs.
Somerset Scuffle at Somerset
106: #1-1A Broc Dahlin (Bayshore) vs. #4 Carlos Sainz/#12 Cano Austin (Somerset)
The freshman Dahlin has been impressive starting the season 19-0 and depending on who is there for Somerset, they’ll want to test their level at the midpoint of the season.
113: #14-2A Rahsaan Robinson (Miami Norland) vs. #15-2A Ericson Coney (Mater Academy)
If these two meet at Somerset, we’ll get an idea of a favorite when the 2A-16 postseason comes around.
138: #9-1A Derrique Mytial (Fort Myers Gateway) vs. #13 James Searcy (Key West)
Two talented wrestlers looking for that first signature win of 2024.
215: #4-1A Marcos Silos-Sanchez (Bayshore) vs. #5-1A Adrian Tejada (Somerset)
These two have both started the season well and could make a mark with a win here.
Bob Harley Memorial Duals at George Jenkins
132: #6-3A Ian Drake (Ridge Community) vs. #7-1A Kyle Gallo (Zephyrhills Christian)
We know a lot about Gallo and the freshman has been improving as the season has grown and we’re still hoping to learn what Drake is capable of.
157: #5-2A Evan Martinez (Lakeland) vs. #14-2A Colton Sharrah (Port Charlotte)
This could be a chance for Sharrah to show what he’s capable of.
165: #8-1A Alexander Roman (Avon Park) vs. #12 Curtis Tyler (Zephyrhills Christian)
Tyler has been wrestling well and we’re still looking for that signature Roman victory - this could be that for either of these wrestlers.
190: #3-1A Jeremiah Chavis (Zephyrhills Christian) vs. #5-3A Timothy Peoples (George Jenkins)
Chavis is one of the most exciting eighth grade wrestlers in the state while Peoples is the experienced senior wrestling in his home gym.
Cradle Cancer Girls at Jensen Beach
100: #11 Sphie Booe (Palm Harbor University) vs. #12 Jaila Allah (Treasure Coast)
Two wrestlers looking to break into the Top 10 should meet in the final here if they’re both in the bracket.
115: #12 Brooke VanEtten (Jensen Beach) vs. #14 Brenda Gomez (Vero Beach)
With Wellington’s Aurora Guadiana in the bracket, this could end up being a semifinal battle.
135: #2 Emma Hoppe (Viera) vs. #4 Tiana Fries (Matanzas)
Hoppe has had a fantastic start of the season with a handful of key wins including a pin of the #3-ranked wrestler in the weight class. Fries made her first appearance at the Knockout.
170: #6 Mia Johnson (Fort Pierce Central) vs. #10 Brooklyn Watt (Matanzas)
Anytime we have a chance to have some key inter-regional matches, sign us up. Both girls have wrestled well and it could be a chance to see where each stand with a handful of weeks left in the season.
3A-9 District Duals at Lake Nona
138: #5 Carson Estrada (Harmony) vs. #10 Nathan Barrett (Tohopekaliga)
Estrada won their meeting this season 9-5 and we’d love to see these two go at it again.
2A-8 District Duals (Nathan Bouwer) at Winter Springs
190: #11 Landon Daugherty (East River) vs. #14 Jacob Rodriguez (Winter Springs)
Have to think this could be a district final preview in January.
DeLand Duals at DeLand
157: #3-3A Madden Bourst (Olympia) vs. #15-3A Joshua Folsom (DeLand)
One of the more wild weight classes for rankings is 3A-157. Beyond the top spot, it feels like anyone could be ranked 2-20. This will help get a read on where each of these wrestlers might be.
Panhandle Girls IBT at Mosley
115: #8 Lily Powell (Gulf Breeze) vs. #15 Mary McKinney (Choctawhatchee)
A likely preview of the G1A-1 district final could take place here.
