Vote for the Reader’s Choice Boys Wrestler of the Week

BY BRANT PARSONS — We got delayed in getting this vote out this week by from writing 12 region preview and prediction pieces.

You can check them out here (for Kabra+ members):

Class 3A Region Previews/Predictions

Class 2A Region Previews/Predictions

Class 1A Region Previews/Predictions

We had so many nominations, that we broke the vote up by classification so we could have everyone listed who was nominated. Please vote for your choices.

All nominations and reason for nomination supplied by you.

Class 1A

Braylen Ricks (Yulee): He’s the best heavyweight in 1a and he was district champ and pinned everyone through finals, he’s a beast in the room and is a very good leader.

Cole Webb (Cocoa): A 9 grader became a district champ by avenging an earlier season loss. Deciding not to cut weight and wrestle the heavier class this 113 over 106 and has had success.

Matteo Gonzalez (Somerset): Motivated,consistent, strong, hard working, and has lots of potential.He is the best hands down.

Rafael Lopez (Somerset): Amazing young man and the district champion. Senior going out with a bang!

Cano Austin (Somerset): 6th grader winning Districts at Somerset

Jordan Jandro (Weeki Wachee): Exiting finals match coming in clutch for Weeki wachee to win the district title. Beating a ranked kid who he’s fallen short to twice. Beat 2 ranked wrestlers on his way to a district championship.

Damian Soto (Mater Lakes): 2-0 at Districts Pinned #3 Adrian Tejada Zero points scored against

Kevin McLean (St John’s Country Day): 8th grader won his 106 bracket at district! And has never been nominated for wrestler of the week. He has climbed his way on your rankings. Going from number 14, to 13 , to number 6. Now number 4 on your rankings.

Samir Redden (Booker): This young man has proven himself on and off the mat. He has proven himself against against many opponents both in wrestling and in life. Samir has placed first in his past three IBT (Palmetto, Bayshore, Lemon Bay) and 1A D11 districts. He received unanimous Outstanding Wrestler (lower weights) votes as well.

Logan Pugh (Yulee): Won his first district title and many thought he was going to get third

Wilberto Luna (Brooksville Central): 4th Freshman In Schools History to make Regionals as a freshman, 4th Place in 150 weight class at district,

Michael McNair (Yulee): #165 district champ 2 pins and tech on Sat 2/18 Prior weekend undefeated at the villages duals beating ranked opponent from Suwannee HS

Dartavius (Tay Tay) Saintelus (The King’s Academy)

2024 Santaluces Holiday Tournament 3rd place 2024 Rumble at the Ridge 3rd place 2024 County Champ 2024 District Champ 28-12 This Season 2023 State Qualifier 2023 District and Region Runner-Up 2nd year wrestling program at the school Started wrestling in 2023

Bear Siegal (North Bay Haven): After being out 6 weeks due to nasty elbow injury, Bear Siegal won 1A Dist 1 with two pins and then a tough decision over State Ranked Clay Nelson from Rocky Bayou who was 39-3. This is Bears second District title in a row and helped lead his team to District Team Title.

Andres Garcia (Cardinal Gibbons): Adres is a first year wrestler, he is also a district champ, the sky is the limit for him.

Class 2A

Jose Romano (Belen Jesuit): Jose Romano made his third consecutive District Final and pinned his way to his second District Championship as a Sophomore.

Jacob Rodriguez (Winter Springs): Being as raw as they come, from not knowing a thing about wrestling 2 years ago to representing Winter Springs high School at regionals this upcoming weekend at 190 pounds

Eddie Craig (Beachside): He's 31-2 on the year. undefeated at 175 and he has won his 2nd district chamqionship. he is very dedicated and has come very far. watch the 2a r1 175 finals for an upset against chop. thank you.

Yianni Marinis (River Ridge): Tech falled his finals match at districts

Jordan Mills (Matanzas): Jordan won his district last Friday by pinning everyone until the finals. Once he made it to the finals he defeated the #2 ranked wrestler in the state at 190 for the district title. He is also undefeated this season with a record of 45-0.

Jaden Weisgal (Brandon): Jaden as a sophmore won all of his Matches at his first district appearance by fall, did the same at the county tournament and Ippolito where he pinned the wrestler who beat Jonothan Moder (2x state runner up) he is on a hot streak with lots of momentum heading into the post season!

Brandon Austin (Land O' Lakes): Got back from injury and is a district champ and 6 in state

Frank Cornelison (North Fort Myers): Earned a district title beating #7 Piekh and placing over #9 logan ngo

Jaiden Zajni (Ponte Vedra): Jaiden defeated the #4 ranked wrestler in 2A at 120lbs in the D3 finals to become district champion last week. He proved everyone wrong and deserves some serious recognition; this kid is a beast.

Zavian Chaves (Winter Springs): I think they should be wrestler of the week because they won by tech fall in the semifinals in districts then won by pin in the first period in the district finals to win the 106lbs final

Jacob Bucci (Clay): Jacob won a district title beating cross town rival in the championship.

Landon Martin (Clay): Got 1st at district Championships as a freshman after getting thrown into a table by his opponent he finished the match to beat county rival in a match he lost previously.

Armando Wisdom (American Heritage Plantation): Winning his 3rd District Title in dominating fashion tying most titles schools history as a Junior.

Zak Jurado (Lincoln): He won a District Title, while revenging a loss to a top 12 kid.

Class 3A

Bryant Nuno (Coral Park): Bryant wrestled at the 3Ad15 tournament and was able to reach the 3rd place at 190 while recently being bumped up and only weighing 175lb.

Kristien Cook (Durant): Although he doesn’t win all his matches, his determination and spirit are inspiring. He continues his athletic growth with humility and resilience. I have never seen him lose his hope even throughout tough loses and I’m so proud of him for that.

Hunter Smith (Durant): Hunter is 126, and has done an outstanding job! Doesn’t give up, and always shows out no matter who he wrestles! He definitely deserves this!

James Singer (Bloomingdale): Another dominant undefeated tournament to win districts.

Rocco Duygulu (Stoneman Douglas): I think he deserves it because he is having a really good year and works harder then anyone i know

Nathan Barrett (Toho): I believe that Nathan should be wrestler of the week because I watched him from the stands at the obc tournament and put on a show for the crowd just like he did at districts this past week.

Cavarius Liddie (Buchholz): Has had an amazing season. Also has a record of 58-2. Won clay rotary, and district champ

Eliajh Alvarez (Orlando Freedom): He has placed he has work hard this whole season finishing 1st place at every tournament being a 2x metro champs and a 1x district he is a underdog for sure being a top 10 rank guy in the states if you tell me this guy is underrated

Brant Bovee (Durant): They have had a undefeated season and took first at districts

Aden Eliason (Lake Mary): As an unseeded draw-in Aden toppled #12 Kelton Howard before closing the day with a with a District Championship. His performance was instrumental in the Rams finishing as the 3A-D2 Team Runner-Up