Which districts won the state tournament?
BY BRANT PARSONS — The question is asked each year: Which district had the best state tournament?
Kabra Wrestling decided to see for ourselves.
We went through every bracket and made a chart of which district finished in each spot on the podium. Then we added the numbers up and what we found was interesting, though sometimes lacking in suspense.
If you notice our data is incorrect on any, please email us here so we can fix.
What follows is our assessment of each classification.
Class 3A recap
We expected the toughest district to produce a ton of state placers, but I think even we were shocked at how dominant 3A-16 was.
The district accounted for 11 of the 14 state champions and in three weight classes, the district placed three wrestlers on the podium - and at 175 pounds it went 1-2-3. In total, the district placed 28 wrestlers at the state tournament, an average of two per weight class and 18 more than the second-best district in Class 3A.
Not surprisingly, Region 4 led with 45 total state placers with Regions 1 and 2 both finishing with 23 each. Region 3 had 21 earn a spot on the podium.
Class 2A recap
District 2A-16 was the top district in Class 2A with four state champions and 17 state placers. The district also led the way with six finalists. 2A-11 was just two placers behind with three state champs and 15 wrestlers on the podium. Also getting double-digits in the state placer total was 2A-7 with 13 earning medals - and having a least one finisher on each step of the podium.
While those top three districts earned the top spots, it was Region 2A-1 that proved to be the deepest according to placers, with 31 wrestlers taking home medals. Region 2A-2 had 29 with 2A-4 earning 27 spots. Region 2A-3 finished with 25 wrestlers on the podium.
Class 1A recap
In the battle for the top number in state placers in Class 1A, it was 1A-14 edging 1A-12 by a single wrestler, 18-17. With six champions and nine finalists, 1A-14 was the leader at the top while 1A-12 was one of two districts in Class 1A to have a finisher on each step of the podium. The other was 1A-8, which finished with 15 placers.
In the region race, Region 1A-2 finished with the second most state placers in Florida with 36 reaching the podium. Region 1A-3 had 31 ahead of Region 1A-4 (26) and Region 1A-1 (19).
Girls recap
In a trend this year, girls district 1A-16 finished with the most state placers at 18. The South Florida district also tied with G1A-4 with three state champions for the most in the state.
District G1A-8 had the second most state placers in the girls tournament with 14 while G1A-1 and G1A-4 each earned 10.
The closest region race took place in the girls tournament with Region 4 scoring 33 state placers, one more than Region 2’s 32 medalists. Region 1 (26) and Region (21) rounded out the girls region standings.
What do you think? Any district performances shocking to you?
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
