Kabra Wrestling’s Wrestlers of the Week - Week 3
BY BRANT PARSONS — Each week during the season, Kabra Wrestling likes to showcase wrestlers who had a special performance the week before.
The only criteria that we try to meet is that we only recognize a team one time each week and the goal is to not have any repeat honorees.
Congratulations to all who were named to the Kabra Wrestling WOTW team for Week 3.
Wrestlers of the Week
Boys
Team: Mater Lakes: Edged Cardinal Gibbons to take the top spot at the 5th Annual GillisStrong Invitational and won the Battle of the Bears dual with defending Class 3A state duals champion Palmetto Ridge.
106: Matthew Newman (Fleming Island): Stayed undefeated on the season with a win at the Corey Hill Memorial.
113: Tyler Washburn (Palmetto Ridge): Won a battle of No. 1s in the final at Key West.
120: Jordan Escarra (Cypress Bay): Finished in first place in the Key West Invitational.
126: Jaden Weisgal (Brandon): The freshman improved to 16-1 on the season with a dominating performance at the Bradenton Battle.
132: Khalil Esquire (Miami Beach): Continued his torrid start to the year by beating the top two seeds en route to a title at GillisStrong.
138: Nicholas Yancey (Cardinal Gibbons): Prevailed in one of the tightest finals of the weekend, edging a top 2 wrestler in sudden victory to win at GillisStrong.
145: Michael Kersey (First Baptist-Naples): The GillisStrong champion at 145 pounds, he defeated a returning state champion in the final.
152: DJ Richards (Mount Dora): The Florida newcomer took home first place at the 49th Annual Bill Scott Christmas Invitational.
160: Nathan Furman (Palm Bay): Took first place in a solid bracket at Bradenton Battle.
170: Kenneth Dean (Cypress Creek): Won the Longhorn Classic.
182: Jean-Emilio Pierre (South Planation): Was 4-0 with four wins by pin on his way to winning the GillisStrong.
195: Robb Philippus (Hudson): Champion at 195 pounds in Key West this weekend.
220: DJ Gillins (Tenoroc): Went 9-0 at the Polk County Duals with wins over three top 10 wrestlers and two top 3.
285: MJ Smokes (DeLand) The junior went 7-0 at Rouse Duals with seven six-point wins.
Matanzas’ Mariah Mills went 4-0 on Saturday to win the Let Freedom Ring Girls IBT. (Brant Parsons/Kabra Wrestling)
Girls
Team: Orlando Freedom: The defending state champions distanced themselves from the field at the Let Freedom Ring Girls IBT, the deepest in-season girls tournament the state has seen.
100: Kohana Martinez (Zephyrhills): The senior came out on top in one of the most solid weight classes at the Let Freedom Ring.
105: Kiera Partello (Barron Collier): The freshman won first place at GillisStrong.
110: Mariah Mills (Matanzas): The sophomore was commanding in winning her weight class at Orlando Freedom on Saturday.
115: Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra): Went 4-0 win four pins to win the title at Let Freedom Ring.
120: Cameron Gallivan (Orlando Freedom): The defending state champion bumped up a weight to win a loaded weight class.
125: Blanca Cespedes (Riverdale): Can be counted as one of the biggest surprises at Freedom with the 18th-ranked Cespedes taking home the title.
130: Aurora Guadiana (Wellington): Champion at the GillisStrong Girls Tournament.
135: Callie Alfieri (Gulf): Scored four first-period pinfalls to win the 130-135 weight class at Lady Buccaneer.
140: Sofia Delgado (Miami Coral Park): Won the match of the night with a state final replay win over last year's state champion.
145: Carlee Morrison (Columbia): Finished in first place in the combined 145-155 at the Tiger Duals Girls Round Robin.
155: Mya Bethel (North Miami): The returning state champion continued to wrestle well with a win at Gillis.
170: Madelyn Driggett (Merritt Island): Won twice in the week, coming in first at Timber Creek mid-week and then topping the weight class at Skylar White on the weekend.
190: Reilly Branca (Clearwater): Went 4-0 to win the title at the Susan Duval Girls Bash.
235: Cheyenne Wigley (Mainland): Put herself out ahead of the weight class with a dominating performance at Orlando Freedom.
