Region 3A-2: Preview and Predictions
FRIDAY-SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1, 2025 - at George Jenkins High School
Friday: Weigh-in: 1 p.m. | Gates open: 2:10 p.m. | Wrestling starts: 2:30 p.m. (NO spectators on campus before 2:10 p.m.)
Saturday: Weigh-in: 8 a.m. | Wrestling starts: 9:15 a.m.
Welcome to one of my favorite traditions - the region previews.
For those that are reading one for the first time, here's a quick summary of what the region preview is.
I start first by printing out each bracket - yes, this is one of the things I'm old school on.
I notate where wrestlers are ranked in the Kabra Wrestling Rankings and then start to break it down even more.
I look for head-to-head matchups, common opponents, and how each wrestler has been trending in the stretch run.
I then question my rankings - and myself - and play out the entire bracket.
What follows is my best guess for how 3A-2 will play out.
You can print the 3A-2 region bracket here. (PDF)
I've carefully predicted the four state qualifiers in the order that I think the will finish. I've also listed wrestlers that could prove me wrong and make it to Kissimmee.
I will be wrong with these picks, and I'm okay with that. In fact, I love when kids prove me wrong (or prove me right).
These previews and predictions are meant to bring excitement to one of the exhilarating and heartbreaking weekends in sports.
I assure you that I have no bias in my picks and truly wish the best for every wrestler competing this weekend.
And as always, these picks are for entertainment purposes only.
Now onto the preview:
Check out Kabra Wrestling’s Region Previews
Girls: Region 1 preview | Region 2 preview | Region 3 preview | Region 4 preview
Class 3A: Region 1 preview | Region 2 preview | Region 3 preview | Region 4 preview
Class 2A: Region 1 preview | Region 2 preview | Region 3 preview | Region 4 preview
Class 1A: Region 1 preview | Region 2 preview | Region 3 preview | Region 4 preview
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Alzider Ortiz (Steinbrenner)
2. #10 Luke Ladle (Sarasota)
3. #11 Joseph Handley (George Jenkins)
4. #12 Michael Schlegel (Palmetto)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Justin Rivers (East Lake); #20 Jeffery Hartley (Palm Harbor University)
Opening round match to watch: Aaron Rodriguez (Lakewood Ranch) vs. Willian Mesa (Bloomingdale)
Kabra says: Ortiz has built up a 48-2 record this season with his only losses coming to wrestlers ranked in the Top 2 in the state. The rest of the podium should be a fun battle with Handley holding an edge of Schlegel based on a win by fall this season.
Kabra's Picks
1. #6 Andrew Taylor (George Jenkins)
2. #12 David Cardullo (Palm Harbor University)
3. #7 Brendon Clark (Sumner)
4. #13 Sean Herlihy (Palmetto)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #15 Russell Yarbrough (Plant City); #17 Niccolo Pellicano (Venice)
Opening round match to watch: Pellicano vs. Brandon Restrepo (Sickles)
Kabra says: Two intriguing semifinals could be on the docket here with Taylor-Clark on the top half and Cardullo-Herlihy on the bottom. Watch for Yarbrough and Pellicano to try and bust that projected bracket up.
Kabra's Picks
1. #2 Caleb Gauthier (Palm Harbor University)
2. #8 Anthony Cubero (Bloomingdale)
3. #13 Lochlyn Harris (North Port)
4. #18 Ashton Horvath (Sunlake)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #21 Draven Thompson (Winter Haven); #24 Matthew Garcia (Fort Myers Gateway)
Opening round match to watch: Landon Hill (Steinbrenner) vs. Isaiah Hench (Durant)
Kabra says: The only three losses that Gauthier has suffered this season has been to returning state champions and though he hasn’t faced Cubero, he does have a major decision win over Harris.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Zach Berry (Palm Harbor University)
2. #14 Justo Medina (Davenport)
3. #17 Seth Breeding (Venice)
4. #20 Gabe Oden (Steinbrenner)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #22 Mason Zalud (Newsome); #25 Brandon Lemke (Bloomingdale)
Opening round match to watch: Zavious Brown (George Jenkins) vs. Benjamin Burnett (Lennard)
Kabra says: Berry has qualified for the state tournament the past two seasons and is our favorite to win his first region title this weekend.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Chris Dinsdale (Lennard)
2. #7 Kase Hopper (Venice)
3. #9 James Aguilar (Riverview)
4. #13 Jeson Carbajal (Palmetto)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #24 Ronald Milord (Bloomingdale); Michael Woodruff (George Jenkins)
Opening round match to watch: Connor Bowen (East Lake) vs. Milord
Kabra says: Dinsdale is perfect on the season and has a 9-7 win over Aguilar this season.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Jake Wyatt (Palmetto)
2. #8 Grayson Lopez (Land O' Lakes)
3. #10 Marco Rivera (Sunlake)
4. #11 Derrique Mytial (Fort Myers Gateway)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #12 Austin Nappi (North Port); #20 Francis Callazo-Birriel (Wiregrass Ranch)
Opening round match to watch: Jayden Cain (Armwood) vs. Nappi
Kabra says: This bracket has our attention with its depth and possible matchups. Wyatt is a returning state qualifier and Mytial placed in Class 1A. Five wrestlers ranked in the Top 12 means at least one state-worthy wrestler won’t be advancing.
Kabra's Picks
1. #5 Massimo Pellicano (Venice)
2. #12 Bryson Thompson (Winter Haven)
3. #9 Jet Griffis (Land O' Lakes)
4. #21 Gianni Valeriani (Plant City)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #16 Dana Law (Palmetto); #22 Dawson Buzbee (Lennard)
Opening round match to watch: Bryce Vasquez (Fort Myers Gateway) vs. Daniel Locascio (Sunlake)
Kabra says: Pellicano and Griffis are both looking to return to the state tournament. Griffis has been there the past two seasons and placed in 2023. They’re on track to meet in the semis.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Landon Bates (Palm Harbor University)
2. #7 Konsantin Khaspekian (Sunlake)
3. #8 Charles Griffis (Land O' Lakes)
4. #9 Levi Wentz (Plant City)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #14 Jasiah Solomon (Sumner); #15 Lorenzo Sanchez (Wiregrass Ranch)
Opening round match to watch: Griffis vs. Sanchez
Kabra says: The podium could end up resembling the 3A-6 district podium with us predicting the first three spots to look the same this week. The top half of the bracket has three Top 10 wrestlers in it and a Top 15 opening round match.
Kabra's Picks
1. #12 Braxton Gerber (George Jenkins)
2. #16 Sheldon Fouche' (Palm Harbor University)
3. #14 Owen Nappi (North Port)
4. #19 Sean Michael Williams (Wiregrass Ranch)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #21 Willy Rodriguez (Strawberry Crest); #22 Cristian Gilkes (Steinbrenner)
Opening round match to watch: Logan Tedeschi (Land O' Lakes) vs. Rodriguez
Kabra says: This is an even-matched district with any of the six ranked wrestlers with a chance to advance to Silver Spurs Arena.
Kabra's Picks
1. #7 Anthony Farnot (Fort Myers Gateway)
2. #10 Tyler Davis (George Jenkins)
3. #11 Georgie Rivera (Strawberry Crest)
4. #13 Wyatt LaDue (Land O' Lakes)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #12 Michael McKeever (Newsome); #15 Lucas Vacchelli (Palm Harbor University)
Opening round match to watch: Gavin Simpson (Bloomingdale) vs. Shawn Maestre (Lakewood Ranch)
Kabra says: Farnot is a returning state qualifier from Class 1A and we have him favored in a weight class with six Top-15 wrestler. The Davis-McKeever quarterfinal should be one to watch. Davis won 7-2 when they met in the season.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 Seth Ryder (Venice)
2. #11 Jackson Lietz (George Jenkins)
3. #14 Markell Porter (North Port)
4. #16 Nikita Sapozhnikov (Newsome)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #19 Garrett Pyle (Palmetto); Luke Palukaitis (Steinbrenner)
Opening round match to watch: Pyle vs. John Murphy (Sunlake)
Kabra says: Ryder, who came to Florida from Ohio, has been solid this season and looks like a strong favorite to win the region title here.
Kabra's Picks
1. #2 Raymond Shaw (George Jenkins)
2. #6 Trent Jacobs (Sumner)
3. #12 Freddie Pflueger (Steinbrenner)
4. #17 Brady Williams (Venice)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #20 Lucas Roberts (North Port); Jackson Pearce (East Lake)
Opening round match to watch: Tristan Murray (Land O' Lakes) vs. Ty Thompson (Lennard)
Kabra says: Shaw has a 22-7 technical fall win over Pflueger but he’s not faced Jacobs or Williams this season. Adding to the podium note, Pflueger topped Williams 16-9 at King of the Island.
Kabra's Picks
1. #4 CJ McCutcheon (Sarasota Riverview)
2. #15 Zion Dennie (Wharton)
3. #10 Zachary Horner (Palm Harbor University)
4. #16 Greg Lott (Armwood)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Michael Jakub (Sarasota); #21 Devon Young (North Port)
Opening round match to watch: Young vs. Titus Rasmussen (Alonso)
Kabra says: McCutcheon is a returning state placer and has been tested this season, wrestling a tough schedule to get ready for a state run. We see as many as nine wrestlers able to get on the podium here so don’t be surprised if this bracket looks a little beat up after Friday.
Kabra's Picks
1. #3 Jonathan Lattimore (Armwood)
2. #10 Brandon Hall (Newsome)
3. #9 Trenton Lindsay (Sunlake)
4. #15 Ryan Reid (Palmetto)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #18 Lauden Simon (Sarasota); Demo Vogiatzis (East Lake)
Opening round match to watch: Dominic Minillo (Land O' Lakes) vs. Elliott Ortiz (George Jenkins)
Kabra says: There’s a chance that Lattimore and Hall could meet up again after their district final meeting. Lattimore was up 16-3 and Hall scored the win with a second-period pin. Lindsey and Reid are in line to face in the consolation final in our bracket and Lindsey won a meeting between the two this season.