Girls state wrestling preview and predictions
BY BRANT PARSONS —Welcome to our 2024 state tournament preview and predictions.
This is yearly tradition that is meant to be both a viewing guide and fun way to look ahead to the best three days of the season.
For this set of predictions, the process didn’t change.
I take each bracket and make notes on it - including Kabra Wrestling rankings - and then play out each match in each bracket to determine the state placers and add a couple wrestlers to watch.
Since these are based on my rankings, and I am fully confident in my rankings, you’ll notice my picks never stray too far from them.
The final standings don’t always match my rankings because some brackets just don’t play out that way - and there are a couple notable times where I take a flyer and disagree with the rankings. I’m a fun guy like that.
What you’ll read in this preview is a snapshot in time on what I felt would happen in this tournament when I wrote the preview. If I was to go through and write it again, I’m sure there are some that would be different. There does tend to be a good deal of scratching out on my brackets when I do this.
As always, there is no bias that goes into these picks and they are meant for entertainment purposes only. I don’t cheer for my bracket to be right, in fact, the most memorable moments related to these previews are the kids that proved me wrong and then told me that they did.
In fact, when I’m covering the state tournament, I often don’t even remember the picks that I made. I’m too excited just watching the great action.
Best of luck to each of the state qualifiers that will compete this weekend. Just reaching the state tournament is such a tremendous accomplishment and no matter what you do this weekend at Silver Spurs Arena, you are a success that has accomplished great things through this powerful sport.
And if you prove me wrong, please let me know.
The Picks
Team Race
Final standings
1. Hernando
2. Flagler Palm Coast
3. Matanzas
4. Mater Lakes
5. Orlando Freedom
Predicted total state champions
1 - Bartram Trail, Boca Ciega, Charlotte, Douglas, Flagler Palm Coast, Gulf Breeze, Hernando, Lake Gibson, Lemon Bay, Matanzas, Miami Coral Park, Middleburg, North Miami, Venice
Predicted state placers
6 - Hernando
4 - Flagler Palm Coast, Matanzas, Riverdale
3 - Florida Christian, Fort Pierce Central, Mater Lakes, North Miami, South Dade
2 - Admiral Farragut, Apopka, Bartram Trail, Bell Creek, Chiles, First Baptist-Naples, Gulf Breeze, Kissimmee Osceola, North Fort Myers, Orlando Freedom, Palm Harbor University, Ponte Vedra, Timber Creek, Wellington
1 - Barron Collier, Bartow, Boca Ciega, Charlotte, Columbia, Coral Gables, Countryside, DeLand, Doral Academy, Douglas, East Lake, East River, George Jenkins, Gulf, Hagerty, Harmony, Horizon, Hudson, Immokalee, Lake Gibson, Lemon Bay, Liberty, Lincoln, Lincoln Park Academy, Mainland, Mater Academy, McKeel, Merritt Island, Miami Coral Park, Miami Norland, Miami Palmetto, Middleburg, Naples, Newsome, Oak Ridge, Oakleaf, Orange City University, Pace, Palmetto Ridge, Poinciana, South Broward, Space Coast, Strawberry Crest, Sunlake, Venice, Viera, WC Cypress Creek, Western, Westside, Winter Springs, Wiregrass Ranch
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Camdyn Elliott (Gulf Breeze)
2. #2 Joslyn Johnson (Flagler Palm Coast)
3. #3 Kiera Partello (Barron Collier)
4. #4 Sayuri Caceres (Lincoln)
5. #5 Mia Parker (First Baptist-Naples)
6. #6 Paola Perez (Doral Academy)
7. #7 Aniyah Whayne (Kissimmee Osceola)
8. #8 Hananeel Gregoire (Apopka)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Sophie Booe (Palm Harbor University); #10 Grace Jawulski (Newsome)
First round matches you can't miss: #8 Hananeel Gregoire (Apopka) vs. #9 Sophie Booe (Palm Harbor University); #10 Grace Jawulski (Newsome) vs. #7 Aniyah Whayne (Kissimmee Osceola)
Gregoire owns a 10-4 win this season between the two and Jawulski defeated Whayne 8-7 during the season.
Kabra says: Forgive me for going straight down my rankings here, but obviously I believe in them and this will happen from time-to-time. Of course if Jawulski can top Whayne again, then my picks might be scrambled a bit.
Elliott has shown to be the wrestler to beat here after reaching the finals a season ago. She is undefeated and has wins against two wrestlers in our Top 4. She also avoids the tough bottom half of the bracket where the No. 2-4 wrestlers lie, including a potential 3 vs. 4 in the quarterfinals.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Gabrielle Tedesco (Lake Gibson)
2. #2 Abigail Gonzalez (Mater Lakes Academy)
3. #3 Matie Coutinho (Orlando Freedom)
4. #4 MacKenzie Allcroft (Fort Pierce Central)
5. #5 Skyler Randolph (Riverdale)
6. #10 Miayalee Ortiz Martinez (George Jenkins)
7. #6 Hayle Peck (Palmetto Ridge)
8. #7 Miranda Moes (Palm Harbor University)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #8 Emily Doolittle (North Fort Myers); #13 Skyla Fisher (Middleburg)
First round matches you can't miss: #13 Skyla Fisher (Middleburg) vs. #10 Miayalee Ortiz Martinez (George Jenkins); #9 Gianella Walczak (Springstead) vs. #14 Jazlynn Golder (Matanzas)
Fisher wins a region title and gets this tough opening round while Golder will look to get some upsets and points for the Pirates. If Martinez should earn a first-round win, she does have a win over Peck this season and she could reach the semifinals on the top.
Kabra says: How about a meeting between two nationally-ranked wrestlers on Saturday night? Tedesco is ranked #8 in the country by USA Wrestling at 105 pounds while Gonzalez is ranked eighth at 100 pounds. There is a potential 2 vs. 3 quarterfinal here were Freedom’s Coutinho could throw a wrench into these picks.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Mariah Mills (Matanzas)
2. #3 Keana Bush (Hudson)
3. #2 Sofia Ferran (Mater Lakes Academy)
4. #4 Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra)
5. #5 Jazlyn Diaz (Riverdale)
6. #7 Zoe Delgado (Florida Christian)
7. #6 Reagan Thomas (Naples)
8. #10 Julia Brocato (WC Cypress Creek)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #8 Courtney Hodges (Steinbrenner); #12 Catalina Kenney (Viera)
First round matches you can't miss: #12 Catalina Kenney (Viera) vs. #10 Julia Brocato (WC Cypress Creek); #4 Erin Rizzuto (Ponte Vedra) vs. #8 Courtney Hodges (Steinbrenner)
Kabra says: Mills has been unbeatable this season and enters the weekend as the favorite here. But this weight class is riveting and it admittedly took us two days to finally settle on our picks here. A semifinal between Ferran and Bush would be one to watch if they reach the spot. Ferran won their latest meeting, but Bush has a 2-1 season series lead. The bottom half also features five in the Top 8, so there are intriguing matches in each round, including a potential quarterfinal between Rizzuto and Ferran.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Iyonna Church-Ross (Charlotte)
2. #3 Emma Bauknight (Hernando)
3. #2 Aurora Guadiana (Wellington)
4. #5 Natalia Choquegonza (Ponte Vedra)
5. #4 Paola Ramirez (Kissimmee Osceola)
6. #6 Grace Lashinsky (DeLand)
7. #7 Lily Powell (Gulf Breeze)
8. #8 Kamora Willis (Coral Gables)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Brooke VanEtten (Jensen Beach); #10 Isabel Duarte (Orlando Freedom)
First round matches you can't miss: #8 Kamora Willis (Coral Gables) vs. #10 Isabel Duarte (Orlando Freedom); #7 Lily Powell (Gulf Breeze) vs. #11 Mackenzie Thompson (Evangelical)
The GMAC champ (Coral Gables) vs. the Metro Conference champ (Duarte).
Kabra says: This is another weight class where we sat on making a semifinal prediction for two days. Church-Ross has proved to be a worthy favorite here with a Guadiana-Bauknight semifinal capturing our attention. We’ve gone back-and-forth with this, actually working out two previous brackets with a different winner here before deciding on our third and final projection. They have no met this season, with Guadiana winning their last folkstyle meeting and Bauknight winning the freestyle bout. We’ve finally picked Bauknight to reach the finals, but we could be wrong.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Milana Borrelli (Venice)
2. #2 Abby Dicenzo (Bell Creek Academy)
3. #3 Delialah Betances (Liberty)
4. #4 Sydney Bridenstine (Hernando)
5. #5 Isis Severe (North Miami)
6. #6 Kiersten Flanagan (Winter Springs)
7. #7 Hailee Moder (First Baptist-Naples)
8. #8 Iliana Gracey (Western)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Willow White (SLAM Academy); #11 Autumn Jarvis (Matanzas)
First round matches you can't miss: #7 Hailee Moder (First Baptist-Naples) vs. #8 Iliana Gracey (Western); #15 Yairlliz Albert-Tejas (East River) vs. #11 Autumn Jarvis (Matanzas)
Kabra says: Defending state champion Borrelli got a late start to the season due to injury, but she doesn’t look like she’s missed a beat since her return. She’s a favorite to win title No. 2 this weekend. This weight class is tantalizing though, with a potential 2-3 in the semifinals up top where both wrestlers have wins over Bridenstine. We struggled to make this pick between the two-time Florida state placer and Georgia’s state champion last year.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Christina Borgmann (Flagler Palm Coast)
2. #2 Lahela Turquest (Pace)
3. #3 Vivianna Caullett (Wellington)
4. #4 Arianna Ruiz (Mater Lakes Academy)
5. #5 Kaitelynn Oliver (South Dade)
6. #6 Daniella Espinal (Hernando)
7. #8 Blanca Cespedes (Riverdale)
8. #9 Gabriella Sergi (North Fort Myers)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #7 Jasmine Serrano (Springstead); #10 Chloe Parets (Florida Christian)
First round matches you can't miss: #13 Gabrielle Asabi (Wesley Chapel) vs. #9 Gabriella Sergi (North Fort Myers); #4 Arianna Ruiz (Mater Lakes Academy) vs. #2 Lahela Turquest (Pace)
Kabra says: There is so much on the line here. In the team race, this is a key weight class for Flagler Palm Coast as Borgmann holds the keys to champions points and there is possibly the nastiest first-round match in Florida here. Thanks to region brackets that forced Turquist to the third-place match in Region 1, we get a No. 2 vs. No. 4 to kick off the tourney here. Another key team race match could go down in the quarters with Oliver and Espinal lined up for a potential meeting. Oliver is 2-0 this season between the two.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Gabriela Caro (Douglas)
2. #2 Ana Vilar (Flagler Palm Coast)
3. #3 Bry Kaminsky (Orange City University)
4. #5 Callie Alfieri (Gulf)
5. #4 Ashley Shaw (Chiles)
6. #6 Rachel Silva (Florida Christian)
7. #7 Juliana Caisse (Palm Harbor University)
8. #9 Geraldine Honore (South Dade)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #11 Julia Salgado Campos (Hernando); #12 Solana McCaughen (North Port)
First round matches you can't miss: #13 Taylor Miranda (Cape Coral) vs. #9 Geraldine Honore (South Dade); #10 Alexa Paz (SLAM Academy) vs. #7 Juliana Caisse (Palm Harbor University)
Kabra says: Defending state champion Caro is looking to repeat here with a dangerously tough Vilar possibly waiting in the final. Added to this mix are Kaminsky, Shaw, and Alfieri, who are all capable of scoring a shocking upset here. We’ll be watching this one from the start.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Ailee Briggs (Lemon Bay)
2. #2 Kailani Barrientos (Oakleaf)
3. #3 Emma Hoppe (Viera)
4. #4 Melanie Lamb (North Fort Myers)
5. #5 Lesane Hied (North Miami)
6. #6 Eysis Estes-Brinson (Miami Palmetto)
7. #8 Ariel Goble (Strawberry Crest)
8. #10 Jayla Sanders (Bartow)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #7 Maia Ortega (Suncoast); #9 Jada Williams (Bell Creek Academy)
First round matches you can't miss: #12 Sky Athey (Orlando Freedom) vs. #8 Ariel Goble (Strawberry Crest); #9 Jada Williams (Bell Creek Academy) vs. #10 Jayla Sanders (Bartow)
Kabra says: Briggs has a sudden-victory over Barrientos this season and that’s enough to put her in the light favorite spot here. The quarterfinals have a captivating meeting between 3 and 4 with Hoppe-Lamb lined up. They have not faced each other this season.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Sofia Delgado (Miami Coral Park)
2. #2 Tiana Fries (Matanzas)
3. #3 Kristy More (Sunlake)
4. #5 Isabella Tolentino (East River)
5. #4 Hayden Proulx (Timber Creek)
6. #6 Kylie Mangum (Space Coast)
7. #7 Fikayo Aroyewun (Bell Creek Academy)
8. #9 TJ Broadnex (South Dade)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #8 Jasmine Gore (Riverside); #10 Genesis Turrubiartez (Immokalee)
First round matches you can't miss: #6 Kylie Mangum (Space Coast) vs. #4 Hayden Proulx (Timber Creek); #8 Jasmine Gore (Riverside) vs. #10 Genesis Turrubiartez (Immokalee)
Proulx does have a technical fall win between the two tis season.
Kabra says: Delgado is the defending state champion and Fries won a state title in 2022. The Coral Park senior has become one of the dominant wrestlers in the state the past two seasons and will be looking to finish her career on top. More gets the draw to meet her in the semifinals while the top bracket features 6 of our 8 projected placers.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Katherine Stewart (Bartram Trail)
2. #3 Kendall Bibla (Matanzas)
3. #2 Emily Jaspe (Mater Academy)
4. #4 Kaylie Collado (Poinciana)
5. #5 Alexia Davis (McKeel)
6. #7 Makenzie Eltzroth (Hernando)
7. #8 Noelia Varela (Riverdale)
8. #9 Arianna Antinou (East Lake)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #6 Anisah Paz (South Dade); #12 Viktoriya Devochkina (South Broward)
First round matches you can't miss: #6 Anisah Paz (South Dade) vs. #5 Alexia Davis (McKeel); #15 Joselyn Delgado (Milton) vs. #9 Arianna Antinou (East Lake)
Kabra says: Yet another one where we started making picks and had to put it away to marinate once we reached the quarterfinals. Stewart has been the dominant wrestler here this season, going 4-0 against Bibla after losing to her in the state finals match last year. But the bottom is where the captivating match is. Jaspe and Bibla are set to meet again here after reaching the Moskowitz finals together. That match was halted due to injury with Jaspe in the lead. A key team race quarterfinal takes place in the top half with Eltzroth possibly facing Varela. The Hernando junior owns a 3-1 decision win this season and could gain some key team points with a win.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Mya Bethel (North Miami)
2. #2 Alena Rik (Mater Lakes Academy)
3. #3 Chloe Shull (Timber Creek)
4. #5 Kha'liyah Delva (Fort Pierce Central)
5. #4 Karla Ortiz (Westside)
6. #8 Mariah Earl (Hernando)
7. #7 Riley Lancaster (Admiral Farragut)
8. #9 Ava Burre (Bartram Trail)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #6 Valentina Mora (Miami Beach); #10 Alexis Orcutt (Niceville)
First round matches you can't miss: #4 Karla Ortiz (Westside) vs. #6 Valentina Mora (Miami Beach); #13 Akemi Cunha (Winter Haven) vs. #12 Alayjah Campbell (Robinson)
With all of the attention on the bottom half later in this bracket, Ortiz and Mora open with a potential thriller in the first round.
Kabra says: Bethel has not lost during her high school career as she goes for a third state title. Right now, the No. 5 wrestler in the country would be our favorite to be the first four-time girls champion in Florida. The battle to meet her in the final will be fun to watch with an engaging quarterfinal round on the other side of the bracket. A 2-3 meeting between Rik and Shell and a 5-7 bout between Delva and Lancaster. Rik has a pinfall win in her matchup this season while Delva has pinned Lancaster.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Grace Leota (Hernando)
2. #2 Megan Preston (Wiregrass Ranch)
3. #4 Lainey Driggett (Merritt Island)
4. #3 Lana Clayton (Newsome)
5. #5 Alexa Calidonio (Flagler Palm Coast)
6. #6 Mia Johnson (Fort Pierce Central)
7. #7 Cadence Lyons (Chiles)
8. #8 Shyann Tate (Hagerty)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Lily Tucker (Kissimmee Osceola); #11 Isabella McFarlane (King)
First round matches you can't miss: #11 Isabella McFarlane (King) vs. #15 Chrystal Desir (Forest Hill); #9 Lily Tucker (Kissimmee Osceola) vs. #8 Shyann Tate (Hagerty)
Kabra says: Defending state champion Leota is back and is one of solid favorite picks to win it all. The other side of the bracket from Leota features the 2, 3, and 4 ranked wrestlers meaning we should enjoy the battle to meet the Hernando junior in the final. The match that is the most compelling is the potential quarterfinal bout between Preston and Driggett. Preston has been steady this year while Driggett has found her stride the past month. The Merritt Island senior placed fourth in the state while Preston was sixth at 155.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Cheyenne Cruce (Middleburg)
2. #2 Jada Jones (Apopka)
3. #4 Quisiera Wilson (Lincoln Park)
4. #3 Emari Brown (Harmony)
5. #5 Latoya Sylvestre (South Broward)
6. #7 Brianice Silguero (Immokalee)
7. #6 Ani Brown (Matanzas)
8. #8 Jade Noble (Horizon)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #9 Daphney Pierre (Fort Myers); #10 Chloe Stinnett (Hernando)
First round matches you can't miss: #11 Tessa Diaz (Doral Academy) vs. #8 Jade Noble (Horizon); #5 Latoya Sylvestre (South Broward) vs. #3 Emari Brown (Harmony)
Kabra says: One of my favorite state champion feature interviews last year was with Cruce and our pick is that she and I will be talking again for another feature, but it won’t be an easy road to another chat. In the semifinals, we could see Cruce and Brown meet. The Middleburg junior won their meeting at the Lady Rams Tournament of Champions in an ultimate tie-breaker. On the other end is Jones, who has defeated Brown twice and Wilson, who is undefeated on the season. Wilson hasn’t faced any of the other main contenders in the weight class but placed fifth last year as an eighth grader.
Kabra's Picks
1. #1 Kinea Moore (Boca Ciega)
2. #3 Rotchiva Clermont (Orlando Freedom)
3. #2 Day'Jah Clarke (Miami Norland)
4. #4 Grace Vernine (Admiral Farragut)
5. #6 Josie Raulerson (Columbia)
6. #8 Cheyenne Wigley (Mainland)
7. #5 Cerenity Whiting (Countryside)
8. #9 Judlie Laplante (Oak Ridge)
Wrestlers who could prove me wrong: #7 Aniya Herbin (Jefferson); #10 Mia Jones (Mulberry)
First round matches you can't miss: #10 Mia Jones (Mulberry) vs. #8 Cheyenne Wigley (Mainland); #9 Judlie Laplante (Oak Ridge) vs. #11 Hailey Payne (Florida High)
Kabra says: Moore entered last year’s state tournament after placing fourth in her region and went on to win the state title. Will see win it as a region champion this year? Will one of the top challengers get it? Or could another fourth-seed shock the world with a title here. Clarke may be the top contender and they’ll meet in the semifinals if they both advance. The Miami Norland senior spent most of the season at 190 pounds before bumping up for the postseason. While the bottom part of the bracket has 7 in the Top 11, the top features four in the Top 6. The fun up there will begin in the quarterfinals.
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.