1A-14 Preview: Fireworks expected again as two of state’s top teams duke it out
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: One of the most anticipated district tournaments did not disappoint with eventual state champion Mater Lakes winning the title by just 9.5 points. The season was historic for the Bears, who completed the double, winning both the duals and IBT team titles.
How did Kabra do?: We though Mater Lakes would win the state title and we said watch out for Cardinal Gibbons’ lineup as it could be the team to beat in the district.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Kellen Mesina (Mater Lakes Academy), Keagan Mesina (Mater Lakes Academy), Ethan Tran (Mater Lakes Academy), Kalias Nazario (Mater Lakes Academy), Peter Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons), Michael Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons), Bruce Li (Mater Lakes Academy), Chris Greene (Mater Lakes Academy), Mason O'Dell (Mater Lakes Academy), Darian Vargas (Mater Lakes Academy), Brandon Simmons (Miami Carol City), Andres Garcia (Cardinal Gibbons), Matheus Honigman (Miami Carol City), Isaac Fayer (Cardinal Gibbons), Andrew Chen (Pine Crest), Nicholas Winter (Cardinal Gibbons), Ronn Flores (Mater Lakes Academy), Logan Bajor (Cardinal Gibbons), Maximilian Garzano (Mater Lakes Academy).
The favorite: Mater Lakes. The high-level talent is back for the Bears who will look to repeat as a double state champion.
Team to watch: Cardinal Gibbons. The Mocco brothers are the big names in the lineup and if the rest can keep coming along, this deep team will move up in the state.
District duals: TBD
District IBT: TBD
Mater Lakes Academy Bears (#1 IBT, #2 Duals)
Coach: Brandon Neifeld (13th season)
Assistant coaches: JD Ramsey, Mitch Li, Omar Armengol, Alex Noa
Click here for 25-26 schedule
24-25 dual record: 14-1
Recent district results: 2025:1; 2024:2-1A15; 2023:2-1A15; 2022:1-1A15; 2021:2-1A15; 2020:2-1A15; 2019:2-1A15; 2018:2-1A15; 2017:3-1A15; 2016:3-1A15; 2015:3-1A15; 2014:6-1A15; 2013:7-1A15
Last state champions: Kellen Mesina, 2025 (113); Keagan Mesina, 2025 (120); Ethan Tran, 2025 (126); Kalias Nazario, 2025 (165); Damian Soto, 2025 (190)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Anthony O'Dell, 33-6, 4th, RC, DC; Kenny Alvarado, 35-8, 4th, RC, DC; Damian Soto, 35-3, SC, RC, D2; Emiliano Solache, 30-13, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Kellen Mesina, Sr., 40-5, SC, RC, DC; Keagan Mesina, So., 38-5, SC, RC, DC; Ethan Tran, Jr., 34-3, SC, RC, DC; Kalias Nazario, Sr., 34-2, SC, RC, DC; Chris Greene, Jr., 36-5, 2nd, RC, DC; Mason O'Dell, So., 30-12, 5th, RC, D2; Maximilian Garzano, Jr., 12-10, SQ, R2, D2; Darian Vargas, Sr., 28-14, 8th, R3, DC; Bruce Li, So., 26-9, 8th, R4, D2; Ronn Flores, Fr., 21-14, RQ-BR, D2; Ty O'Dell, 8th; Richard Lugo, Sr., 17-10.
New wrestlers: Christopher Benzzan, Sr.; Cesar Aguilar, So. (Transfer from Hialeah Gardens); Jack Cabrera, Fr.; Makoa Badillo, 8th.
What they are saying: “Most of our team has been together over 4+ years running, so they are a very tight knit group that pushes each other every day in and out practice. Since middle schoolers they have grown and developed into some of the best leaders and wrestlers not only in Florida, but the entire country. Our veterans are helping mold the young wrestlers to level up as they graduate and move on from our program. We achieved our main goals last season winning both state duals and IBTs and our guys know we have a big target on our backs. Now we are looking to repeat and continue to push forward as we look to set the bar higher each day.”
On season goals: “Our main goals are to repeat state dual and IBT titles. We also want to improve at Knockout and finish higher as a team than we ever have, hopefully getting our first Knockout champs in school history along the way.”
On finally winning the state team title last year: “It was just a big weight lifted off of our shoulders. Everybody, the coaching staff, the kids, the school, even people that were following us, it just gave us that confidence. We always knew we could do it but just to actually achieve it and get it felt something special in that we were right in setting these goals a long time ago. Because we set this goal maybe four or five years ago so to actually get it now was just a big relief. It's funny because right after we finished the season, it's all over now. Now we have got to go try and do it again the next goal.”
Outlook: The Class 1A state champions from a year ago return a loaded roster with some more youthful firepower added in. The enter the season a solid favorite.
Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs (#5, #3)
Coach: Jamel Morris (5th season as HC/6th season overall)
Assistant coaches: Jamal Morris, Chris Cupas, Armand Algarin, Steve Mocco, Crantson Gitten, Frank Pettineo
24-25 dual record: 23-5
Recent district results: 2025:2; 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1; 2012:1
Last state champion: Michael Mocco, 2025 (215)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Frankie Florio, 34-6, 3rd, R2, D2; Bryan Picallo, 34-3, 3rd, R2, DC; Andrew Isek, 48-6, 3rd, RC, DC; Carson Flack, 30-13, RQ-BR, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Michael Mocco, Sr., 43-0, SC, RC, DC; Peter Mocco, So., 48-2, 2nd, R2, DC; Mateo Jaramillo, Sr., 29-18, SQ, R2, D2; Andres Garcia, Jr., 37-13, SQ, R4, DC; Caden Cagiano, Jr., 25-18, SQ, R4, D2; Isaac Fayer, Sr., 18-14, SQ, R4, D3; Logan Bajor, Jr., 27-15, 8th, R3, D2; Jake Arnesen, Jr., 30-12, RQ-BR, D2; Maverick Peugh, Jr., 24-23, RQ-BR, D2; Nicholas Winter, Sr., 33-8, RQ-BR, D2; Christopher Warner, Jr., 13-8; Matyas Dercsar-Kovacs, So.
New wrestlers: Skyler Barreto, Jr., 38-10, RQ, DC (Transfer from Cypress Bay); Enzo Amado, Jr., 34-15, RQ, DC (Transfer from Taravella)
What they are saying: “The sky's is the limit. They put a lot of work on offseason. We went to a bunch of tournaments. We went out to Georgia for camp this past summer and I feel like this offseason has been the offseason where a lot of people are putting the work in. It's going to be a fun season seeing how they grow. They've been gaining a lot more confidence as they've been wrestling more tournaments, going to practice and all that stuff. So, it should be a fun season.”
On goals: ”It's always been a numbers game for us. I feel like if we can get 12 kids through at least from regionals to states that it's going to increase our chances of winning state title. That's always been the goal since I've been here. I'm just excited to see these guys go out there and compete. And I feel like this is going to be a good year to see where we're at and where we stand against the best teams in the state. Hopefully we can keep that momentum for years to come.”
On this junior class: “That crew that they're either state qualifiers or they lost in the region blood rounds, They just took up the challenge of we're going to be next guys to step up since we lost Florio, Picallo and Isek. We need to be the next guys up to kind of keep that tradition of winning alive by Cardinal Gibbons and Jake Arnesen, Maverick Peugh, Caden Cagiano, Logan Bajor, Andres Garcia are part of that group. Then we had two new transfers with Skylar Barreto from Cypress Bay and Enzo Amado from Taravella coming in. The whole junior crew now they put the work in. They're getting more wrestling savvy and it's amazing to see these guys work.”
Fast fact: Michael Mocco is looking to join Jonathan Taylor as Gibbons’ only four-time state champions.
Outlook: Along with the 1-2 punch of Michael and Peter Mocco, this is likely the deepest team that Chiefs have had in some time and they have their eyes on some big prizes.
The Florida High School Wrestling 2025-2026 Season District Previews
Click on link to see preview
Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Independent: Ind
District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings
Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules
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Pine Crest Panthers
Coach: Miguel Rodriguez (5th season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:3; 2024:3; 2023:4; 2022:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nathan Chen, 41-2, 2nd, RC, DC; Parker Dettor, 32-13, RQ, D3; Matthew Krusch, 1-8, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Andrew Chen, Jr., 26-16, SQ, R3, D2; Jacob Lobis, Sr., 15-13, RQ-BR, D3; Knox Pritchard, So., 10-11, RQ, D3; John Promnitz, Jr., 8-10, RQ, D3; Ethan Stone, Sr., 7-4, RQ, D5.
Outlook: Six wrestlers are back from last season’s starting lineup.
Miami Carol City Chiefs (#18, NR)
Coach: Jeremiah Howard (4th season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:5; 2019:11-2A16; 2018:11-2A16; 2017:11-2A16; 2016:6-2A16; 2015:6-2A16; 2014:8-2A16; 2013:6-2A16; 2012:6-2A16
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Remington James, Jr., 5-15, RQ, D3; Jerryson Jean Baptiste, Jr., 8-9, RQ, D4; Pierre Jean, Sr., 8-10, RQ, D4; Lonnie Clanton, Jr., 11-9, RQ, D4; Jaydeon Lamons, Jr., 3-16, RQ, D4; Michael Glover, Jr., 2-15, RQ, D4.
New wrestlers: Jayden Ruiz, Sr., 6-6, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Miami Killian); Brandon Simmons, Jr., 38-16, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Miami Norland); Dylan Presman, So., 24-14, RQ, D4 (Transfer from Miami Norland); Matheus Honigman, Sr., 20-17, RQ, D3 (Transfer from North Miami)
Miami Monsignor Pace Spartans
Coach: Lazaro Reinoso
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:6; 2024:6-1A15; 2023:5-1A15; 2022:2-1A15; 2021:6-1A15; 2020:3-1A15; 2019:3-1A15; 2018:3-1A15; 2017:?-1A-15; 2016:5-1A15; 2015:4-1A15; 2014:2-1A15; 2013:1-1A15; 2012:1-1A15
Last state champion: Alex Perez, 2016 (138)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Raphy Riefkohl, D5.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Zachariah Nozile, Sr., RQ, D3; Adula Meyers Jr., So., RQ, D4; Angel Perellada, Jr., RQ, D4.
Stranahan Mighty Dragons
Coach: Jared Villalobos (2nd season)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:4; 2022:9-2A15; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:5-2A15; 2018:6-2A15; 2017:4-2A15; 2016:4-2A15; 2015:4-2A15; 2014:3-2A15; 2013:3-2A15; 2012:4-2A15
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Miguel Murillo, 16-10, RQ, D3; Israel Rivera, 3-24, RQ, D3; Danzell Johnson, 12-15, RQ, D4; Joseph Burga, 8-15, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Ronel Pierre, Jr., 8-7, RQ, D3; Kidany Tarrats, Sr., 14-12, RQ, D3.
1A-14 Season Schedules
Cardinal Gibbons
Dec. 6: Chiefs Duals
Dec. 13: Chris Hixon Classic at South Plantation
Dec. 19-20: Knockout Christmas Classic at Silver Spurs
Dec. 29-30: Bobby Stanley Duals at Cardinal Gibbons
Jan. 2-3: Prep Slam at Atlanta (GA)
Jan. 10: Catholic Bowl at St. Thomas Aquinas
Jan. 30-31: Tri-County at Olympic Heights
Feb. 6-7: BCCA Championship at TBD
Feb. 10: vs. TBD (Senior Night)