1A-5 Preview: Exciting season could end with wide-open district race
BY BRANT PARSONS — In a tight district, Interlachen has emerged as a slight favorite to win a rare district title.
"We need to keep that momentum from last year and our young guys need to step up,” Interlachen coach Christopher Wimmer said. “The young guys know they started to win big matches last year. They know what it's going to take. They know that we have one team ahead of us that's standing in our way in Pedro. We all know who the team is in our district that we've got to beat. They're focused. They know what we're doing."
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Crystal River rolled to a district title with nine individual champions.
How did Kabra do?: We nailed the top spots in both district competitions with Citrus jumping a spot to prove us wrong at third.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Austin Henderson, Sr. (Menendez); Julius Givings, So. (Bradford); Dalvin Dallas, Sr. (Palatka); Atreyu Contes, Jr. (Keystone Heights); Benjamin Gwara, Jr. (Interlachen); Eli Campbell, Sr. (Palatka); Mikey McCall, So. (Keystone Heights); Tremeze White, Jr. (Bradford); Mason Valdes, So. (Menendez); Evan Chatterton, Sr. (Menendez); Edward Durant, Sr. (Union County); Dino Jeudy, Jr. (FSDB).
The favorite: Interlachen. With 10 wrestlers possibly returning, the Rams look ready to make a huge jump in Coach Wimmer’s third season.
Team to watch: Pedro Menendez. The runners-up from a year ago graduated more than half of their line-up and may need a few months to get rolling. New coach John Wainwright knows how to do that and the Falcons should still be in the running.
District duals: Friday, January 15 at TBD
District IBT: Thursday, February 18 at Palatka
Interlachen Rams
Coach: Christopher Wimmer (3rd season)
25-26 dual record: 20-12
Recent district results: 2026:5; 2025:9; 2023:6-1A4; 2019:6; 2018:4; 2017:7; 2016:5; 2015:8; 2014:8; 2013:6-1A4; 2012:8-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nicholas Loranger, 32-11, RQ, D4; Camden Jackson.
Notable returning wrestlers: Benjamin Gwara, Jr., 12-9, RQ, D2; Isaac Lebaron, So., 19-16, RQ, D4; Logan Juraszek, Jr., 20-13, RQ, D4; Ayden Green, So., 21-18, RQ, D4; Jason Rodenweldt, So.; Jaden Perry, So., David Lebaron, Sr.
New wrestlers: Jaiden Esau, So., 12-12, RQ, D2 (Transfer from Palatka); Traevion Saint-Pierre, So., 3-19, RQ, D5 (Transfer from Palatka); Bentley Graham, So., (Transfer from Palatka)
What they’re saying: “Our biggest strengths are our work ethic, culture, and depth. We’ve built a team that genuinely enjoys competing together and embraces tough competition. We wrestle an aggressive style, stay in great condition, and have improved our depth across nearly every weight class. Our offseason has been outstanding with high attendance, nationally-recognized clinicians, and our wrestlers competing year-round through Swamp Reapers Wrestling Club and AAU events.”
On this year: "These guys are so ready for this season. They're ready to prove. We've lost a couple guys, but we've gained some kids and our kids are hungry. Our district realignment, everybody's loving that. We're excited. We've had a good off season. We have got a lot of kids out to football right now so a few of them have been in and out, but other than that, we've had a couple of them going year round."
On continued growth: "In the community, the support has stepped up so much from the first year to the second year with sponsorships alone. I was able to get a second mat in the second season. The plan is to get a third mat by the end of this third season. I want to have four mats because I want to host a tournament before Christmas, IBT, and I want to keep hosting our tournament at the end of the year."
Fun fact: The team has won 11 of its last 12 rivalry matches over the past two seasons, including four straight victories over Palatka after the program’s first win over them in 57 years.
Outlook: The Rams are building something special and should see a big jump this season as they look to win a district title.
The Florida High School Wrestling 2026-2027 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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Pedro Menendez Falcons
Coach: John Wainwright (1st at school/18th overall)
Assistant coach: Ryan Muscarella
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 4-4
Recent district results: 2026:2; 2025:2; 2024:4-2A4; 2023:4-2A4; 2022:6-2A4; 2021:2; 2020:3; 2019:3-1A4; 2018:2-1A4; 2017:5-1A4; 2016:3-1A4; 2015:3-1A4; 2014:6-1A4; 2013:5-1A4; 2012:6-1A4
Last state champion: Morgan Dufresne, 2004 (135)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Desmond Valdes, 22-8, SQ, R3, DC; Matthew Thorn, 24-13, SQ, R3, D2; Nikolas Thorn, 26-12, RQ-BR, D2; Mark Denman, 12-10, RQ, D3; Maddoxx Lehman, 22-9, RQ, D3; Talan Yarbough, 5-12, RQ, D4.
Notable returning wrestlers: Mason Valdes, So., 14-14, RQ, DC; Austin Henderson, Sr., 23-11, RQ, D2; Evan Chatterton, Sr., 25-9, RQ, D2.
What they’re saying: “I see potential in the seniors to help set a standard for all the underclassmen to follow. They both believe they can qualify for state this year.”
Outlook: Wainwright takes over a program that graduated 11 seniors last season and will be looking to build under his system.
FSDB Dragons
Coach: Dayton Newman (6th season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:4; 2025:3; 2024:4-1A4; 2023:7-1A4; 2022:10-1A4; 2020:5; 2019:7-1A4; 2018:7-1A4; 2017:8-1A4; 2016:8-1A4; 2015:4-1A4; 2014:5-1A4; 2013:9-1A4; 2012:7-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Khayree Lofton, 21-10, RQ-BR, D4; Muntaser Wadi, 17-11, RQ, D3; Robert McCullough, 26-9, RQ, D4; Antonio Riggins, 13-7, D5.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Dino Jeudy, Jr., 18-6, RQ, D2; Isaiah Jeudy, 8th, 6-6, RQ, D3; Gabe Mitchell, Sr., 24-11, RQ, D3; Ivan McAlpin, Sr., 24-8, RQ, D3; Michael Gross, Sr., 7-10, RQ, D4.
Palatka Panthers
Coach: Elysha Campbell (1st season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:6; 2025:5; 2024:3-1A4; 2023:5-1A4; 2022:2-1A4; 2021:1; 2020:2; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:3; 2014:7; 2013:7-2A4; 2012:7-2A4
Last state champion: Farshaun Pinkston, 2001 (145)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Curtis Wright, 30-8, RQ, D3; Blake Young, 11-13, RQ, D3; Jaiden Esau, So., 12-12, RQ, D2 (Transfer to Interlachen); Traevion Saint-Pierre, So., 3-19, RQ, D5 (Transfer to Interlachen).
Notable returning wrestlers: Dalvin Dallas, Sr., 22-8, RQ, D2; Dreyton Reid, Sr., 20-10, RQ, D4; Noah Harvey, Jr., 7-12, RQ, D4; Dallas Brown, Jr., 15-10; Eli Campbell, Sr., 14-5.
What they’re saying: “This year, we are rebuilding our team. We have some work to do, but our focus is on getting better every day, building discipline, and learning to work together. We are going to put in the work, hold each other accountable, and build a strong foundation for the future.”
On this group: “Our biggest strength is that we are willing to work and get better.”
Outlook: Six are back from last season and they’re a good core to build from.
Bradford Tornadoes
Coach: Charles Gerber (3rd at school/18th overall)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:7-1A4; 2025:8-1A4; 2022:9-1A4; 2021:9-1A4; 2020:8-1A4; 2019:6-1A4; 2018:4-1A4; 2017:3-1A4; 2016:6-1A4; 2015:10-1A4; 2014:4-1A4; 2013:4-1A4; 2012:3-1A4
Last state champion: Josh Fox, 2012 (195)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Benjamin Bryzinski, 18-10, RQ, D3; Wyatt Acevedo, 14-10, D5.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Julius Givings, So., 13-8, RQ, D2; Tremeze White, Jr., 17-9, RQ, D3; Jonathan Armstrong, Jr., 10-14.
Keystone Heights Indians
Coach: Jon Rechtorovic (2nd season at school/25th overall)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 6-10
Recent district results: 2026:8; 2025:8; 2024:5-1A4; 2023:8-1A4; 2022:6-1A4; 2021:4; 2020:4; 2019:3
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Atreyu Contes, Jr., 25-7, RQ, D2; Arthur Durning, Sr., 15-12, RQ, D2; Mikey McCall, So., 17-11, RQ, D4.
New wrestlers: Jackson Kehler; Barron Bryson; Dallon Blankenship
What they’re saying: “We are young with some talent in the middle of the lineup.”
Outlook: The Indians didn’t graduate any from last season and they’ll be looking to gain some experience this season.
Union County Tigers
Coach: Edwin Johnson
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:9-1A4; 2025:5-1A4; 2024:2-1A4; 2023:2-1A4; 2022:4-1A4; 2021:2-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Aiden Hancock, 38-9, SQ, R3, D2; Clifton Ivey, 22-9, RQ, DC; Wyatt Elixson, 24-11, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Carsen Thomas, Sr., 24-8, RQ, D4; Edward Durant, Sr., 20-8, RQ, D4.
Santa Fe Raiders
Coach: Unknown
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: None
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None