1A-7 Preview: Expect another close battle between McKeel Academy and Mulberry
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: McKeel earned the district double, following up the duals title with a thrilling six point win in the IBT. The Wildcats then put the cherry on top of a great season with Jacob Reber winning the school’s first-ever state wrestling title.
How did Kabra do?: This district made us look a little smarter than we are by getting the duals 100% right and correctly picking the top 3 in the IBT.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Trevor Peterson, Sr. (McKeel Academy); Sawyer Akel, 7th (Bell Creek); Gabriel Romero, Jr. (Mulberry); Aiden Frauenfeld, Fr. (McKeel Academy); Messiah Washington, Sr. (Avon Park); Liam McGann, Jr. (Avon Park); Austin Frauenfeld, Jr. (McKeel Academy); Jordan Roserie, Sr. (McKeel Academy); Ray Nieves, Jr. (Bell Creek); Jeremy Gonzalez, Sr. (Mulberry); Antonio Williams, Sr. (McKeel Academy).
The favorite: McKeel Academy. The state champion is gone but the team could return 10 wrestlers from a year ago.
Team to watch: Mulberry. Expect another dogfight in the team races as the Panthers return just as much firepower as the defending champs.
District IBT: Thursday, February 18 at Tenoroc
McKeel Academy Wildcats
Coach: Frank Olinger (11th as head coach, 14th at school)
Assistant coaches: Mark Melius, Tony Frauenfeld, Marshall Hurley
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:1; 2025:2; 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1-1A11; 2020:1-1A11; 2019:2-1A9; 2018:2-1A9; 2017:5-1A9; 2016:2-1A9; 2015:3-1A9; 2014:2-1A9; 2013:3; 2012:2
Last state champion: Jacob Reber, 2026 (150)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jacob Reber, 59-3, SC, RC, DC; Caleb Causey, 47-13, S6, R2, DC; Jordan Gerzenshtein, 37-16, RQ, D.
Notable returning wrestlers: Trevor Peterson, Sr., 40-17, SQ, R4, D2; Aiden Frauenfeld, Fr., 39-9, RQ-BR, DC; Austin Frauenfeld, Jr., 35-13, RQ-BR, D3; Jensnell Torres, 8th, 24-16, RQ, D2; Antonio Williams, Sr., 41-15, RQ, D22; Brandon Sadler, Sr., 28-19, RQ, D2; Jordan Roserie, Sr., 24-17, RQ, D2; Jayden Tinoco, 8th, 2-7, RQ, D3; Tyler Davis, So., 10-20, RQ, D4; Caden Kindle, So., 3-18, RQ, D4.
What they’re saying:
Outlook: Reber made history, winning the school’s first-ever state wrestling title back in March.
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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Mulberry Panthers
Coach: Christopher Rose
Assistant coach: Devin Hendrix
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:2; 2025:3; 2024:6; 2023:4; 2022:2; 2021:3-1A11; 2020:3-1A11; 2019:3-1A9; 2018:3-1A9; 2017:4-1A9; 2016:7-1A9; 2015:8-1A9; 2014:7-1A9; 2013:5; 2012:2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Dashon Tolbert, 28-15, SQ, R4, DC; Yandel Goyco, 31-7, RQ, DC; Axel Buenavista, 5-9, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Wyatt Bryant, Jr., 20-12, RQ, DC; Gabriel Romero, Jr., 32-14, RQ, DC; Jeremy Gonzalez, Sr., 15-22, RQ, D2; Esteban Sandoval, Sr., 7-19, RQ, D2; Charlie Yang, Sr., RQ, D3; Brendan Harris, So., 10-15, RQ, D3; David Denova, So., 11-20, RQ, D4; Ariel Morales-Juarez, Sr., 12-24, RQ, D4; Jovanny Ortiz, Sr., 15-13, RQ, D3.
New wrestler: Christian Hendrix
What they’re saying: "There's a lot of potential in there. We have a lot of kids coming back so I want to see what happens. It's just a lot of experience and the culture and the community in the room has been building even with losing a head coach. I've been there for years and they're ready. They work every day."
On getting mentally ready: "It's just getting my kids aggressive. We need technique, we need the skill, but they need to be able to go on the mat, especially my newer kids, and not get scared, to raise up and push through, which has been a historical issue for a lot of our even second year kids. They're not used to that environment, especially as more pressure at the end of the season. I have a team of kids that love the sport and if you want to keep doing what you love in postseason, you have to keep winning also. And so that's the idea, just bigger tournaments."
On making school history: "We're developing a group of kids who love wrestling and every year we're getting better and not just one person maybe but across the board. Last year was as close as we have ever been in Mulberry's history to winning the title. It's building a huge base that's going to peak and it might not be this year but in the next few years Mulberry is going to be winning a championship team. I see that."
Fun stat: Romero, who also stars for the football team, maintains a 4.0 unweighted GPA.
Outlook: The Panthers were just points away from winning the school’s first-ever district wrestling title and though they’re young, the room is deep with wrestlers ready to push each other.
Avon Park Red Devils
Coach: James Bland (10th at school/13th total)
Assistant coaches: Michael Blare, Jamal Hicks
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:3; 2025:5; 2024:3; 2023:3; 2022:4-1A13; 2021:6-1A11; 2020:4-1A11; 2019:4-1A9; 2018:5-1A9; 2017:2-1A9; 2016:1-1A9; 2015:1-1A9; 2014:1-1A9; 2013:1; 2012:1
Last state champion: James Bland, 2009 (160), Christian Grimmett, 2009 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Chris Dominguez, 43-10, S8, R3, DC; Jamal Hicks, 41-15, SQ, R4, DC; John Jones, 43-6, RQ-BR, DC; William Phillips, 20-13, RQ-BR, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Messiah Washington, Sr., 36-12, RQ-BR, DC; Liam McGann, Jr., 27-14, RQ, D2.
What they’re saying: “We are extremely young but hungry.”
Outlook:
Tenoroc Titans
Coach: Patrick Cannon (4th season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:6; 2025:6; 2024:5; 2023:5; 2022:3; 2021:2-1A11; 2020:2-1A11; 2019:1-1A9; 2018:4-1A9; 2017:7-1A9; 2016:6-1A9; 2015:4-1A9; 2014:5-1A9; 2013:7; 2012:4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Hawken Crawford, Sr., 35-23, RQ, D2; Lukas Londono, So., RQ, D3; Collin Guadalupe, Sr., RQ, D3; Dylan Vasquez, Sr., RQ, D4; Junorbin Santos, Jr., RQ, D4; Jumarbin Santoes, So., RQ, D4.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Bell Creek Panthers
Coach: Unknown
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:4; 2025:4; 2024:4-1A10; 2023:6-1A10; 2022:5-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Isaiah Hench, 29-8, SQ, R3, DC; Gavin Najera, Jr., 30-8, S6, R3, DC (Transfer to Newsome).
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Sawyer Akel, 7th, 10-6, RQ-BR, D3; Marcel Johnson, So., 16-14, RQ, D3; Ray Nieves, Jr., 18-10, RQ, D3; Nicolas Vanella, So., 6-13, RQ, D4.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Lake Placid Dragons
Coach: Will Taylor
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:5; 2024:7; 2023:6; 2022:8-1A13; 2021:5-1A11; 2020:5-1A11; 2019:6-1A9; 2018:7-1A9; 2017:6-1A9; 2016:3-1A9; 2015:5-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Remington Laursen, 6-6, RQ, D3; Christopher Ramos, 9-5, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Owen Wagner, Sr., 10-5, RQ, D2; Noel Vega, So., 10-5, RQ, D4; Keegan Treadwell, Jr., 4-8, RQ, D4; Cristian Geronimo, Jr., 1-15, RQ, D4.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
The First Academy Royals
Coach: David Branz
Assistant coaches: Nathanieal St. Claire, Marcellus Serpa
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 1-3
Recent district results: 2026:9-1A6; 2025:9-1A6; 2024:4-1A6; 2023:5-1A6; 2022:6-1A6; 2021:7; 2020:7; 2019:5; 2018:5; 2017:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Stryker Milgore, Sr., 10-9, RQ, D5.
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Foundation Christian Academy Panthers
Coach: John Sawicky
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:7; 2025:7; 2024:7-1A10; 2023:8-1A10; 2022:7-1A10; 2021:8-1A9; 2020:7-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jonathan Sawicky, 19-13, SQ, R4, D2; Benjamin Dlugo, RQ, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook: