2A-7 Preview: Retooled Lake Gibson chasing state title aspirations

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Riley Stone, 7-30, RQ, D4.

Notable returning wrestlers: Travonte Burgess, Sr., 55-9, SQ, R2, DC; Mateo Martinez, Sr., 37-17, RQ-BR, D2; Preston Thornton, Jr., 32-18, RQ, D3; Romeo Estevez, Jr., 19-20, RQ, D3; Luke Thornton, Sr., 39-15, RQ, D3; Kieran Lowe, So., 24-23, RQ, D4; Justin Rush, So., 10-26, RQ, D4.; Ethan Lowe, Sr.; Anwon Black, Jr.

New wrestlers: Xazavien Lamones, Jr. (Transfer from Tenoroc); Luke McLaughlin, Fr.

What they are saying: “We kind of fell short last year. It felt like maybe by the look of the draw of the brackets or we had some guys that we looked at and we're like all right, we don't beat this guy we weren't going to make it to the state level. So we kind of took it back a little bit over the summer break and kind of worked on the little minor things. I think we have a pretty good outlook for the season. The kids have been working really hard. I think we're ready to take the next jump and qualify more than just a couple a handful of kids. I think we're prepared this year. I think we're a little bit more prepared than we were last year.”

On Travonte Burgess: “He's always been very gifted. He made it a state tournament as a freshman. I think at the time he had good leaders ahead of him. So, he was kind of like the young guy tagging along beforehand. Last year, he was kind of like that dude for us. And I think it kind of shocked him to be there (at state) by yourself, it is kind of tough sometimes. We had high expectations for him and he had them for himself also. I think it might have kind of made it hard for him a little bit to concentrate on just the wrestling and having fun part of it. I think with all the kids that we've had that been working so hard, and they're kind of taking a step foot forward with him, I think he's a little bit more comfortable now because I think he's going to expect the other guys to make it there with him also this time around. With all those big teams there, when you're there with a team, it helps out so much.”

On this group: “I think we're going to surprise some people just because I think we have a little bit fuller team, a little bit more talent across the board. I'm looking to show people up and have them say, ‘when did Lakeland have such a good team?’ It's because they've been working hard. They've been sticking to it all summer.”

Outlook: There is a big returning group that has a sour taste in their mouth from not hitting goals last season and they’ve been putting in the work to reach them this season.