2A-9 Preview: Defending champion Pirates looking to top Hurricanes again
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Braden River advanced nine wrestlers to the finals and won its second district title in the last three seasons.
How did Kabra do?: We took some gentle ribbing when we made our choices here, but we nailed the top 4 spots with our picks.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Evan Rowe (Braden River), Freedom McDaniel (Braden River), Jacob Fuentes (Braden River), Jaden Morales (Braden River), Angel Ojeda (Manatee), Aiden Sanders (Parrish), Jayden Russell (Braden River), Nikolai Krywko (Parrish), Logan Pike (Braden River).
The favorite: Braden River. The defending champs might have a deeper team this season.
Team to watch: Manatee. Never count out the work of Coach Gug and his staff.
District duals: Thursday, January 8 at Parrish, 5 p.m.
District IBT: Thursday, February 19 at Parrish, 3:30 p.m.
Braden River Pirates (#12 IBT, #12 Duals)
Coach: Cezar Sharbono (9th at school/12th as head coach)
Assistant coaches: Curtis Fouchie, Caterina Sharbono, Tina Sharbono, Ryan Gascon, Eddie Fuentes
24-25 dual record: 31-9
Recent district results: 2025:1; 2024:2; 2023:1; 2022:2-2A11; 2021:2-2A10; 2020:2-2A10; 2019:4-2A10; 2018:6-2A10; 2017:5-2A10; 2016:5-2A10; 2015:7-2A10; 2014:7-2A10; 2013:11-2A11; 2012:10-2A11
Last state champion: Jessey Colas, 2023 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Matthew Ireland, 72-7, 4th, R2, DC; Israel Clark, 32-13, SQ, R2, DC; Scott Cook, 63-12, SQ, R2, DC; Gabe Rojas, 27-17, RQ, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Jayden Russell, Sr., 31-14, SQ, R3, DC; Evan Rowe, Sr., 62-19, SQ, R3, DC; Jacob Fuentes, Sr., 64-13, SQ, R3, D2; Freedom McDaniel, Jr., 51-15, 7th, R2, DC; Quinn Molesky, Jr., 29-28, RQ, D4; Dominic McCloud, Sr., 10-22, RQ, D4; Jaden Morales, Sr., 39-18; Logan Pike, Jr.
New wrestlers: Ruben Caceres; Eliyah Israel; Malachi Israel; Daniel Picaut; Diago Camacho; Mason Cook; Logan Ferris.
What they are saying: “We have a well-balanced team that should do well in both Duals and IBT formats. We have a strong base that has potential to climb the podium, with several others who are more than capable of making the jump to the state tourney as well.”
On Evan Rowe: “He's still probably my hardest worker in the room and my most coachable kid for a kid that's only been wrestling for two years. I mean, he just started at the beginning of the season. To go to a blood round loser last year at state and now this year he he went to Disney and went undefeated and has just been rolling ever since. He's only losing kids that are been on the podium last year or the year before and he's going to start making that step and beating some of those kids.”
On this year’s outlook: “This year's team is actually better than last year's team. Top to bottom, we're a better team than we were last year. The goal right now is we want to be top five in the state in 2A and if we can do that then in my opinion, we're one of the best programs in the state.”
Outlook: The defending district champions are not just looking to repeat as IBT and duals winners, they want to return to the state duals tournament and bring home a region trophy for the first time in school history.
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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Manatee Hurricanes
Coach: Andrew Gugliemini (31th season at Manatee, 34th overall)
Assistant coach: Tom Beckerleg
Click here for 25-26 schedule
24-25 dual record: 19-11
Recent district results: 2025:2; 2024:1-2A10; 2023:1-2A10; 2022:2-3A7; 2021:2-3A8; 2020:2-3A8; 2019:1-3A8; 2018:2-3A8; 2017:2-3A8; 2016:3-3A8; 2015:3-3A8; 2014:2-3A8; 2013:2-3A8; 2012:3-3A8
Last state champion: Tylynn Lukens, 2021 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Luke Arthur, 36-4, 4th, R2, DC; Chandler Jules, 15-12, RQ, D2; Gabe Redmond, 26-14, RQ, D4; Jonas Lennox, 17-6, RQ, DC; James Alejos, 25-16, RQ-BR, D3; Porter Daniels, So., 33-14, SQ, R3, D2 (Transfer to Palmetto); Riley Craig, Jr., 24-14, SQ, R4, D2 (Transfer to Palmetto)
Notable returning wrestlers: Kai Drapala, Sr., 27-10, RQ, DC; Angel Ojeda, Sr., 31-6, RQ, DC; Christopher Larin, Jr., 22-18, RQ, D2; Brian Beckerleg, Jr., 17-10, RQ, D2; Nicholas Nutter, Sr., 10-21, RQ, D4; Jacob Moran, Jr.; Becket Smith, So.; Mason Campora, So.; Carter Robinson, Jr.; Tusaunte Carr, Jr.; Payton Sypolt, So.; Leighton Hand, So.; Major Gilbert, So.
New wrestlers: Cole Carroll, Jr. (Transfer from Minnesota); E. Ramsey, Fr.; C. Frazier, Fr.; D. Gutierez-Duff, Fr.
What they are saying: “The Manatee wrestlers are hungry to represent our HS and our team. We will have some young wrestlers fill some spots on the team and they will have worked hard in the fall to improve. I am excited to coach the loyal Manatee wrestlers this season.”
Outlook: Never count out Coach Gug and the Hurricanes.
Parrish Community Bulls
Coach: Tyler Small (7th at school/10th overall)
Assistant coaches: Alex Boukheir, Jed Kramer
Click here for 25-26 schedule
24-25 dual record: 9-10
Recent district results: 2025:3; 2024:3; 2023:5; 2022:6-1A11; 2021:6-1A10; 2020:7-1A10
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Domonic Benjamin, 39-6, 6th, R3, DC; Ashton Springfield, 44-11, SQ, R4, D2; Victor Ocampo Torres, 12-11, RQ, D2; Brian Fernandez-Ortiz, 27-16, RQ, D3; Evan Dishman, 30-11, RQ-BR, D3; Ethan Hicklin, 14-8.
Notable returning wrestlers: Nikolai Krywko, Sr., 36-15, RQ, D2; Liam Tan, Sr., 11-26, RQ, D3; Jack Creaser, Jr., 31-18, RQ, D3; Hunter Kitchens, So., 10-30, RQ, D4; Brian Fernandez-Ortiz, Jr.; Osvangel Muniz, Sr.
New wrestlers: Aiden Sanders, Sr., 47-11, SQ, R4, D3 (Transfer from Lakewood Ranch)
What they are saying: “I think we have a lot of dedicated guys on our team right now. A lot of guys that came in through the summer and last spring and put in a lot of time and pretty much every guy that will be in our varsity lineup have been here over the summer and have at least a year experience now, which is not something we could say in years past. We've been kind of just taking whoever we have and filling them in, so we're getting to the point where we're going to have depth in each weight class.”
On Osvangel Muniz: “One that jumps out to me is Muniz. He had his year shortened a little bit last year. He had an incident, at a tournament where he had gotten in trouble and disqualified and lost the rest of his season. He's really embraced that and really used that kind of setback to really motivate him this summer and he's made leaps and bounds from last year. He actually started developing a style with some shots that he likes and he's come a long way in the last year and he's really buying into what the sport has to offer.”
On Brian Fernandez-Ortiz: “He went out to Fargo and wrestled a couple matches. He really bought into some of the freestyle and Greco stuff over the summer and he actually put in the time to go out to Fargo, one of my first athletes to ever go out there and go compete and he won a couple matches. So he's been putting in a lot of work and he's improved a lot over the last year as well. It's nice to have a heavyweight that's been with us a couple years now and he's only a junior too. So we'll have him for two more years as well.”
Outlook: Even though nearly half of last year’s postseason lineup has graduated, the Bulls might be an even deeper team this year as the program keeps developing from within.
East Bay Indians
Coach: Erik Matricardi (26th year at school)
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:4; 2024:4; 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:3-3A6; 2020:4-3A6; 2019:3-3A7; 2018:8-3A7; 2017:6-3A7; 2016:7-3A7; 2015:5-3A8; 2014:6-3A8; 2013:4-3A6; 2012:6-3A6
Last state champion: Juan Edwards, 1999 (152)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alejandro Betty, 31-14, RQ-BR, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Amarion Jackson, Sr., 35-15, RQ-BR, D2; Justin Dominguez, Jr., 17-12, RQ, D3; Gabriel Rodrigues, Jr., 29-17, RQ, D4; George Granados, Sr., 26-22, RQ, D4.
Outlook: Amarion Jackson could be back after coming up a match short of Kissimmee. The senior will look to bounce back with a state tournament trip.
Spoto Spartans
Coach: Aaron Wintrich
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:5; 2024:6; 2023:9; 2022:7; 2021:9-2A6; 2020:8-2A6; 2019:5-1A10; 2018:4-1A10; 2017:3-1A10; 2016:4-1A10; 2015:6-1A10; 2014:8-1A10; 2013:6-1A9; 2012:6-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Joseph Alvarez, RQ-BR, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Rome Freeman, Jr., RQ-BR, D2; Angel Martinez, Jr., RQ, D3; Luis Bastardos, Jr., RQ, D4.
Blake Yellow Jackets
Coach: Richard Cowans
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:6; 2024:7; 2023:7; 2022:9; 2021:8-2A7; 2020:6-2A7; 2019:3-2A8; 2018:4-2A8; 2017:5-2A8; 2016:11-2A8; 2015:13-2A8; 2014:10-2A8; 2013:7; 2012:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Marlin Rodriguez, 18-6, RQ, D2; Prince Andrew Reddick, 15-6, RQ, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Elijah NewmanHall, So., 9-6, RQ, D3; Winsor Lormera, Sr., 5-10, RQ, D4; Jaquan Busby, Sr., 3-6, RQ, D4.
Middleton Tigers
Coach: Tim Gebhards (7th season)
Assistant coach: Rick Ravens
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:7; 2024:8; 2023:7; 2022:8; 2021:5-2A7; 2020:5-2A7; 2019:8-1A10; 2018:8-1A10; 2017:8-1A10; 2015:5-1A10; 2014:5-1A10; 2013:7-1A9; 2012:7-1A9
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kevin Brown, 13-17, RQ, D3; Amir Ouald Daba, 13-15, RQ, D3; Darius Montgomery, Sr., 30-5, 7th, R3, DC (Transfer to Zephyrhills Christian)
Notable returning wrestlers: None
What they are saying: “We have a growing team with a mix of veterans and rookies.”
Outlook: There are a few vets back in the mix, and the Tigers will need them to step up.
Southeast Seminoles
Coach: Sydney Douglas
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: 2025:8; 2024:9; 2023:6; 2022:8-2A11; 2021:8-2A10; 2020:6-2A10; 2019:5-1A11; 2018:10-1A11; 2017:1-1A11; 2016:5-1A11; 2015:1-1A10; 2014:1-1A10; 2013:2-1A11; 2012:2-1A11
Last state champion: Charles Higson, 1994 (189)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Bishop Williams, 21-14, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Spencer Lewis, Jr., 12-14, RQ, D3.
Outlook: Lewis is the one postseason wrestler back for the Seminoles.
Morgan Mustangs
Coach: Erik Brungot
Click here for 25-26 schedule
Recent district results: None
Outlook: Morgan High School is a new school in Hillsborough County.
2A-9 Season Schedules
Braden River
Boys
Dec. 6: Captain Archer at Charlotte
Dec. 19-20: Holiday Duals at Gulf
Dec. 27: Bulls Duals at Parrish
Jan. 2-3: Braves IBT at Advent Fieldhouse
Jan. 9-10: Gary Freis Duals at Fort Myers
Jan. 16-17: Ricky Gullett Invitational at Bayshore
Jan. 27: vs. Palmetto (Senior Night)
Jan. 30-31: Colby Singletary Memorial at Estero Sports Complex
Feb. 4: at Lakewood Ranch
Feb. 7: County Tournament at Bayshore
Feb. 14: Bidwell International at Lemon Bay
Girls
Nov. 29: Ladies of the Ring at Parrish
Dec. 8: Manatee Brawl at Manatee
Jan. 2: Braves IBT at Advent Fieldhouse
Jan. 10: Lady Wave at Fort Myers
Jan. 16: Ricky Gullett Invitational at Bayshore
Jan. 21: Girls Scramble at Braden River
Jan. 27: vs. Palmetto (Senior Night)
Jan. 30: Colby Singletary Memorial at Estero Sports Complex
Feb. 4: at Lakewood Ranch
Feb. 7: County Tournament at Bayshore