Girls teams to watch this coming season
BY BRANT PARSONS — At Kabra Wrestling, we started working on content for the 2026-2027 high school wrestling season before we even drove home from Kissimmee in March.
While working on the preview, a few teams have stood out as being ready for a big season.
These are teams that could see a large number of starters back from last year and we’ve picked to have a notable year.
Each team stands out for its own reasons and the only criteria we had in picking was that it couldn’t be a team that finished in the Top 10 at state last season.
COCOA BEACH MINUTEMEN
Cocoa Beach had its best girls wrestling season so far last season, leaping from the top 10 into third place in the district. The team could return 100% of its starters this season including state placer Rylee Beville, who has a state title in her sights for this year, and state qualifier Elysse Fredenburg.
GEORGE JENKINS EAGLES
The Eagles have been building up the girls program and it hit the peak last year with a district title performance. Nine of those girls could be back this season led by state qualifiers Tori Gibson and Paige Ballard. The team will be loaded with senior leadership and experience.
HERNANDO LEOPARDS
The 2024 girls team champions finished as a runner-up in their district for the first-time ever but may bring back seven starters and nearly 85% of their district points. Led by state placer Emerson Webber and state qualifier Addison Johnson, the Leopards are young and have more youth talent in the room ready to step up.
LINCOLN PARK GREYHOUNDS
The Greyhounds have won three of the last four district titles and this group should have some even loftier goals as all 11 starters from last season’s roster could be back this year. Makayla Brianvil leads the way after her fourth place finish in state last year and could be joined by fellow district champions Rickkyuan Wilson, Janyla Denis, Quisiera Wilson and Kaelyn Toombs.
MORGAN MUSTANGS
The first-year program wasted no time getting out of the starting gates, finishing second in the district and sending two wrestlers to state, including seventh-place finisher Naomi Luna. The Mustangs could return everyone from a year ago and if they’re all back, this team could go far.
OCOEE KNIGHTS
A consistently tough program in Orange County, the Knights can set some bigger goals this year with up to 11 starters returning this season. Giulia De Oliveira Paiva reached the state tournament last year while eight more picked up valuable region experience.
WESTERN WILDCATS
The Wildcats are chasing their first district title since 2022 and this is a group that could complete the deal. The Wildcats could return the most points in their district and would be lead by state placer Tiffany Francisco and state qualifier Kaylee Padin.
