Cast your vote for Reader’s Choice Wrestlers of the Week for Week 5
BY BRANT PARSONS — The Reader’s Choice Wrestler of the Week is back for the first vote of 2026.
We have taken your nominations, sprinkled in a few of our own, and now you get to pick the winners.
VOTING CLOSES AT 9 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026.
The nominees for the boys WOW…
Jake Austin (Charlotte): Led all wrestlers with 35.5 team points scored at the Braves.
Ciaran Braton (First Academy-Leesburg): Ciaran has been wrestling tough all season. He has Champ at Kiwanis/Windham, champ at Guantlet, runner-up at Lyman and runner-up at Clay. His only losses so far at the #1 ranked 1a and #1 ranked.
Christopher Coleman (Deerfield Beach): Won the Gillis Strong and the Holiday Titan Tapout.
Jasper Croom (Florida High): Jasper wrestled all state ranked guys at Braves Invite and placed first. Defeated 1A ranked #3, 2A ranked #11, and 3A ranked #2 and #7 (@138lbs) en route to finishing 5-0 winning the loaded 132 lb class and lightweight Outstanding Wrestler at Braves Invitational.
Joey Davis (Lake Brantley): Joey out-wrestled his seed and won a tournament title for the 3rd week in a row when we claimed gold at the Ron Peters Tournament of Champions at Lake Mary High School. This runs his current season record to 15-1.
Adrian Day (Cocoa Beach): Adrian won the light weights Most Outstanding Wrestler at Ron Peters TOC with 3 tech falls and a pin.
John DelVecchio (Gulf Breeze): John comes to Gulf Breeze from Valdosta GA where he won state as an 8th grader representing Valwood School. Unfortunately, John has faced huge medical obstacles, undergoing 3 full ACL replacements in the knee the last 3 years. This being his first year competing with Gulf Breeze and officially back to the mat, John won the Gulf Shores Scuffle at 144 this past weekend seeded 12th. His determination, perseverance and dedication to the sport makes him a great candidate.
Stefano Garcia (Miami Southridge): Last year's state finalist took home the Braves Invitational title in a loaded weight class.
Benjamin Mitts (Clay): This kid is making the biggest strides. He was 2nd at Oakleaf HAMMER and had a tech and 3 1st round pins to win Clay Rotary. There are plenty of very accomplished wrestlers who are nominated and have had great weeks. Mitts is the breakout wrestler of the week and deserves some recognition/love for his great showings.
Michael Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons): Pinned his way to a prep slam national title. Pinned the #13 ranked wrestler in the nation under 1 minute
Jayden Ruiz (Homestead): Is a second year wrestler and he's already making strives being ranked 17th in the state in 3A after making a district runner up and regional qualification last year in 1A before falling short he's been picking up on all the things he's been needing to fix and is a force to be reckoned with I truly do believe that he should be nominated as wrestler of the week.
Lazaro Soto (SW Miami): Lázaro beat the top-ranked wrestler at 3A in the Braves Invitational, avenging an earlier loss to him.
The nominees for the girls WOW…
Kailani Barrientos (Oakleaf): Dominated one of the deepest fields at the Braves with three pins and a tech fall victory.
Lillian Ison (First Coast): Took first place in the girls 155lb class at Joe Bees Battle for Border Tournament in Yulee, Fl then came back the next day and Took 1st place in JV Boys 157lb class call outs.
Jessie Griffin (Bell Creek): Went 6-0 at the Ron Peters with 3 pins and 3 techs, only allowing 2 points.
Jaiden Hight (Foundation): Jaiden is a self starting, self motivated young lady with ambition and care of others. While she is aggressive on the mat she has a heart of gold, empathetic for her fellow wrestler when needing and has no problem stopping and praying with her opponents.
Rebecca Marin (Doral Academy): Solidified herself as the girl to beat at 100 pounds, winning an absolutely stacked weight class at the Braves.
Emily McCormick (Windermere): Finished in 1st Place at The Lady Braves Invitational @155. Beating #4, #15, improving to 17-2 and the week before won the 155 Rumble on the Range.
Hailee Moder (St. John Neumann): A command performance earned her the title at the Braves.
Makayla Ocean (Archbishop McCarthy): I believe I deserve to be Wrestler of the Week because I come to practice ready to work, I push myself every day, and I give my best effort in every match. I’m winning my matches, improving consistently, and always trying to represent the team with discipline and respect. Thank you for believing in me and pushing me to be better.
Kiera Partello (Barron Collier): Earned the title at the Braves Invitational with a 1-0 win in the final.
Sierra Webber (Zephyrhills Christian): Sierra competed at the McKeel Lady Wildcat Scramble this weekend. She is a first year wrestler and 8th grader. She came in with a losing record of 1-5, unseeded and won the whole tournament to become the champion in the 115lb weight class. She beat all the odds, and dominated by pins in most all her matches, including beating a girl that beat her last week - who was the number 1 seed of the tournament.
Brant Parsons is the founder and executive editor of Kabra Wrestling. He has been covering high school wrestling in Florida since 2004. He can be reached at brant@kabrawrestling.com.
