A Fan's Guide to the Girls Knockout
The Knockout Girls Tournament kicks off Thursday morning. A few things to know:
There are no schools listed because this is an “open” tournament … meaning it is not sanctioned by the FHSAA.
We have the registration list, but that doesn’t mean the weights are “set” … we expect some movement, but provide a fan’s guide based on their registered weight.
To help the average fan understand what the potential bracket looks like by sharing our view of the …
Favorite - the wrestler that should enter as the “one to beat”
Contenders - those wrestlers that should be in the hunt based on their current ranking (in Florida that is provided by the Dec 13th Kabra Wrestling) or their past accomplishments
Darkhorse - the wrestler that is a little “off the radar”, but certainly has the ability to surprise everyone.
100 lbs.
The Field (23)
Favorite: Kealonie Vega
Contenders:
Sayuri Caceres
Miabella Lopez
Hayle Peck
Alivia Ryan
Darkhorse: Gianella Walczak
Summary: Vega has been nationally-ranked and should enter as the favorite. She missed the 2021-22 season, but returns for her senior season and is currently ranked #1 by Kabra Wrestling. Miabella Lopez is ranked #2, Hayle Peck is ranked #6, and Sayuri Caceres is ranked #8. Alivia Ryan finished 6th in Tennessee last year at 100 and is also a contender for a Knockout title. Keep an eye on Gianella Walczak who is ranked #9 as well as Carter Nelson (#12), Bryce Travers (#15), Mackenzie Allcroft (#17).
105 lbs.
The Field (16)
Favorite: Gabrielle Tedesco
Contenders:
Jenna Baines
Madelyne Bombardier
Maite Coutinho
Mariah Mills
Darkhorse: Reagan Thomas
Summary: Gabrielle Tedesco is a returning State Runner-up and is currently ranked #1 and enters as the favorite at 105. Greeneville’s Jenna Baines was a State Runner-up in Tennessee at 107 a year ago and could be considered the favorite as well. Mariah Mills was 3rd last year and is ranked #3 at 110 and Maite Coutinho was 7th last year and is ranked #4. Madelyne Bombardier is ranked #5 by Kabra and is also one to watch. Reagan Thomas leads a pack of six other ranked wrestlers that should be in the hunt as well. Thomas, Rebecca Kinkade, and Stacy Pule were State Qualifiers last year.
110 lbs.
The Field (20)
Favorite: Sofia Ferran
Contenders:
Emma Bauknight
I-Cart Galumette
Allison Shelton
Brittany Vincens
Darkhorse: Isabel Duarte
Summary: Sofia Ferran is ranked #1 by Kabra and is a returning State Runner-up … as a result she is the likely favorite. Emma Bauknight was 5th last year and is ranked #4 and Allie Shelton was 5th at 114 in Tennessee. Both should challenge Ferran for the Knockout title. Galumette and Vincens are both returning State Qualifiers as are Victoria Ceballos and Nathalia Espinal. All four are ranked by Kabra … Galumette is #5 at 115, Vincens is #8, Ceballos is #9, and Espinal is #19. Keana Bush, Jazlyn Diaz, Isabel Duarte, and Memphis Moses are also ranked.
115 lbs.
The Field (23)
Favorite: Zao Estrada
Contenders:
Cameron Galvin
Hailee Moder
Isis Severe
Julia Salgado Campos
Darkhorse: Iyonna Church-Ross
Summary: Probably the best weight in this year’s Knockout. Estrada and Galvin are both ranked nationally … South Carolina does not have a sanctioned State Tournament - so Estrada is not a “state champion”, but has placed in the boys state tournament. Estrada is ranked #5 nationally at 122 lbs. Cameron Galvin is ranked nationally #12 at 112 and is currently ranked #1 in Florida - she is also a returning State Champion. That’s not where we stop … Hailee Moder was a state runner-up last year and enters ranked #2 according to Kabra. Isis Severe is a 2022 State Qualifier and is ranked #4 at 120. Julia Salgado Campos is ranked #6, Iyonna Church-Ross is #11, Daniela Tabora Contreras is #15, and Skyler Randloph is #18.
120 lbs.
The Field (26)
Favorite: Carly Thomas
Contenders:
Christina Borgmann
Olivia Johnson
Aryana Leverock
Margo Menge
Darkhorse: Jasmine Serrano
Summary: Alabama doesn’t have a sanctioned state tournament, but in an unofficial capacity … Bob Jones’s Carly Thomas is a 2x State Champ. She is outstanding and enters as the favorite at 120. A trio of 2022 Florida State Qualifiers (and currently ranked in the top 10) lead the pack chasing Thomas. Christina Borgmann is ranked #3 and finished 8th a year ago, Aryana Leverock was 6th last season and is ranked #5 at 125, and Margo Menge was a 2022 State Qualifier and is rankled #7. Summit’s Olivia Johnson has had an outstanding season and is another one to keep an eye on. Jasmine Serrano, Tatiana Soto, and Isabella Garcia are also returning Florida State qualifiers. Two other ranked wrestlers - #9 Sydney Bridenstine and #14 Abigail Guilaume are also in the field.
125 lbs.
The Field (21)
Favorite: Tiana Fries
Contenders:
Jasmine Jenkins-Bey
Teigan Slauson
Asliana Trudeau
Christina Turner
Darkhorse: Naomie Syvestre
Summary: Really good weight that is headlined by 2022 State Champion Tiana Fries. Two out-of-state hammers - Georgia State Placer Jasmine Jenkins-Bey and Tennessee State Qualifier Asliana Trudeau are amongst the contenders. Florida State Placers Teigan Slauson (placed 6th and is ranked #4) and Christina Turner (placed 4th and is ranked 33) are also in the pack chasing Fries. State Qualifiers Arianna Ruiz and Naomie Sylvestre are two others to watch. Six other ranked wrestlers are also in the field - making this one of the deepest weights in the tournament (11 of he 21 are ranked in Florida with two out-of-state hammers also).
130 lbs.
The Field (15)
Favorite: Brielle Bibla
Contenders:
Callie Alfieri
Keyla Deleon
Geraldine Honore
Kelliana Mack
Darkhorse: Ana Vilar
Summary: 130 features 10 that are ranked in the state of Florida including #1 Brielle Bibla (2nd a year ago), #2 Keyla Deleon (3rd last year), #3 Kelliana Mack (5th last year), and #4 Callie Alfieri (6th last year). Bibla has been outstanding this season and enters as the favorite, but this is one of the deepest weights in the tournament and the path won’t be easy. Geraldine Honore and Ana Vilar were both State Qualifiers last year (and both are ranked in the top 10). Gabriella Bombardier and Genesis Fuentes are also ranked in the top 10 … meaning the weight has 8 of the top 10 according to Kabra Wrestling.
135 lbs.
The Field (22)
Favorite: Gabriella Perez
Contenders:
Aubrianna Apple
Angelyn Glazier
Tydasia Mack
Lucy Maris
Darkhorse: Saiomy Cabrera
Summary: Another outstanding weight that is headlined by a pair of #1’s … returning State Champion Gabriella Perez who is ranked #1 at 140 and #1 at 135 Lucy Maris who was 3rd a year ago. Add in State Runner-up Tydasia Mack who is ranked #4 at 140 as well as State Placers Aubrianna Apple (8th last year and ranked #2) and Angelyn Glazier (5th last year who is #9 at 140). 2022 State Qualifiers Saiomy Cabrera and Genesis Turrubiartez are also in the field. Seven other wrestlers that are ranked in the top 20 by Kabra are also in the field … in terms of depth - this might be the best weight (two #1’s, a #2, and 11 others that are ranked).
140 lbs.
The Field (21)
Favorite: Sofia Delgado
Contenders:
Rylee Bennett
Kendall Bibla
Anish Paz
Cathia Timas
Darkhorse: Makenzie Eltzroth
Summary: 140 features 3 State Placers including 2022 State Runner-up Sofia Delgado. Kendall Bibla and Anish Paz both finished 5th a season ago and both are ranked in the top 5 according to Kabra. Add in Tennessee State Placer (yes - 5th again) Rylee Bennett and you have a solid group chasing Delgado. Cathia Times, Nicollette Watson, Isabel Perez and Makenzie Eltzroth each qualified a year ago and are also in the field.
145 lbs.
The Field (16)
Favorite: Jennah Mustafa
Contenders:
Morgan Cornelius
Lilly Luttrell
Elody Rodriguez
Katherine Stewart
Darkhorse: Finley Craig
Summary: We could see #1 vs. #2 according to Kabra with both Jennah Mustafa and Lilly Luttrell in the bracket. Both placed a season ago and Mustafa is currently ranked 1st with Luttrell coming in #2. Two other placers are also in the field in Morgan Cornelius of Greeneville who was 5th last year in Tennessee and Katherine Stewart was 7th in Florida. Elody Rodriguez, TJ Broadnex, and Gabrielle Proctor are all ranked and are ones to watch as is Tennessee State Qualifier Finley Craig.
155 lbs.
The Field (16)
Favorite: Mya Bethel
Contenders:
Jah’Mya Hill
Emiliana Martinez
Alena Rik
Darkhorse: Sariana Jones
Summary: Mya Bethel is a fairly clear favorite at 155 … she is a returning State Champ and is ranked #1. Jah’Mya Hill was 4th last year and Emiliana Martinez was 6th … both are ranked in the top 10 by Kabra. Alena Rik is ranked #10 and Sariana Jones is ranked #17 … both figure to be hunting a spot on the podium as well.
170 lbs.
The Field (24)
Favorite: Alyssa Favara
Contenders:
Grace Leota
Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz
Megan Preston
Lilly Yambor
Darkhorse: Jayla Harrison
Summary: 2022 Florida State Champ Alyssa Favara headlines the field … she is now at Bishop Mccort in Pennsylvania, but we get another opportunity to watch her compete on Thursday. She should be challenged by State Runner-up Megan Preston who is currently #2 as well as State Placer Lilly Yambor who is ranked #9. Two other top 5 ranked wrestlers - Grace Leota and Salexa Lontoc-Ortiz are in the field and will be hunting a spot on the podium. Jayla Harrison is ranked #6 and comes in as our darkhorse.
190 lbs.
The Field (13)
Favorite: Cheyenne Cruce
Contenders:
Valerie Camacho
Mia Johnson
Kiona Upegui
Darkhorse: Precious Rijos
Summary: Cheyenne Cruce headlines the weight … she is a returning state placer (4th) and is ranked #2 by Kabra. Valerie Camacho (#11), Mia Johnson (#14), and Kiona Upegui (#12) are all ranked and will look to take the top spot over Cruce. Precious Rijos is the only other ranked wrestler in the field and comes in #17.
235 lbs.
The Field (14)
Favorite: Cheyenne Wigley
Contenders:
Rotchiva Clermont
Shelby Mills
Yoseline Perez
Darkhorse: Fedline Joseph
Summary: Cheyenne Wigley headlines the bracket … is ranked #1 and was 7th last year. Fedline Joseph is the only other state qualifier in the field. Rotchiva Clermont is ranked #2 by Kabra and it will be interesting to see if she can push #1 Wigley. Mills, Perez, and Tessa Diaz are also ranked and will look to claim a spot on the podium.