State of the Program ... Mater Lakes (FL)
Mater Lakes (FL)
Head Coach: Brandon Neifeld (entering 11th season)
Staff: JD Ramsey, Alex Noa, Ethan Vergara
2022 State Champions Ethan Vergara and Azakin Sejour led the Bears into the top 10 in 1A a season ago. But both are now gone and the Bears will look to a new group of young hammers to step up and take the reigns. Don’t be fooled - this team is still loaded with talent, but losing Vergara and Sejour will put pressure on the rest of the lineup to step up and take control of where the Bears finish in 2023. Damian Soto and Ethan Tran both made the podium a year ago and both return ready to lay claim to an individual title. Tran makes up a solid bottom part of the lineup that features State Qualifiers Kellen Messina, Anthony O’Dell, and Malikai Badillo. Add in Bruce Li and whoever emerges as the 106 (should be a great battle between Mason O’Dell, Chris Greene, and Matteo Gonzalez) and you have the strength of the Mater Lakes lineup … 106 through 132 will be lights out for the Bears.
That’s not to say the rest of the lineup will be easy for the competition … it is just a top of the cap knowing that the first 5 weights feature 1 returning placer and 2 returning qualifiers as well as several others that will look to make some noise in 2022-23. Look for Jorge Garcia, Emanuel Celestin, Kalias Nazario, Kenny Alvarado, and Croccifixio Mazzrillo to battle for spots from 132-152. Returning State Qualifier Eric Hodge kicks off the top side of the lineup - a top side with a ton of potential. Manny Nazco, Calogero Mazzrillo, and Branden Marerro all came within a match of punching their ticket a year ago … something that should happen in 2023. Returning State Placer Damian Soto pairs with Emiliano Solache at 220 and 285 to finish out a Bears lineup that is stacked from top to bottom. Look out 1A - this team is good and despite losing Vergara and Sejour will be back knocking on a top 5 finish in 2023.
“After losing state champions Azakin Sejour and Ethan Vergara this group of seniors has big shoes to fill. With their leadership and a ton of young talent we think we have the pieces to compete with any team in the state. We believe we underperformed last season and have something to prove this year.”
NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.