Christian Brothers (TN)

Head Coach: Derek Harrison (entering year 6 at CBHS)

Staff: Mike Letts, Ben Bowers, Brian Baucke, Daniel Baucke, Rudy Smout, Quinn Thomas

Always one of the top teams in Tennessee as well as the Southeast, Christian Brothers will look to some new faces in 2022-23 after graduating some hammers this past year. State Champs Aidan Bowers and Gervacio Gonzalez are both gone as well as Cameron Cavins, Timbrook Hodge, Luis Ramos, and Mario Robledo. Graduation really impacted the top of the Brothers lineup and it will be interesting to see who steps up - particularly up top - this season. State Placers Wills Bronson, Mason Butler and Alex Ropski lead the way. All three will be looking to claim an individual title in 2023. CB also return State Qualifiers Hudson Salvaggio, Drake Bowers, and Collin Tobin … all three will be hunting a spot on the podium this season as well. This is a fairly young squad and if Christian Brothers is going to be in the hunt for the top spot with Baylor and Father Ryan they will need some new faces to step up and make some noise.

Keep an eye on Erasmo Cortez, Jack Branson and Austin Williams. Especially Branson and Williams up top where Christian Brothers will need some help if they are going to be in the hunt. Down low Christian Brothers will welcome back Iggy Smout who missed last year due to injury as well as the addition of freshmen Wilson Jamison and Findley Smout. Keep an eye on Robert Hutton and Halton Donnelly as well. Bronson and Ropski are two seniors and they will lead the way - how high CB climbs could come down to how everyone comes together around them.

“This crew has been working extremely hard since last season and has been very consistent. Seven of them are returning state qualifiers. Overall, we are a very young team, which makes our future look very promising. Our expectations are the same as always: To compete for individual and team titles.”

— Coach Harrison

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.

Doral Academy (FL)

Head Coach: Alexis DeArmas (5th year)

Staff: Will DeArmas

Extremely solid team from top to bottom. Finished 17th in an extremely deep 3A and given their returners - will look to make a move into the top 10 this season. The Firebird’s lose State Placer Enrique Sanchez, but return the bulk of their team and with a few new faces could make some noise in 22-23. Christian Vazquez and Julian Montero both finished on the podium a season ago with Vazquez taking 2nd and Montero 7th. Both will be in the hunt for the top spot in 2023. David DeArmas qualified for the state tournament a season ago as an undersized 113 and should flip spots with Vazquez this season … giving Doral a solid 1-2 punch down low. All three will look to climb onto the podium in Kissimmee - giving the Firebirds a legit shot to have 3 placers (with maybe a champ or two).

The key for Doral breaking into the top 10 is the continued development of the rest of the squad. Enzo Santoro, Albert Manzini, Hector Cruz, Rolando Diaz, and Alexis Mendizabal all won matches in last year’s region 4 tournament (the toughest in the state of the Florida in my opinion). All have the experience to breakthrough this season and if Doral can get 8 through to Kissimmee then they will be a force to watch. Keep an eye on Athan Toro, Gabriel Beracasa, Joel Carillo and Malakai Roberts to make some noise as well. This is a senior heavy squad that has a ton of potential … if they can wrestle to that level then the 3A top 10 better watch out.

NOTE: I missed including Jose Gutierrez … oversight on my part. I was looking at last year’s region and state wrestlers and he wasn’t there, but we saw him weeks later become an NHSCA All American. Certainly Jose will play a huge role in how Doral does this season.

“We have a good mix of Veterans and younger wrestlers with experience. We are going to continue to implement our system and push our wrestlers to reach their goals.”

— Coach DeArmas

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.

Arab Girls (AL)

Head Coach: Kyle Routon

Staff: Klay Cranford, Keith Henderson, Hayden Henderson, Scott Cleland, Stephan Dasaro

Arab has long been one of the top programs in Alabama … on the guys side. Well the girls now coming into emerging sports status in Alabama - expect Arab to establish themselves as one of the top programs on the girls side as well. Coach Routon has 10 girls on the roster and this is a hungry bunch that is ready to show the girls in Alabama what Arab does on the mat. The squad is led by a handful of Seniors and Juniors including Maggie Whitaker, Madilyn Rodgers, Freedom Harper, Rihanna Mariner, and Haley Zajkowski. The should lead the way for the next wave of Knights … a bunch of 7th and 8th graders that will certainly be around when the AHSAA finally gets around to sanctioning the sport.

Keep an eye on Niya Turner, Reagan Golden, Gracie Boyd, Bella Partington, and Madison Beasley … not just for 2022-23, but for the future. The standard at Arab is high and that extends to the girls as well - expect them to work hard to meet that in 22-23.

“Very excited to watch these girls in year two of having our program. We made huge strides last year and I just look forward to the overall growth of girls wrestling in Arab and in Alabama as a whole. Our girls worked just as much as our boys this off season. They are as ready as anybody to get the season kicked off.”

— Coach Routon

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.