Florida 2A State Tournament Fan's Guide
Never read one of our Fan’s Guides before? Here is what to know …
Favorite - that is the wrestler that I consider to be the favorite to win (it is my opinion … for everyone not on the favorite line - please go prove me wrong).
Contenders - are those wrestlers that could easily win the whole thing.
Darkhorse - A wrestler that finished 3rd or 4th in regionals/sectionals, but has demonstrated that they have the ability (and might have the best path) to make a run for spot high on the podium.
Best 1st round matchup - a match I would be watching.
NOTE: This is a Fan’s Guide … remember the purpose is to give the average person an idea of the upcoming state tournament. It is not a prediction, but I do attempt to give you my thoughts regarding how it might play out. Past is prologue … meaning that past results do inform, but only in a simple way in my opinion. Meaning if a wrestler placed a year ago that demonstrates to me that they were 1) competitive at the state tournament and 2) found a way to win a few matches. It doesn’t predict future success. Please keep that in mind as you read the Guide. I hope you enjoy.
Schedule:
Favorite: Roman Lermer (Jesuit)
Contenders:
Colt Brown (Lake Gibson)
Fredrick Mitchum (Miami Southridge)
Shane Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island)
Camren French (Charlotte)
Darkhorse: Grady Murphy (Braden River)
Best 1st Round Match: Camren French vs. Cole Henderson
What to Expect: Roman Lermer returns after taking 2nd for Admiral Farragut in 1A a year ago. He has bounced between 106 and 113 this year and all of his losses have come out-of-state or up at 113 (or both). He has wrestled the best competition around and is certainly the favorite after pinning his way to the Region 3 title last weekend. Colt Brown has stepped in and been a force for Lake Gibson this season. He was 4th at the Knockout (losing twice to Patrick Jones of Wellington) and has also suffered most of his losses up at 113. He gets a tough draw with Richard Albert first and then the winner of Williams and Baker in the quarters before even having to worry about Lermer. The toughest quarter might be the quad of Mitchum/Burbidge/French/Henderson … French lost to Lermer last weekend, but was 5th at 106 a year ago and Mitchum won Region 4 and is a returning qualifier. Shane Duhaylungsod is the Region Champ up top and shares the quarter with Brandon’s Roberto Rodriguez, Grady Murphy, and Clayton Wolf. Murphy has beaten Rodriguez once this season - so that rematch is one to watch in the opening round.
Favorite: Jayce Paridon (Fleming Island)
Contenders:
Maximus Brady (Mariner)
Elijah Lowe (Lake Gibson)
Holden Kapsos (Suncoast)
Kaiden Ballinger (Charlotte)
Darkhorse: Draven McCall (Jesuit)
Best 1st Round Match: Pedro Sifuentes vs. Grady Woodard
What to Expect: Fleming Island’s Jayce Paridon was 3rd a year ago as an 8th grader at University Christian in 1A. He has looked superb this season, comes in 55-0, and looks like the man to beat after hammering the Region 1 tournament last weekend. Paridon shares the top side with Region 2 Champ Elijah Lowe of Lake Gibson. Lowe also looked extremely good in taking the title last weekend - majoring Logan O’Leary and earning a tech fall win over Pedro Sifuentes. McCall vs. Sephus should be a good one right off the scale and both have the ability to push Lowe in that quarter of the bracket. Maximus Brady of Mariner has had a great freshman campaign and looks to be the favorite on the bottom side of the bracket. Suncoast’s Holden Kapsos pinned his way to the Region 4 title, but he pulls a very good Enis Ljikovic right off the scale.
Favorite: Tyson Lane (Brandon)
Contenders:
Patrick Nolan (Charlotte)
Laird Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island)
Gregory Mendez (Mater Academy)
Dominick Smith (River Ridge)
Darkhorse: Danny Vargas (Jesuit)
Best 1st Round Match: Sonny Hancock vs. Ryan Phillips
What to Expect: Tyson Lane is the returning 113 lb. State Champion and is the heavy favorite in a good, deep weight class. Lane dominated Region 2 last weekend with 2 first period falls, a 12-6 decision of Ryan Phillips, and then a 2nd period fall of Dominick Smith. Phillips and Smith are two to keep an eye on up top. Lane shares the bottom side of the bracket with Region 4 Champ Gregory Mendez of Mater Lakes as well as 2021 113 lb. Runner-up Danny Vargas (who lost to Lane in the finals a year ago). Vargas lost a one point match in the semis last weekend and is a legit threat in the bottom quarter. Voshawn Baker is also a returning State Placer, but draws Lane in the quarters. The top side features Region Champs Laird Duhaylungsod and Patrick Nolan … Nolan was 3rd last year at 113 and should be the favorite up top. Keep an eye on the top quarter of the bracket with Duhaylungsod, Hancock, Phillips, and Pennington.
Favorite: Andrew Austin (Charlotte)
Contenders:
Alexander Exalant (North Miami)
Darrell Tabor (Brandon)
Jamey Bruner (New Smyrna Beach)
Lowden Ward (Hollins)
Darkhorse: Garrett Marschka (Chiles)
Best 1st Round Match: Nathan McGill vs. Jeremiah Johnson
What to Expect: Interesting bracket. Andrew Austin is the defending 126 lb. State Champ and is the favorite after claiming the Region 3 title last weekend. He shares the bottom side with Region 4 Champ and 2021 State Qualifier Alexander Exalant, Garrett Marschka, Damien Rodriguez, Silas Mantero, Riley Girgis, and others. Rodriguez vs. Marschka is an interesting opening round match and the winner likely gets Exalant who is a perfect 34-0 this season. The top side features Region Champs Jamey Bruner and Darrell Tabor … Tabor was 4th at 120 a year ago and is the favorite to make the finals, but the quarters could feature 4 exciting matches at 126.
Favorite: Braden Basile (Jesuit)
Contenders:
Hayden Whidden (Lake Gibson)
Charlie Armstrong (Okeechobee)
Joshua Mukaddam (Fleming Island)
Hunter Brown (Chiles)
Darkhorse: Roman Maldonado (Heritage)
Best 1st Round Match: Roman Maldonado vs. Blaine Jones
What to Expect: Basile comes in as the favorite - he has been on a tear since losing to Austin in last year’s finals. I believe his only loss came to Nasir Bailey of Illinois at the Ironman in December. He has beaten some of the best 132’s in the country this year. That said - Whidden has been all over the podium to this point in his career, but has yet to claim the top step. He dominated the Region 2 tournament a week ago and pushed Basile to the brink at the state duals. Don’t sleep on Armstrong, Mukaddam, and others, but this looks like a clash of Basile and Whidden.
Favorite: Christopher Minto (Mariner)
Contenders:
Alex Walker (Lake Gibson)
Gabriel Ferreira (Heritage)
Kaden Schaefer (Fleming Island)
Joshua Gallo (Springstead)
Darkhorse: Gianni Maldonado (Brandon)
Best 1st Round Match: Jace Engberg vs. Kylen McQueen
What to Expect: Christopher Minto is the returning 120 lb. State Champ and pinned his way to the Region 3 title last weekend. He is unbeaten at 51-0 with solid wins over Maldonado, Engberg, Jewell Williams, Wiggins, and others … but I’m not certain he has faced any of the other region champs this season. Returning State Placer (3rd at 120 in 2021) Alex Walker shares the bottom side with Minto. He has several losses, but it is important to put those in perspective … they have come to Pablo Castro of Ohio and Tyler Guerra of Illinois at the Ironman, Tom Crook in the state duals, etc. Walker is a legit threat on the bottom side - don’t let the records fool you. The top side is super tough. Region Champ Kaden Schaefer draws the winner of Gallo/Davis in the quarters and Ferreira will get the winner of Maldonado (5th a year ago) and Jackson.
Favorite: Tom Crook (Jesuit)
Contenders:
Riley Chapdelaine (Winter Springs)
Julian Mayorga (Miami Southridge)
Matthew Kotler (Fleming Island)
Blake Walker (Lake Gibson)
Darkhorse: Joseph Gallo (Springstead)
Best 1st Round Match: Blake Walker vs. John Vadyak
What to Expect: Crook is the returning State Champ and hasn’t lost to another Florida wrestler is quite some time (I write vaguely because I can’t remember the last time he did). His 4 losses this season have come at the Ironman (Ohio) and Escape the Rock (Pennsylvania). He beat Cooper Haase in the Knockout Finals and hammered his way to the Region 3 title last weekend. He is the heavy favorite to add another title to his collection. Region 2 Champ Riley Chapdelaine was 2nd a year ago at 138 and should provide a tough test for Crook in the semis. The top side is more wide open with Region Champs Matthew Kotler and Julian Mayorga as well as returning State Placers Joe Gallo (5th at 138 in 2021), Blake Walker (4th at 132 in 2021), and John Vadyak (6th at 132). Any of the 5 could make a run … the top quarter with Kotler, Walker, and Vadyak is one to watch.
Favorite: Jack Crook (Jesuit)
Contenders:
Dylan Quiroga (Merritt Island)
Nick Hejke (Mosley)
Tyler Smith (Brandon)
Isaiah Castro (Mariner)
Darkhorse: Isaac Church (Charlotte)
Best 1st Round Match: Nike Huff vs. Luis Alvarado
What to Expect: Jack Crook comes in 37-1 on the season and is the returning 145 lb. State Champion. Crook’s only loss came at Escape the Rock in Pennsylvania to Tennessee State Champ Colin Dupill. He is the heavy favorite coming in. Mosley’s Nick Hejke who finished 5th a year ago is the other Region Champ up top with Crook. The bottom Champs are Dylan Quiroga and Tyler Smith. The biggest threat to the champs on the bottom is 2021 132 lb. Runner-up Isaac Church who lost to Crook in the semis at last weekend’s Region 2 tournament.
Favorite: Brendon Abdon (Lake Gibson)
Contenders:
Lawrence Rosario (Miami Southridge)
Elijah Penton (Winter Springs)
Jessey Colas (Braden River)
Clint Griffin (St Augustine)
Darkhorse: Frank Diaz (Brandon)
Best 1st Round Match: Gavin Young vs. Anthony Callahan
What to Expect: Brendon Abdon is the returnign 152 lb. State Champion and enters this weekend after winning a tough Region 2 a week ago. Abdon downed Elijah Penton 3-1 in the finals and is 49-2 on the season with his two losses coming at the Ironman in early December. Clint Griffin of St Augustine is the Region 1 Champ and shares the top side with Abdon. Griffin beat Atticus Waters 8-5 in the Region final and as a result sits in a good position to make a run to the semis (although Baltutis could be a tough quarter - assuming he beats Torres). The bottom side features Lawrence Rosario and Jessey Colas as the Region Champs as well as 2021 State Placer Frank Diaz and State Qualifier Elijah Penton. Diaz lost to Penton in sudden victory last weekend and both could be a real problem on the bottom side.
Favorite: Tito Solorzano (Lake Gibson)
Contenders:
Cory Cannan (Barron Collier)
Nick Lesch (Merritt Island)
Jordan Mills (Matanzas)
Josiah Jenkins (Jesuit)
Darkhorse: Davis Deal (Winter Springs)
Best 1st Round Match: Davis Deal vs. Josiah Jenkins
What to Expect: So many outstanding first round matches and potential matches down the bracket. This one will be fun to watch. The match most people want to see is the bottom semi between Cannan and Solorzano and we will get to that, but let’s touch on some great matchups before that as well as the top side of the bracket. Davis Deal finished 6th a year ago and after taking 3rd in Region 2 last weekend draws Jesuit’s Josiah Jenkins in an outstanding first round matchup. The winner will likely get Region 4 Champ Nick Lesch of Merritt Island. Jordan Mills of Matanzas is the other Region Champ on the top side (a SQ as a freshman and looks ready to make a push for the podium in 2022). Mills downed Sandoval 6-5 in the Region quarters and showed he will be tough to beat up top. Cannan and Solorzano had a great match in the Knockout final with Solorzano coming out on top 3-2 … most people will look ahead to that matchup again, but neither can afford to look past their quarter.
Favorite: Dylan Deal (Winter Springs)
Contenders:
Brian Burburija (Countryside)
Jhoel Robinson (Fleming Island)
Jonathan Tumblin (Sebastian River)
Cooper Wallace (Edgewater)
Darkhorse: Luke Lindley (Palmetto)
Best 1st Round Match: Tyrone Livingstone vs. Nicolas Rodriguez
What to Expect: Picking a favorite is tough … we went with defending State champ Dylan Deal of Winter Springs, but it wasn’t clear cut. Deal looked great in dominating his way to the Region 2 Title last weekend - but the top side is far from easy. Jhoel Robinson who took care of business in Region 1 has only lost to out-of-state competition and has several quality wins … Deal vs. Robinson is a match we all want to see. Keep an eye on Lindley - he may not beat Deal, but he has what we look for in someone making a run to the podium. He lost his opening match last weekend and then won 5 in a row (including a fall of the wrestler he lost to in the bloodround). Brian Burburija is a returning State Runner-up and you could certainly make a case that he is the favorite. He appears to have an “easier” path and his only loss this year is to national #3 Matthew Singleton of Woodward Academy in the Knockout final. Jonathan Tumblin shares the bottom side with Burburija after winning the Region 4 title last week.
Favorite: Sergio Desiante (Jesuit)
Contenders:
Cayden Bevis (Lincoln)
Rafael Camarena (Sebastian River)
Nigel Williams (Jones)
Trace Liberatore (Heritage)
Darkhorse: Gabriel Thomas (Palmetto)
Best 1st Round Match: Trace Liberatore vs. Gabriel Thomas
What to Expect: Jesuit’s Sergio Desiante has wrestled on another level this season and comes in as the favorite. He is 44-1 on the season with wins over Hunter Jones and Luke Cochran at the Knockout as well as Andrew Connolly of Malvern Prep at Escape the Rock. His only loss came to Quinn Collins of Central Bucks East in Pennsylvania. Desiante shares the bottom side of the bracket with Region 4 Champ Rafael Camarena. Camarena had 4 falls on his way to the region title last weekend and he returns after nearly making the podium a season ago. The top side features returning State Placer Cayden Bevis of Lincoln and unbeaten Nigel Williams of Jones. Keep an eye on Liberatore who was in a battle with Camarena in the finals a week ago.
Favorite: Cedric Fairrow (Ft Walton Beach)
Contenders:
Morvens Saint Jean (Ft Myers)
Jose Monroy (Okeechobee)
Theotis Smith (Zephyrhills)
Beau Higginbotham (Dunbar)
Darkhorse: Nathaniel Box (Charlotte)
Best 1st Round Match: Nathaniel Box vs. Derrick Mosely
What to Expect: Fairrow returns after taking 3rd a year ago and has looked superb so far this season. He won Region 1 over a tough bracket including a 7-4 decision of returning State Placer Derrick Mosely. In fact Mosely vs. Box is a first round matchup of returning State Placers from a year ago. Talk about a tough opening round match. Fairrow is joined up top by Region 3 Champ Morvens Saint Jean who just missed the podium a year ago. The bottom side should be a battle with the winner of Mosely/Box getting Region 4 Champion Jose Monroy who is also a returning State Qualifier and Omarion LaRoach vs. Beau Higginbotham which should be an outstanding first round match - with the winner likely getting Region 2 Champ Theotis Smith. Lots of good action at 220 … Fairrow looks like the favorite, but this weight is deep with talent.
Favorite: Jeremiah Jackson (Kathleen)
Contenders:
Biaggio Frattarelli (Charlotte)
Williams Clement (Heritage)
Toby Matson (Fletcher)
Ethan Hoffstetter (Fleming Island)
Darkhorse: Spencer MacKenzie (Ft Walton Beach)
Best 1st Round Match: Nate Gabriel vs. Yeidission Santana
What to Expect: Polk County always seems to produce top 285’s and 2022 is no different. Jeremiah Jackson was 2nd a year ago and looked every bit the part of a future State Champ as he dominated the Region 2 bracket last weekend. Jackson has lost this season - early to Caden Gayle of Harmony so he is beatable, but it will be a tough task. Charlotte’s Biaggio Frattarelli claimed the Region 3 title last weekend and shares the bottom side with Jackson. He had to fend off a tough quarterfinal before cruising to the region title. The top side features Region Champs Toby Matson and Williams Clement - neither qualified a year ago and both won their regions. Keep an eye on Yeidission Santana on the top side and Ethan Hoffstetter on the bottom side.