Florida 1A 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.
Favorite: Sebastian Degennaro (Jensen Beach)
Contenders:
Jonathan Moder (First Baptist)
Logan Delos Santos (Palm Bay)
Topher Pearson (Suwannee)
Julian Harvey (Wakulla)
Darkhorse: Jack Oliver (Lemon Bay)
Best 1st Round Match: Julian Harvey vs. Vincent Biondoletti
What to Expect: Sebastian Degennaro. We don’t hand out awards before they’ve wrestled, but Degennaro is on another level. His only loss this season came to nationally ranked Nate Desmond of Bethlehem Catholic at Beast of the East. His biggest challenge in Florida (and perhaps the SE) might be the scale. He dominated the Knockout, but forfeited the second day. Making weight for 3 consecutive days might be his toughest battle. And that isn’t taking away anything from the field - which is outstanding. Degennaro is simply the best 106 in Florida and the best in the SE. Topher Pearson shares the top side as the Region 1 Champ, but the battles in the middle between the #2’s and #3’s are the ones to watch early in the bracket. The bottom side features phenom 8th grader Jonathan Moder who won Region 3 and Logan Delos Santos who won Region 2. Who comes out of the bottom side is the big question.
Favorite: Peyton Vargas (Cardinal Gibbons)
Contenders:
Gavin Nolan (Clearwater Central Catholic)
Alex McMiller (Satellite)
Gian Ortiz (Jensen Beach)
Jay Brown (Liberty County)
Andres DiGrigoli (First Baptist)
Darkhorse: Matthew Velasco (Somerset)
Best 1st Round Match: Raider Morelli vs. Eli Jolicoeur
What to Expect: Peyton Vargas was 5th a year ago at 106 and just won a super tough Region 4 with 4 falls (including pinning Ortiz in the 3rd after being up 13-4). Gavin Nolan won Region 3 and shares the bottom side with Vargas … which is tough because they might be the two best in the bracket. That means the top side is brutal that should come down to some very close matches. Digrigoli vs. Velasco is a placement match in the opening round with the winner likely getting Region 1 Champ Brown. This is a good weight that should feature some outstanding matchups (watch for a potential McMiller vs. Ortiz quarter).
Favorite: Ryan Mooney (Jensen Beach)
Contenders:
Max Brewster (South Walton)
Shaver Jackson (Palm Bay)
Michael Kersey (First Baptist)
De’Quon King (Raines)
Darkhorse: Jonathan Hudson (Cardinal Gibbons)
Best 1st Round Match: Maverick Rainwater vs. Sean McClure
What to Expect: Brewster or Mooney? Don’t get me wrong Shaver Jackson and Michael Kersey as well as others will be in the mix, but Brewster and Mooney have inched ahead of the pack in my opinion. Brewster was 6th at 113 last year and comes in with just one loss on the season (to Kaden Golder). Mooney, on the other hand, comes in with many more losses, but the level of competition is second to none. He took 2 losses at Beast of the East, 2 losses at the Knockout (Gorman and Vugman), 2 losses to Christian Guzman, etc. He also has some significant wins including Georgia State Champ Maddox McArthur and others. When in doubt I have a tendency to lean to those that have been in the tougher battles (win or lose) … and that’s why I think Mooney is the favorite over Brewster, Jackson, and Kersey. That said he could get a tough De’Quon King in the quarters and perhaps Jackson in the semis. Keep an eye on a very tough Jonathan Hudson up top.
Favorite: Nicholas Yancey (Cardinal Gibbons)
Contenders:
Johnny Dobbs (Jensen Beach)
Talon Maple (Zephyrhills Christian)
Kris Hunter (Tenoroc)
Brody Boehm (Suwannee)
Darkhorse: Tristan Sainz (Somerset)
Best 1st Round Match: Mason Medina vs. Isaac Brinson
What to Expect: State Champ vs. State Champ in the Region 4 Finals … seems reasonable to expect the same thing this weekend. 2021 113 lb. State Champ Nichoals Yancey downed 2021 126 lb. State champ Johnny Dobbs 7-0 last weekend. Dobbs sits up top with Region Champs Brody Boehm and Kris Hunter as well as a good 8th grader in Tristan Sainz. The top side will be competitive and should produce several really good early round matches. The bottom side features Yancey and Region 3 Champ Talon Maple. Maple beat Warren (3rd in the Region), Clifton (4th in the Region), and Partida (2nd in the Region) on his way to the title … he will be it, but Yancey has been absolutely super this season.
Favorite: Ryan Duguay (Jensen Beach)
Contenders:
Ronald Theilacker (Palm Bay)
Justin Brady (Lemon Bay)
Mikade Harvey (Palatka)
Dylan Garcia (Mater Lakes)
Darkhorse: Frankie Florio (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Best 1st Round Match: Isaiah Wilson vs. Luke Francis
What to Expect: A who’s who of previous state placers are each of the 4 region champs … Duguay was 4th a year ago at 138, Theilacker was 2nd at 132, Brady won 2 matches and missed the podium, and Harvey was 6th at 106. Each has had a very good season and each could make a case for being the “favorite”. Again we go with the person that has had the battles to this point - even if he has some losses. Ryan Duguay won the Region 4 title with a 2-1 decision of Garcia and lost in the semis of the Knockout to Georgia State champ Logan Paradice (while beating Russell Raabe, Dawson Thompson, etc.). Theilacker was 2nd a year ago and hammered his way to the Region 2 title … 3 falls and a 17-1 tech fall. That potential semi looms large in what could’ve been the final if the bracket was seeded. Brady and Harvey share the top side and will have their hands full with Florio, Garcia, Gadson, Kerns, etc. Both should be in the semis, but “should” and will are very different and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone else step into that semifinal on Friday.
Favorite: Jewell Williams (Jensen Beach)
Contenders:
Daniel Ward (First Academy)
Josh Kumpf (Clay)
Jaden Harrah (Island Coast)
Andrew DeSola (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Darkhorse: David Byleick (St Andrew’s)
Best 1st Round Match: Joe Castellone vs. Diego Mojica
What to Expect: Jewell Williams was 2nd a year ago at 120 and enters this weekend on a roll after beating Hannon 7-1 and DeSola 9-3. He is the favorite … the only other placer in the field is DeSola (4th at 126) and he beat him a week ago. Kumpf is the Region 1 Champ and shares the top side with Williams. The bottom side features Region Champs Daniel Ward and Jaden Harrah … Harrah qualified a year ago and had 2 wins - he will likely get a very tough DeSola in the quarters. Ward will likely get the winner of Byelick and Lewis.
Favorite: Brandon Cody (The Master’s Academy)
Contenders:
Luke Boree (Clay)
Azakin Sejour (Mater Lakes)
Gavin Patton (First Baptist)
Nathan Furman (Palm Bay)
Darkhorse: Ryan Beirne (Satellite)
Best 1st Round Match: Michael Sainz vs. Hayden Reeves
What to Expect: The difference in the contenders is minimal and you could make an argument for each of them being the favorite … here is my reasoning for why I went with Cody. Cody was 4th a year ago at 132, comes in 43-4 on the season, and beat a very good Nathan Furman 3-0 in the Region 2 finals. His 4 losses came to Tyler McKnight (2x Georgia Runner-up), Tyler Nelson (2x Georgia Champ), James Latona (3x Alabama Champ), and Riley Chapdelaine (last year’s Florida Runner-up in 3A). As a result of his win over Furman, he has a nice path on the bottom side of the bracket … he will likely have to beat Dylan Johns and Gavin Patton to get to the finals, but given his competition this season that seems reasonable. The top side on the other hand is stacked. Furman, a 2021 State Placer, will likely be Boree’s quarterfinal matchup with the winner getting Sejour. Don’t get me wrong … there are wrestlers in the bracket that can turn everything upside down, but Cody’s win over Furman last weekend is huge in how this could play out.
Favorite: Mateo Villalobos (Bonita Springs)
Contenders:
Michael Shannon (The Master’s Academy)
Dylan Fox (Jensen Beach)
Roberto Cuartero (Bishop Kenny)
Rafael Romero (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Darkhorse: Robert Limperis (Cardinal Gibbons)
Best 1st Round Match: Dean Wright vs. Tyler Rodriguez
What to Expect: Throw them all in a hat and let’s just see what happens. This is another weight where the “favorite” is less than clear. Michael Shannon was a 3A Qualifier a year ago, but has had a superb season at the Master’s Academy. His two losses came at the Knockout - one to Rafael Romero of American Heritage Delray Beach who sits on the opposite side of the bracket after injury defaulting to Dylan Fox in the Region 4 Finals last weekend. Assuming Romero is back up and going - the top quarter of the bracket is going to be super tough with Romero, Roberto Cuartero of Bishop Kenny, Leighton Tinch of Tenoroc, and Dustin Springfield of Parrish. Keep an eye on Robert Limperis in the 2nd quarter of the bracket … he lost to Fox 7-6 in the semis last weekend and is a legit threat to both Avery Jackson and Region 3 Champ Mateo Villalobos (who has looked the best of anyone coming in - and he was 5th a year ago at 145). The bottom side features Shannon, Region 4 Champ Dylan Fox, as well as Tyson Musgrove and others.
Favorite: Kendrick Hodge (Somerset)
Contenders:
Vish Williams (McKeel)
Enzo Gamba (Fernandina Beach)
Konnor Stuttgen (Bonita Springs)
Danil Korochenskiy (Cardinal Gibbons)
Darkhorse: Omer Barak (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Best 1st Round Match: Omer Barak vs. Koen Hoffman
What to Expect: How good was 160 in Region 4? Omer Barak was 2nd last year at 152 and he took 3rd after losing to Kendrick Hodge in the semis. That means the top quarter of the bracket is super difficult. Gamba comes in unbeaten at 37-0, but he certainly has the most difficult path to the finals. We get a 2021 Runner-up vs. a 2021 4th place finisher in the opening round with Barak and Hoffman - and Gamba (assuming he beats Murray who was a SQ a year ago) gets the winner. The other quarter up top might be just as difficult with Korochenskiy, who was 3rd last year at this weight, gets Sheets (who also qualified a year ago) with the winner likely getting 152 lb. State Placer Vish Williams in the quarters. The bottom side is a little clearer with only Hearn and Kendrick Hodge as returning qualifiers. The top is brutal and Kendrick Hodge has already proved he has the ability to be waiting on the winner in the finals.
Favorite: Christian Moder (First Baptist)
Contenders:
Ethan Larsen (Clay)
Nate Sopotnick (Jensen Beach)
Michael McCarthy (Satellite)
Xander Hawkes (Florida High)
Darkhorse: Anthony Nicolosi (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Best 1st Round Match: Xander Hawkes vs. Anthony Nicolosi
What to Expect: The only two returning Placers from 2021 are on the same side of the bracket … Moder (3rd at 145 in 2A) and McCarthy (5th at 170). So that is where we begin. Moder has been superb this season and handled the Region 3 bracket with relative ease … only being pushed by Chase Alden in the semis (a 6-2 decision). McCarthy dominated Region 2 and a Moder vs. McCarthy semi looms large. McCarthy can’t look past the winner of Hawkes vs. Nicolosi in the quarters. Larsen pulls the toughest path for a Region Champ by getting Tauriello right off the scale and then either Daniels or Alden. Nate Sopotnick is battle-tested in the and came through with an outstanding Region 4 tournament … pinning Nicolosi before downing Martin 12-4. Can McNabb, Schiavello, or Ghannam knock him off in the 2nd quarter of the bracket?
Favorite: Lance Schyck (Lemon Bay)
Contenders:
Michael Mocco (Coral Springs Charter)
Dominic Martin (Clay)
Jaden Markus (Villages)
Joseph Nicolosi (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Darkhorse: Alex Smith (Yulee)
Best 1st Round Match: Wayne Campbell vs. Alex Smith
What to Expect: Interesting weight. We get the return of 2021 State Champ Lance Schyck and the rise of outstanding 8th grader Michael Mocco … unfortunately they share the same side of the bracket. Schyck won this weight a year ago and was “on the shelf” for part of the season, but since his return has looked outstanding - coming in a perfect 36-0. Mocco beat last year’s State Runner-up (at this weight) Joseph Nicolosi 6-5 in the Region 4 finals and as a result gets the bottom side with Schyck. Mocco will need to focus on the winner of Campbell and Smith first though. The loss to Mocco puts Nicolosi in the same quarter as Jaden Markus, the Region 2 Champ. Up top we have Region 1 Champ Dominic Martin who was 6th at 152 last year. This weight has some very good first round matches including Kyle Grey vs. Cole Kanehel in that top quarter.
Favorite: Mikey Tal Shahar (American Heritage Delray Beach)
Contenders:
David Mercado (North Bay Haven)
Josiah Arroyo (Port Charlotte)
Izaiah Jauma (Villages)
Marcus Lopez (Lemon Bay)
Darkhorse: Caleo Carrera (Palm Bay)
Best 1st Round Match: Jaydon Sheely vs. Chris Aud
What to Expect: Mikey Tal Shahar is the defending State Champ at this weight and comes in as a big favorite to take home another this season. He sits on the bottom side of the bracket with Region 3 Champ Josiah Arroyo. There will be some good matches on the bottom side, but it would be a surprise if Tal Shahar isn’t sitting in the finals waiting on whoever navigates the top side of the bracket. The top side features Region Champs Mercado and Jauma as well as Matt O’Hara and others. Mercado and Lewicki are the only returning qualifiers up top … so expect some close matches. Mercado dominated Region 1 and is probably the favorite to emerge from that side of the bracket.
Favorite: Garrett Tyre (Clay)
Contenders:
Pharee Reed (Lakewood)
Ruben Estrada (Miami Sunset)
Darian Gillins (Tenoroc)
Jamari Watson (Raines)
Darkhorse: Okten Logue (Port Charlotte)
Best 1st Round Match: Jamari Watson vs. Okten Logue
What to Expect: This could be a wild weight to watch. The bottom quarter with Estrada as the Region Champ is tough and includes a very good opening round match between Logue and Watson. Both have the ability to make a run to the finals. Gillins, the Region 2 Champ, survived a tough finals match with Gray and sits as the other region champ on the bottom side. The separation amongst the 16 in the bracket isn’t significant. Garrett Tyre has had a very good season and is the Region 1 Champ on the top line … he is also the favorite coming in. Pharee Reed got the reversal and fall over Logue in last weekend’s Region 3 semis in the final minute of the match and then went onto beat Caldwell 5-3 in the finals. Whichever wrestler gets the momentum going is likely to end up on the top step when all is said and done … who will that be?
Favorite: Ethan Vergara (Mater Lakes)
Contenders:
Matthew Jimenez (Somerset)
Jack Pyburn (Bolles)
Carlos Gerardino (Palm Bay)
Caleb Rodriguez (First Baptist)
Darkhorse: Ethan Daniels (Clay)
Best 1st Round Match: Jaquorius Taylor vs. Miguel Diaz
What to Expect: Will we get treated to another Jimenez vs. Vergara match? The two have battled back and forth for years and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them tango one last time. Vergara has had Jimenez’s number the last few times they have wrestled and as a result is the favorite. Vergara is the defending State Champ, Vergara is the returning Runner-up. But they aren’t the only two in the weight and each needs to focus on their sides of the bracket before looking for another showdown. Vergara gets Region 1 Champ and 2021 220 lb. State Placer Jack Pyburn on the top side. Jimenez pulls a tough Caleb Rodriguez and Carlos Gerardino on the bottom side. Gerardino was 4th last year at 285 and has the ability to spoil the reunion. Want to watch some good heavyweights battle? Tune in to 1A 285.