ORLANDO - With football season over, wrestling will begin anew with a fresh new district, some new faces in new spots and a lot of talent spread throughout Clay County.

One of the biggest changes is Oakleaf returning to the lone spot in district 1-3A with the likes of Bartram Trail, Creekside, Nease and Tocoi Creek with new returning coach Rory Roderick, gone a year, but back, hosting one of the biggest rooms in Knights' wrestling history.
"We have maybe 40-50 wrestlers every day, a solid kids program that is excited to compete and a new outlook in a new district," said Roderick, himself a former Knight's state contender. "We have some solid returners with Ghais Cooper one of the top-ranked guys in the state."
A second new coach, over at Orange Park High, is Tyler Dehart, also a former Raider stalwart and a football offensive line coach who brings a solid base for both sports. Dehart takes over a Raider program that has seen success and must be able to bridge the gap of youth and vigor.
For the remainder of the county, P.J. Cobbert at Fleming Island is stacked again with the newest face in former Oakleaf state medalist Sebastian Bonachea while his heavyweight is one of the strongest guys in the state; Kevin Reyes. Reyes has steadfastly pushed to get a second state title; he is the two-time Olympic state weightlifting champion, and was three points away from leading the Fleming Island football team to the Class 5A Final Four; a 16-13 region semifinal loss to Lincoln.
Clay has Jim Reape still in the pilot seat for the Blue Devils with one of the best return classes in a while and also with his Blue Devils again having to tango with Cobbert's squad at season's end.
Middleburg, with Coll Robertson looking to put his name on a bigger plaque, moves to a different district away from Fleming Island, but with Panhandle stalwarts Lincoln, Chiles and Leon. The Broncos had young guns last year that put their names out there; Leduc, Loveland, Blouin and Fisher, and now, with a year of battle in their blood, can make some moves up the rankings ladders.
At Ridgeview, the team roster is smaller, but the Panthers had their first state qualifier in a while and can look for a few more.
Keystone Heights has a bigger squad with more girls this year while St. Johns Country Day School coach Hunter Hill is slowly putting his prowess in the Spartan blood after years of success as a Blue Devil with Reape.
From Kabra Wrestling guru Brant Parson, one of the top wrestling journalists in the USA comes a solid preview of the districts, the key wrestlers, and his choices as favorites and top prospects.

District 1-3A, Region 1: Oakleaf, Atlantic Coast, Bartram Trail, Creekside, First Coast, Fletcher, Mandarin, Nease, Sandalwood, Tocoi Creek

3A-1 Preview: Creekside going for district three-peat
BY BRANT PARSONS —

Last season: Six district finalists powered Creekside to a 31.5-point win over Fletcher and a second-straight district title.

How did Kabra do?: We picked Creekside to win a tight district and tabbed the Senators as a team to watch.

Wrestlers to watch: Colton Leavell (Creekside), Cole Anderson (Creekside), Mario DiBella (Bartram Trail), Vladislav Chechkovsky (Tocoi Creek), Connor Barnes (Oakleaf), Ghais Cooper (Oakleaf), Jonathan Morrison (Creekside), Mason Damis (Bartram Trail), Elias Twigg (Fletcher), Jeremiah Baker (Oakleaf), Bryant Taylor (Oakleaf), Theodore Brase (Fletcher), Kyle Brown (Sandalwood), John Antonucci (Tocoi Creek)

My favorite: is Creekside. Two straight district titles + a solid group coming back = the team to beat in this district.

Team to watch: Oakleaf. The Knights have won three straight district titles in Class 2A and they move up to challenge in this district.

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2A-3 Preview: Fierce rivals continue the battle in the new district

BY BRANT PARSONS — Oakleaf has gone back to district 1-3A.
District 3-2A: Clay, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Beachside, Ed White, Ponte Vedra, Riverside, Westside

Wrestlers to watch: Rylan Herrera (Clay), Jacob Bucci (Clay), Sebastian Bonachea (Fleming Island), Laird Duhaylungsod (Fleming Island), Dylan Beck (Fleming Island), Aaron Stacy (Clay), Poulo Milea (Ponte Vedra), Landon Martin (Clay), Walter Poe (Fleming Island), Kevin Reyes (Fleming Island), Drew Holmquist (Clay), Vonte Burke (Clay), Talan Babin (Ponte Vedra)

The favorite: is Fleming Island. The Golden Eagles have won nine consecutive district titles and should be loaded again.

Team to watch: Clay. The two rivals have switched districts but keep battling. This may be Clay’s best duals team they’ve had in a long time.

Returning state qualifiers

CHS: Jacob Bucci, senior, 113, region champion, 2nd state; Rylan Herrera, senior, 126, Region champion, 2nd state; Landon Martin, soph, 157, region runnerup; Aaron Stacey, senior, 215, region runnerup;

FIHS: Laird Duhayhungsod, senior, 138, region champion, 5th state; Dylan Beck, senior, 157, region third; Kevin Reyes, senior, 285, region champion

OHS: Sebastian Bonachea (now at Fleming Island), junior, 126, region champion, 3rd state; Connor Barnes, 106, region fourth; Micah Thomas, junior, 132, region fourth, Jerimian Baker, senior, 165, region third;

Fleming Island

Coach: PJ Cobbert
Recent district results: 2024:1-2A4; 2023:1-2A4; 2022:1-2A2; 2021:1-3A1; 2020:1-3A1; 2019:1-3A1; 2018:1-3A1; 2017:1-3A1; 2016:1-3A1; 2015:2-3A1; 2014:1-3A1; 2013:1-3A1; 2012:1-3A1

Last state champion: Jayce Paridon, 2023 (132)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kaden Schaefer, 44-1, 2nd, RC, DC; Jordan Mukaddam, 49-5, 4th, RC, DC; Christopher Chop, 47-8, 4th, RC, DC; Matthew Kotler, 13-3, RQ-BR, DC; Matthew Newman, 41-8, 7th, R3, D2; Joseph Forte, 33-16, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Walter Poe, Sr.; Laird Duhaylungsod, Sr., 50-6, 5th, RC, DC; Kevin Reyes, Sr., 47-11, SQ, RC, DC; Dylan Beck, Sr., 43-16, SQ, R3, D2; Calvin Wells, So., 18-8, RQ-BR, DC; Shane Duhaylungsod, Sr., 28-9; Matthew Braddock, So., 3-6; Cooper Beck, Jr., 16-15, RQ, D4; Tylr Frein, So., 15-6; Zion Longmire, So., 8-7.

New wrestler: Sebastian Bonachea, Jr., 37-3, 3rd, RC, DC (Transfer from Oakleaf)

Clay

Coach: James Reape (30th as head coach, 32nd overall at Clay)
Assistant coaches: Luke Frame, Lyndon Dunham, Julie Briendel Hill
23-24 dual record: 20-7

Recent district results: 2024:2-2A4; 2023:2-2A4; 2022:1-1A4; 2021:1-1A4; 2020:1-1A4; 2019:1-1A3; 2018:1-1A3; 2017:1-1A3; 2016:1-1A3; 2015:1-1A5; 2014:1-1A5; 2013:1-1A4; 2012:1-1A4

Last state champion: Robert Tyre, 2022 (220)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jadon Bell, 27-14, RQ, D3; William Kelly, RQ-BR, D3.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jacob Bucci, Sr., 23-1, 2nd, RC, DC; Rylan Herrera, Sr., 44-11, 2nd, R2, DC; Landon Martin, So., 39-13, SQ, R2, DC; Aaron Stacey, Sr., 27-13, SQ, R2, DC; Vonte Burke, Sr., 32-11, RQ-BR, D2; Drew Holmquist, Jr., 37-12, RQ-BR, DC; Tison Rivers, Jr., RQ, D3; Braden Glavin, Sr.; Landon Willard, Jr., RQ, D2; Brody Lyda, 15-3, Jr.; Jackson Hornback, Sr.; Ben Mitts, So.

What they are saying: “This is potentially our best dual team in nearly a decade. We should have more experience and balance.”

Orange Park

Coach: Tyler DeHart (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Rey Hernandez, Ethan Jones

Recent district results: 2024:7; 2023:8; 2022:7-2A2; 2021:6-2A2; 2020:4-2A2; 2019:1; 2018:2; 2017:1; 2016:2; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1; 2012:8

Last state champion: Corey Van Dorn, 2013 (182)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Joseph Ellis, RQ, D4; Jonathan Garland, RQ-BR, D4; Joseph Sneed, So., RQ, D3 (Transfer to Ridgeview)

Notable returning wrestlers: Elijah Grant, Jr., RQ, D3; Justin Garay, Jr., RQ, D4.

What they are saying: “We are young but ready to work and get better.”

Outlook: DeHart takes over the program and hopes to lead it in a different direction than it’s been going

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District 2-2A, Region 1: Middleburg, Ridgeview, Chiles, Columbia, Gainesville, Leon, Lincoln

2A-2 Preview: The deep Lincoln team looking for big things this season
BY BRANT PARSONS —

Last season: Lincoln won its 12th district title in the last 14 years but it was close as Chiles was 23.5 points behind and Mosley just 15.5 behind Chiles.

How did Kabra do?: We picked Lincoln to win again and we got it right.

Wrestlers to watch: Zakary Jurado (Lincoln), Porter Loveland (Middleburg), Ryder Luck (Lincoln), Gavin Fisher (Middleburg), Wyatt Leduc (Middleburg), Sammy Passetti (Chiles), Preston King (Lincoln), Joe Tucker (Lincoln), Cooper Hill (Chiles), Nathan Harvey (Middleburg), Luke Rodriguez (Lincoln), Santana Harris (Leon)

The favorite: is Lincoln. This might be one of the toughest teams that Lincoln has had during their dominant stretch.

Team to watch: Chiles. Runners-up the last two seasons, the Timberwolves will be the ones chasing again.

Returning state qualifiers

MHS: Gavin Fisher, soph, 106, region champion, 4th state; Wyatt Leduc, senior, 144, region champion, 4th state; Nathan Harvey, soph, 113, region fourth

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District 4-1A, Region 1: St. Johns Country Day School, Bishop Kenny, Bishop Snyder, Bradford, Episcopal, Providence, Trinity Christian Academy, Union County, University Christian, Wolfson

1A-4 Preview: Senior-led Episcopal ready to make some noise on big stage
BY BRANT PARSONS —

Last season: Along with winning another district title, Baker County reached the region finals in the state duals competition too, a first for the new member of 1A-3.

How did Kabra do?: We guessed that Baker County would win its second district IBT and they came through, edging our team to watch for the top spot.

Wrestlers to watch: Christian McGarity (Episcopal of Jacksonville), Howard Hill (St. John Country Day), Kevin Mclean (St. Johns Country Day School), Turner Glenn (Episcopal of Jacksonville), Maddox Davidson (Episcopal of Jacksonville), Mikah Ikeda (Episcopal of Jacksonville), Lawson Perry (Episcopal of Jacksonville)

The favorite: is Episcopal. Seven seniors lead a team that is ready to make huge noise this season.

Team to watch: Bishop Kenny. One of two district runner-ups from a year ago now in this district.

State Qualifiers
SJCDS: Kevin McLean, 9th, 106, 3rd state; Howard Hill, 8th, 113, 6th state
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District 5-1A, Region 2: Keystone Heights, Citrus, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Florida Deaf and Blind, Interlachen, Lake Weir, Menende, Palatka

1A-5 Preview: No clear favorite as every team in the district could compete for the crown
BY BRANT PARSONS —

Last season: Weeki Wachee won its second straight district title with a 14-point edge over Hernando. Both teams are gone from this district this season.

How did Kabra do?: Weeki Wachee loves to prove Kabra Wrestling wrong, but last year they proved us right by winning the district title.

Wrestlers to watch: William Richardson (Dunnellon), Lucas Mattassini (Dunnellon), Joel Smith (Lake Weir)

The favorite: is Crystal River. It feels like every team could be listed here, but we’ll go with the one that could potentially have eight region qualifiers back.

Team to watch: Everyone else. This might be the most wide-open district race in the state.

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Class 2A Rankings (as of Nov. 27)
106: 2. MHS Gavin Fisher, 20. Benjamin Mitts CHS, 25. Joseph Sneed OPHS
113: 9. MHS Nathan Harvey, 14. FIHS Calvin Wells
120: 4. CHS Jacob Bucci
126: 13. CHS Vonte Burke; 19. FIHS Shane Duhaylungsod
132: 1. FIHS Sebastian Bonachea
145: 10. CHS Brady Glavin
152: 3. FIHS Laird Duhaylungsod; 24. MHS Sean Blouin; 25. CHS Chris Graham
160: 3. MHS Wyatt Leduc; 4. FIHS Dylan Beck; 5. CHS Drew Holmquist
165: 18. CHS Tison Rivers
175: 3. CHS Landon Martin
190: 13. CHS Brody Lyda
215: 2. MHS Porter Loveland; 4. CHS Aaron Stacy; 5. FIHS Walter Poe
285: 5. FIHS Kevin Reyes

Class 3A Rankings (as of Nov. 27)

106: 4. OHS Connor Barnes
144: 17. OHS Kellon Duncan
165: 5. OHS Ghais Cooper
175: 8. OHS Jerimiah Baker
215: 7. OHS Bryant Taylor, 23. OHS Evan Brown
285: 25. OHS Daquan Beachham

Class 1A Rankings (as of Nov. 27)

106: 10. KHHS Atreyu Contes
126: 5. SJCDS Howard Hill
132: 21. KHHS Phoenix Contes