3A-8: Riverdale hunting for 17th straight district crown
Riverdale is one of the top teams in the state and is a favorite to win its 17th district title in-a-row.
Wrestlers to watch: #1-182: Tylynn Lukens (Manatee); #2-138: Jared Dinh (Riverdale); #3-113: Angelo DeDona (Manatee); #3-120: Noah Wadle (Manatee); #3-152: Dominic Rodriguez (Riverdale); #4-120: Bryce Taranto (Venice); #4-132: Alex Soto (Riverdale); #4-138: Trenton Johnson (Manatee); #5-106: Blaine Taranto (Venice); #5-113: Nestor Echevarria (Riverdale); #5-182: Jonathan Lavandera (Riverdale); 5-220: Donnie Shoup (Manatee); #6-145: Quinn White (North Port); #6-182: Ranson Coons (Lakewood Ranch).
1. Riverdale (#3 in 3A)
Coach: Kris Hayward (17 years)
Recent district results: 2020: 1, 2019:1-2A11, 2018:1-2A11, 2017:1-2A11, 2016:1-2A11, 2015:1-2A11, 2014:1-2A11, 2013:1-2A12, 2012:UNK
Last state champion: Jared Dinh, 2020 (138), Jesse Martinez, 2020 (182)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nicholas Rodriguez 40-5, 4th, RC, D2; Jesse Martinez 35-0, SC, RC, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Nestor Echevarria, Sr., 38-10, SQ-BR, R4, D3; Nate Luders, Sr., 25-7, RQ-BR, D2; Jacob Bennett, Sr., 34-9, SQ, R2, D2; Alex Soto, So., 35-6, 3rd, R3, DC; Jared Dinh, Sr., 34-2, SC, RC, DC; Malachi Soto, Sr., 38-12, SQ, R3, D2; Isaac Ortiz, Sr., 32-9, RQ-BR, D3; Jonathan Lavandera, Sr., 29-13, RQ-BR, D3; Eldon Woolf, Sr., 26-7, RQ, D3; Jon Baxter, Sr., 28-16, SQ, R4, DC.
New wrestlers: Dominic Rodriguez (Returning from injury)
2020-2021 season outlook: Six state qualifiers return (including champions Jared Dinh) and will join the next generation of state qualifiers for the Raiders.
2. Manatee (#9 in 3A)
Coach: Andrew Gugliemini (27 years)
Recent district results: 2020: 2, 2019:1, 2018:2, 2017:2, 2016:3, 2015:3, 2014:2, 2013:2, 2012:3
Last state champion: Tylynn Lukens, 2020 (170)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Colin Noble 22-10, RQ, D4; William Scholl 41-15, RQ-BR, D4; Bryson Johnson 49-11, 3rd, RC, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Noah Wadle, Sr., 41-3, 2nd, RC, DC; Angelo DeDona, Sr., 59-8, 4th, R3, DC; Brandon Tackett , Sr., 43-12, RQ, D4; Trenton Johnson, Jr., 33-14, SQ-BR, R2, D2; Joey Gallina, Sr.; Tylynn Lukens, Sr., 65-1, SC, R2, DC; Donnie Shoup, Sr., 39-19, SQ, R3, D2; Anthony Samuels
New wrestlers: Jake Samuels, Fr.; Mason Miller, Fr.
2020-2021 season outlook: Two wrestlers with state titles return to lead the Hurricanes who have a lot of experienced talent in the line-up.
Coach speak: “I feel great about our returning wrestlers – we have some studs. With a little luck, we can challenge for a trophy in March.”
3. North Port (#19 in 3A)
Coach: Eugene Hill
Recent district results: 2020: 3, 2019:3, 2018:4, 2017:3, 2016:1, 2015:1, 2014:1, 2013:1, 2012:1
Last state champion: Dacoda Flenard, 2016 (170)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tyler Eastes 46-11, SQ, R4, D3; Evan Burch 40-10, RQ-BR, D3; Anthony Calleia 38-11, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Sean-Michael Gonzales, Jr., 48-8, SQ, R3, DC; Gannon Wertz, Jr., 42-8, RQ, D3; Quinn White, Sr., 48-12, SQ, R4, D3; Dominic Joyce, So., 46-11, SQ, R4, D2; Hope Eastes; Nadia Ayers; Canon Locastro; Bryant McLean; Eric Guistitus; Rugerio Ramperstad; Isaiah Thompson.
New wrestlers: Shane Nelson; Paige Baker; Vincent Donatelle, Fr.; Cody Osbourne; Yanderek Young; Gregory Cole; Tannor Hoose; Ronnie Elkhatib; Chi Haywood; Seth Parker; Isaish Alford.
2020-2021 season outlook: The Bobcats are tough in the middle of the line-up and have added depth up and down, but this is a tough district to compete in.
Coach speak: “I feel we can compete for a district title this season.”
4. Venice
Coach: Pat Ryan
Recent district results: 2020: 4, 2019:2-2A10, 2018:2-2A10, 2017:2-2A10, 2016:2-2A10, 2015:1-2A10, 2014:1-2A10, 2013:1-2A11, 2012:2-2A11
Last state champion: Dan Stone, 2018 (138)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Lauren Stone 40-8, RQ-BR, D2; Gage Tippman 42-9, SQ-BR, R2, DC; Sam Exler 33-12, RQ-BR, DC; Koen Hoffman, So., 33-5, RQ, D2 (Transfer to Port Charlotte).
Notable returning wrestlers: Blaine Taranto, So., 32-12, RQ, D2; Bryce Taranto, Sr., 38-7, SQ-BR, R2, D3; Thomas Chrone; Joey Oliver; Eli Day.
New wrestlers: Gage Wiggins; Vince Minotti; Eli Hanson
2020-2021 season outlook: The Indians return some experience with the Taranto brothers.
Coach speak: “We are looking to get better every day and fill in some ‘gaps.’”
5. Lakewood Ranch
Coach: Pat Ancil (14 years, 255-97)
Recent district results: 2020: 5, 2019:7, 2018:6, 2017:6, 2016:4, 2015:3-2A10, 2014:4-2A10, 2013:7-2A11, 2012:6-2A11
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Cam Schilson 42-8, RQ, D4; Matt Monahan 34-15, RQ, D2; Colby Keane 49-6, 6th, R2, DC; Anthony Salerno 32-13, RQ, D4; Angelo Lafrese 56-11, SQ-BR, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Ranson Coons, Jr., 50-15, RQ, D4.
2020-2021 season outlook: The Mustangs will be full of freshmen and sophomores and could see underclassmen fill at least 7 of the 14 starting positions.
Coach speak: “We are an extremely young team with a large group of incoming freshmen.”
6. Sarasota Riverview
Coach: Brian Seabaaly
Recent district results: 2020: 6, 2019:8, 2018:10, 2017:7, 2016:9, 2015:8, 2014:8, 2013:8, 2012:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Edwin Hernandez-DeLaCruz 32-16, RQ, D3; Joseph Moran 43-16, SQ, R4, D2.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
7. Gulf Coast
Coach: Alan Hamisch
Recent district results: 2020: 7, 2019:8-2A12, 2018:7-2A12, 2017:4-2A12, 2016:5-2A12, 2015:5-2A12, 2014:8-2A12, 2013:7-3A8, 2012:5-3A8
Last state champion: Mitchell Han, 2012 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: None
The Season Preview
A lot goes into this preview.
It starts with compiling lists of wrestlers returning and those that have moved on from the sport. Along the way, I try to keep up with any transfer movement of athletes between wrestling programs.
In late summer, I start reaching out to coaches across the state for information. That time is also spent learning which programs will have new coaches and making contact with them to let them know what I do here.
In total between that first contact and this preview, I have sent a blank preview form to each coach up to three times in the hopes that they will have time to help me by informing about their team. This year, I also created a Google questionnaire in the closing weeks to create another way to get info. Nearly 20 coaches used that and I will be doing that again next season - starting earlier.
When I take this project on each year, I treat every team the same. I want information for all 385 teams, not just the top teams in each district.
This year I received information back from 135 coaches in the state. In a year with a pandemic, I will take that 35% and be grateful that so many found the time to enhance this preview.
The goal is to have the most updated information on which student-athletes are returning for each team. The teams that don’t respond still get the same coverage in the preview, but those are the ones most likely to not have the latest rosters to work from.
You can find capsules in each individual district preview.
Final standings have been predicted by myself based on the information listed in the preview. I take into account who is coming back, who has moved on and which teams have a tradition of having young wrestlers step up. I will be wrong on them.
And as always, team predictions are for entertainment purposes only and will be used for self-deprecation at the end of the season.
I am a one-man staff and handle editing also on a massive project like this. Please excuse any spelling errors or mistakes and they will be fixed swiftly if pointed out to me.
Let’s get this season started!
Preseason rankings
Florida Class 3A preseason individual wrestling rankings
Florida Class 2A preseason individual wrestling rankings
Florida Class 1A preseason individual wrestling rankings
Florida preseason girls individual wrestling rankings
Florida all-class individual wrestling rankings
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