High School wrestling preview: Here are top wrestlers, teams to watch in 2022-23

It’s that time of the year again for Polk County student-athletes and wrestling fanatics to gear up for a brand-new season.

And this year could be a banner year for Polk County wresters. There is a legitimate chance that eight to 10 wrestlers can be state champions.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Daniel Walker’s Lake Gibson Braves will be going for a fifth state duals title thanks to winning another one just last year at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, while also boasting a slew of the top wrestlers in Polk County. George Jenkins qualified 13 wrestlers for regionals in the Class 3A, District 5 IBTs in 2021-22.

Tenoroc will look to develop its young talent, create history and take the next step to compete against Polk County’s elite –- and beyond. Auburndale will have another opportunity to devise even more history than it did last year. And programs like Mulberry and McKeel will continue to dole out talent that is formidable against anyone in the county.

Wrestlers to Watch

COLT BROWN (106), Lake Gibson: Brown is a part of a Lake Gibson program that trots out top-tier wrestling talent year in and year out, so oftentimes he gets overshadowed. Still, he developed into an exceptional wrestler within himself, transforming his body to add on some weight even after finishing sixth in the state last year. He is looking to become a state champion just as many others have in a Lake Gibson Danny Walker program.

ELIJAH LOWE (113), Lake Gibson: The Class 2A eighth-place state finisher also reinvented his body because of not being satisfied with his final result. The Brave is ranked in the top three in the state and will have a great shot to become a state champion just like his father, Joe Lowe.

KRIS HUNTER (126), Tenoroc: Following the 2020-21 year, Hunter dedicated himself after going 0-2 in the state tournament. In 2021-22, the Tenoroc starting quarterback won a regional championship for just the third time in Tenoroc High history. He ended up taking seventh in the Class 1A state IBTs. This year the first-team all-county wrestler is ranked fourth and has a chance to become the school's first-ever five-time state qualifier.

HUSAM MUSTAFA (138), Lake Wales: Mustafa over the summer trained himself into relevance. And looking at his training regimen in the hotter days, there are few in the state who have worked as hard as Mustafa. But the brother of state placer Jenna Mustafa will be ready to make a name for himself this winter season.

HAYDEN WHIDDEN (145), Lake Gibson: Last season Whidden injured his knee while traveling with the 2021 USA Wrestling Junior National team. He was later diagnosed with a fracture, and he didn’t make his return until January before having a stellar year with Lake Gibson. Whidden ended up dominating most of his matches before placing second in state IBTs in Class 2A.

FRANK SOLORZANO (182), Lake Gibson: Solarzano was in a pivotal match last year to help the team create history. He eventually won a 7-2 decision that helped the Braves win its fourth state duals title. In the end, Solorzano finished in the top four in Class 2A state. So far, he has registered second twice and third once in state competition after defeating three Division I wrestlers. Right now, the future Division I South Illinios University football player is currently ranked No. 1.

TRISTAN VANN (195), Lake Gibson: Add on another Lake Gibson wrestler the county must pay attention to. Vann last year placed fourth in his weight class in the Braves Invitational.

LANDON WALTERS (220), George Jenkins: Walters last season was one of several George Jenkins wrestlers to qualify for IBT regionals. Last year in Kissimmee, the now senior placed second in his weight class in the Class 3A, District 5 IBT tournament. This year, he is ranked fourth in his class.

DJ GILLINS (220), Tenoroc: Last year, Gillins was right alongside Hunter in making history thanks to winning a regional championship for the fourth time in Tenoroc history; he was also a district champ just as many others on this list were. He is a two-time state qualifier. But rather than resting on his accomplishments, he wrestled in the Fargo National Tournament, finishing 2-2. Additionally, he was on the Lake Gibson all-star team to help the program finish as a runner-up at the Disney Duals Nationals in Orlando. The first-team all-county No. 1 ranked wrestler has a chance for 150 wins, to be Tenoroc's first-ever state champion of any sport in school history, as well as the first Class 1A wrestler from Polk County to win a state title in two decades.

NATE GABRIEL (220), Auburndale: Gabriel had a good year last year. He beat Lake Gibson’s Gernorris Wilson in the Class 2A-District 7 semifinals match at Brandon High in 2022 after being down. Gabriel, who has been training meticulously, has been knocking on the door the last few years and was a state placer last year. The Division 1 level football player had a good showing in last year's state finals.

BRUCE SMITH (220), Mulberry: Smith is an underrated wrestler after falling short of the state finals. He lost in the regional 220-pound blood round match a year ago. To prevent this from potentially ever happening again, the Panther trained so arduous that he changed his size for the better. He will be one of the more athletic 250-pound wrestlers in Polk County. The match between Smith and Gabriel should be a spirted clash between two titans.

6 TEAMS TO WATCH

Lake Gibson: Lake Gibson lost a three-time Class 2A state champion, as well as national champion Brendon Abdon, but the team reloads, as the team, once more, is ranked No. 1 thanks to being deeper after adding transfers Jonathan Espinosa (No. 3, 106) from Mulberry, Christian Fretwell ( No. 1, 120) from Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania), Gianni Maldonado (No. 1, 138) from Brandon, Rudy Messner from Winter Haven and Quinyale Gore from Kathleen. Overall, the Braves return four state placers, and should walk through competition just as they did the past several years.

"Each year brings new challenges and expectations. (I'm) excited to open the season," Walker said.

Auburndale: The Bloodhounds lost their heart and soul in Victor Turner, who was a reginal qualifier last season. Auburndale also lost Jeremiah Austin, another regional qualifier. Still, the team returns eight wrestlers overall. The program will be led by state placers Gabriel and Amir Colston. But the team overall is deep and infused with a bunch of tough guys.

“We should be super competitive this season. (I’m) looking forward to us turning that corner as a program,” Auburndale head coach Antonio Thomas said.

George Jenkins: The Eagles last year qualified 13 wrestlers for regionals. Last year George Jenkins finished in second place in the Class 3A, District 5 IBT for the first time under head coach Gavin Osborn. The Eagles also placed two wrestlers on the podium in Kissimmee. This recent tradition should carry over as several of the program's wrestlers could make the trip to Kissimmee in March.

“I’m not one of moral victories, but that’s something positive to build on,” Osborn said.

Mulberry: Mulberry had a really good season a year ago. Despite dealing with many forfeits, Mulberry wrestlers stepped up and helped the team achieve a record of 26-9 –- the best dual record in program history. And this happened on Senior Nigh at Mulberry High School. Additionally, the program finished third place in the county duals in December of 2021. At one point, Mulberry boasted wrestlers with 11 winning records, which is another first in school history.

Tenoroc: The Titans last year learned a lot from traveling outside of Polk County, racking up close to 6,500 miles on the road to travel to tournaments, camps and schools, from North Georgia all the way to Miami. Tenoroc also traveled with George Jenkins to take on some of the best wrestlers in the country. This year Hunter and Gillins are the catalysts, leading a team that is ranked 13th in the state. Additionally, Tenoroc has five wrestlers ranked in the top 11 in their weight class.

"Tenoroc is a team ready to make a splash in the county and the state," Tenoroc head coach Anthony Cerullo said.

McKeel: The Wildcats comprise state placers Owen McNabb, as well as state qualifiers Bradley Torres and Ben Lietz. Thanks to the emergence of Jean Benevidez, McKeel is looking to continue its stranglehold as the team to beat in Class 1A in Polk County.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk's top mat warriors, teams set to compete