Meet the 2024 Naples Daily News All-Area Boys Wrestling Team sponsored by Babcock Ranch
At the end of each season, the Naples Daily News select All-Area teams honoring the best athletes for every sport. Coaches from area schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data combined with our research led to the selection of the All-Area team.
FIRST TEAM
Asher Bacon
School: First Baptist
Year: Seventh grade
Highlights: Wrestling at 138 pounds, Bacon picked up district and regional titles on his way to winning the Class 1A state title. He lost just two matches all season.
Timmy Boda
School: First Baptist
Year: Eighth grade
Highlights: Boda won 40 matches and captured district and regional titles at 113 pounds this season. At the Class 1A state meet, he finished in third place.
Kaden Darwin
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Senior
Highlights: With a 55-1 record, Darwin was dominant in the 285-pound weight class this season. His hardware included CCAC, district, regional, and state titles in Class 3A.
Andres DiGrigoli
School: First Baptist
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: DiGrigoli came in fourth place at the Class 1A state meet after winning district and regional titles. He had a 30-5 record on the season.
Trey Hill
School: Naples
Year: Senior
Highlights: Trey Hill won CCAC and district titles wrestling at 190 pounds. He came in fourth at the regional and earned a state medal after coming in sixth at the Class 2A state meet.
Michael Kersey
School: First Baptist
Year: Junior
Highlights: Kersey dominated in the 144-pound weight class this season, posting a 50-3 record. In Class 1A, he won his first state title, winning by a 10-2 major decision in the final.
William McGowan
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: McGowan won CCAC and district titles and came in second at regionals. The 113-pound wrestler came in seventh at the Class 3A meet.
Jonathan Moder
School: First Baptist
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Moder finished runner-up in the 132-pound weight class against an undefeated opponent at the Class 1A state meet. He won 45 matches and won district and regional titles this season.
Jordan Peralez
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Junior
Highlights: At 215 pounds, Peralez was the CCAC and district champion and came in second at regionals. With 40 match wins on the season, he qualified for the Class 3A state meet and won a round in consolation.
Eric Perez
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: Wrestling at 106 pounds, Perez won more than 50 matches with the Bears this season. He captured CCAC, district, and regional titles and won a round at the Class 3A state meet.
Everett Stephens
School: First Baptist
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Stephens finished a strong season with a sixth-place finish at the Class 1A state meet. Wrestling at 106 pounds, he was the winner in his weight class at districts and regionals.
Joseph Wilkinson
School: Barron Collier
Year: Junior
Highlights: Wrestling at 150 pounds, Wilkinson placed at the Class 2A state meet after coming in seventh. He was runner-up at regionals and won district and CCAC titles.
Demetri Zertopoulis
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Senior
Highlights: The 157-pound wrestler put together an impressive season after battling injuries a year ago. He went 55-7, winning district and regional championships and finishing runner-up at the Class 3A state meet.
Damien Zherka
School: Aubrey Rogers
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Zherka was a critical wrestler in the Patriots' inaugural season, helping the team win individual and dual district titles. At 126 pounds, he won CCAC and district titles, came in second at regionals, and qualified for states in Class 1A.
SECOND TEAM
Darrian Alvarez-Garcia, Aubrey Rogers
Xavier Barnhart, Palmetto Ridge
Jordan Blomberg, Palmetto Ridge
Yeddy Bourdier, Barron Collier
Logan Brown, First Baptist
Richmerlins Celiferme, Lely
Richmyer Celiferme, Lely
Maynor Herrera, Immokalee
Makendy Jean, Golden Gate
Matthew Kniola, Palmetto Ridge
Owen Pratt, Palmetto Ridge
Mark Whalen, Palmetto Ridge
Bekim Zherka, Aubrey Rogers
Lukah Zherka, Aubrey Rogers
HONORABLE MENTION
Aubrey Rogers: Aldo Agollari
Barron Collier: William Eskridge, Dawson Finucan, Alen Kamami
First Baptist: Bryson Harrison, Mason Harrison, Chris Signorino
Golden Gate: Johnny Charles, Daniel Gonzalez
Immokalee: Isaac Maldonado
Lely: Lazaro Antunez, John Juarez, Jackson Zunzunegui
Naples: Giovanni Aragon, Cohen Lackey
Palmetto Ridge: Nicky Bernard, Nash Holdridge
COACH OF THE YEAR
Corey Kness
School: Aubrey Rogers
Highlights: In the first year of the program, Kness led the Patriots to a pair of district championships, winning the title in duals and once again in individual. Three Aubrey Rogers wrestlers qualified for the state tournament in Class 1A.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Naples Daily News 2024 All-Area Boys Wrestling Team
