Unveiling the 2023-24 Volusia-Flagler All-Area Girls Wrestling Team
Three individual state champions. Two top-three team finishes.
That makes for a pretty good season of local girls wrestling.
Overall, the Volusia-Flagler area produced 15 state qualifiers and nine state placers. They hailed from five different schools.
Matanzas possessed the most state qualifiers with six. Spearheaded by champ Mariah Mills, the Pirates ranked third at the state meet. Flagler Palm Coast submitted the best local performance, leaping just ahead of Matanzas for second. Christina Borgmann and Joslyn Johnson grasped state gold for the Bulldogs.
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The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the athlete of the year nominees for girls wrestling. The winners will be announced during the live show on Monday, June 3, at the Ocean Center.
The show is presented with the support of Halifax Health.
During the live show, athletes of the year in 30 state-sanctioned sports will be honored. In addition, top teams, coaches and overall athletes will be honored as will a Courage Award winner. Nominated athletes who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket to the event thanks to sponsors. Details on how additional tickets can be obtained will be available soon.
For more information about the show and to opt into email updates, visit its website and follow it on Facebook.
The Volusia-Flagler High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. This year, one school from the area will win a $1,000 donation to its school’s athletic department through our School Spirit Contest. Details on how to vote for your school will be coming soon.
Here are the nominees:
Nominees
Kendall Bibla, Matanzas (145 pounds): The junior, who was forced to withdraw from the state tournament due to injury, was a Region 1-1A runner-up. She tallied a 24-7 record.
Christina Borgmann, Flagler Palm Coast (125): Borgmann pushed through her junior season unblemished, capturing regional and state championships with a 25-0 record.
Ani Brown, Matanzas (190): The junior placed seventh at the state tournament. She had a 29-10 record.
Alexa Calidonio, Flagler Palm Coast (170): As a sophomore, Calidonio finished fourth at the state tournament. She also secured a Region 1-1A championship and went 32-10.
Tiana Fries, Matanzas (140): Fries charged to the state finals and ended up as the runner-up at 30-3. She picked up a Region 1-1A crown along the way.
Joslyn Johnson, Flagler Palm Coast (100): Johnson won a state championship and concluded her sophomore season with a 33-5 record.
Bry Kaminsky, University (130): As a Region 1-1A runner-up, Kaminsky qualified for the state bracket. She notched a 49-7 record.
Grace Lashinsky, DeLand (115): The junior finished second in the state and racked up a 20-4 record.
Mariah Mills, Matanzas (110): Mills celebrated regional and state titles as a junior. She amassed a 37-1 record.
Ana Vilar, Flagler Palm Coast (130): During her junior year, Vilar slotted fourth at states after winning a region title. Her final record: 36-3.
Cheyenne Wigley, Mainland (235): Wigley capped her high school career by taking second at regionals and advancing to the state tournament with a 24-4 record.
MaryEllen Wingate, University (125): The sophomore finished eighth at the state meet with a 28-11 record.
Other Athletes of Note
Sophia Butler, University (190): As a regional qualifier, Butler closed her junior campaign with a 22-12 record.
Saiomy Cabrera, Matanzas (130): Cabrera qualified for the Region 1-1A Tournament and assembled a 16-11 season.
Jazlynn Golder, Matanzas (105): A Region 1-1A runner-up, Golder qualified for the state tournament. Her end-of-year record stood at 20-14.
Jeslene Gonzalez, Mainland (155): Gonzalez turned in a 22-8 record on her way to the Region 1-1A meet.
Raegan Hatch, Deltona (115): The sophomore, with a 22-8 record, qualified for the Region 1-1A Tournament.
Autumn Jarvis, Matanzas (120): Jarvis was a regional runner-up, setting her up for a state tournament appearance. She notched a 26-12 record.
Isabella Limonio, DeLand (105): Limonio finished fourth at regionals and qualified for the state tournament, collecting a 15-6 record.
R’Cardenay Michel, Matanzas (115): Michel advanced into the Region 1-1A bracket and featured a 23-13 record.
Gabrielle Proctor, Flagler Palm Coast (155): During her junior season, Proctor held a record of 20-8.
Eva Rojas, Mainland (170): Rojas made it to the Region 1-1A tournament. She had a 24-16 record.
Alisha Vilar, Flagler Palm Coast (140): As a Region 1-1A qualifier, Vilar accumulated a 25-14 record.
Brooklyn Watt, Matanzas (235): Watt strung together an 18-10 record and parlayed it into a Region 1-1A Tournament qualification.
Top Coach
Mike Fries, Matanzas: Fries’ Pirates claimed championships in District 3-1A and Region 1-1A. They sent six individuals to the state tournament, where Mariah Mills won a title at 110 pounds and the team placed third.
Honorable Mention
DeLand: Leilanie Martinez
Mainland: Alesa Kiser, Kylie Ratcliffe, Mia Vega
Matanzas: Arielle Yantin
New Smyrna Beach: Rein Cochran
University: Delilah Lehrer
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia-Flagler All-Area: Meet the 2023-24 Girls Wrestling Team
