GAINESVILLE - In what could be one of the more intriguing wrestling district targets locally, Middleburg and Oakleaf will tango in District 3-2A to earn a title that will only get tougher wrestling in a week with a region shot at the Fleming Island/Clay District 4-2A champion.

Also in the district are Orange Park with new coach Josh Wilson replacing long-time coach Justin Daniels and Ridgeview with coach Steven Inman looking to fill his lineup.
For Middleburg coach Coll Robertson, who shipped his guys off to Gainesville for a first look at the Bobcat Invitational, the increased numbers in his room are room for optimism.
"The boys looked tough and they got a good test from a strong Palm Harbor team," said Robertson. "We came out with a 45-33 win. Our girl's team finished third at the Lady Clash of Titans with Cheyenne Cruce, our state champion, pinning at 190 in just 41 seconds to win an individual title."
For the Lady Broncos, third to South Dade and Flagler Palm Coast, Skyla Fisher lost in the 105 final, Memphis Moses was third at 115, and Sarah Walson was fourth at 125.
Also at the Lady Clash of Titans, Oakleaf High's Kailani Barrientos at 135 pinned in the third period to win her weight class gold medal with Jayla Harrison winning the 170 weight division with a first-period pin. Harrison pinned in the first period of all three of her matches. Barrientos pinned all three of her matches to win.
Noting Barrientos was without sister Adrianna Barrientos, second at 105 last year, Oakleaf coach Mark DeToro noted his girl's team will be formidable still.
"Adrianna is also a great Jiu Jitsiu competitor and is pursuing that, but KK (Kailani) and our 170, Jayla Harrison (35-5, third last year) will be a strength to the team. The success of both the girl's and boys teams has given the program a boost in the hallways at Oakleaf High
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2A-3 Preview: Middleburg looks to return to the top spot for the first time since 2016

BY BRANT PARSONS, KarmaWrestling.com — Middleburg coach Coll Robertson enters his third season in charge of the program and with six years of coaching under his belt, he’s ready for a district title.
It would be the Broncos first since 2016.
"In my classroom, I'm looking at our back-to-back district runners-up trophies and then a region runner-up trophy and it's embarrassing,” Robertson said. “I hate to be like that, but come on, we could do better. Now, last year, district runner-up and region runner-up to the eventual team state champs, that's nothing to be too upset about. But you know, runner-up is just... we don't want that, we want more."
They’ll need to outscore last year’s district champion Oakleaf to add a champion trophy to the mix.

Last season: Oakleaf’s depth was the difference as 12 wrestlers placed in the 16.5 district championship victory.

Wrestlers to watch: Wyatt Leduc (Middleburg), Sebastian Bonochea (Oakleaf), Tucker Cody (Middleburg), Walter Woodard (Middleburg), Anthony Kearney (Riverside), Eddie Craig (Beachside), Ion Hortinela (Oakleaf), Porter Loveland (Middleburg), Keon Barrientos (Oakleaf)

The favorite: is Oakleaf. They do have seven region qualifiers possibly coming back, but this race should be tight.

Team to watch: Middleburg. Last year’s district duals champion placed third in the IBT and they’re still upset about that performance.

Middleburg Broncos (#20 IBT | #11 Dual)

Coach: Coll Robertson (3rd season at school/6th overall), assistant Jamie Harrison

*22-23 dual record: 17-4
*Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:5-2A2; 2021:3-2A2; 2020:6-2A2; 2019:5; 2018:3; 2017:2; 2016:1; 2015:2; 2014:2; 2013:5; 2012:6
*Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Logan Moore, 42-11, 5th, R3, DC; Bryce Meldrum, 15-16, RQ, D4; Bryan Davis, So., 24-7 (Transfer to South Carolina);
*Notable returning wrestlers: #5-150 Wyatt Leduc, Jr., 42-8, SQ, R3, DC; #6-120 Walter Woodard, Sr., 42-12, SQ, R2, DC; #6-215 Tucker Cody, Sr., 40-10, SQ, R2, DC; #9-190 Porter Loveland, So., 33-13; #15-138 Parker Richards, So.; #19-144 Sean Blouin, So.; Dylan Johns, Sr., 23-19, RQ, D2; Daniel Raines, So., 19-18, RQ-BR, D2.
*New wrestler: #11-106 Gavin Fisher; Benjamin Mitts; Dawson Brown; Nathan Harvey; Jacob Bishop
Coll Robertson: This team is hungry from top to bottom with wrestlers who just missed out on placing at state last season and making it to state, and there’s a group of incoming freshmen eager to make their way into the starting lineup.
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Oakleaf High Wrestling

*Coach: Mark Detoro
*Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:1-3A1; 2021:3-3A1; 2020:2-3A1; 2019:5-3A1; 2018:4-3A1; 2017:6-3A1; 2016:6-3A1; 2015:3; 2014:3; 2013:7; 2012:10
*Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Caleb Pope, 38-16, RQ, D3; Roman Polinsky, 31-20, RQ, D2; Jacob Dewald, RQ, D2; Isaiah Shevchook, 39-7, 3rd, R2, DC.
*Potential notable returning wrestlers: #5-126 Sebastian Bonochea, So., 32-9, 5th, R3, DC; #9-120 Ion Hortinela, Jr., 34-20, SQ, R4, D2; #10-144 Keon Barrientos, Sr., 22-9, SQ, R4, D2; #14-126 Angel Rodriguez, Jr., 16-3; Connor Barnes, So., 25-18, RQ, D3; Anthony Dees Jr, Sr., RQ, D4; Jeremiah Baker, Jr., RQ, D3; Evan Brown, So., RQ, D3.
*Outlook: Last year’s district champions should be on the hunt again this year if they have a full collection of returners from a year ago.
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Ridgeview
Coach: Steve Inman

Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:4-2A2; 2021:3-1A4; 2020:3-1A4; 2019:3; 2018:1; 2017:3; 2016:4; 2015:5; 2014:4; 2013:6; 2012:3

Last state champion: Matthew Rodriquez, 2021 (132)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Kaiden Tibbetts, 30-10, RQ, D3; Christian Garcia, 32-15, RQ-BR, DC; Tanner Tague, 26-19, RQ, D3; Trenton Manis, 22-16, RQ, D5.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-106 Jason Barrett, Jr., 23-9, RQ-BR, DC; #13-190 Rayhn Hutchinson, Sr., 35-18, RQ, D4; #16-175 James Laycock, Sr., 24-14, RQ, DC; #18-215 Raymond Goforth, Sr., 32-14, RQ-BR, D2; Connor Carroll, Jr., 5-5; Daniel Nguyen, Jr., 20-20, RQ, D3; Sean Davis, So., 24-16, RQ, D4; Bailen Culver, Jr., 14-3.

Outlook: Last year’s district runner-up graduated four region qualifiers but could have six back in the room this year.
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Orange Park

Coach: Josh Wilson, first year

Recent district results: 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): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Elijah Grant, So., RQ, D2; Jonathan Garland, Sr., RQ, D3.
Outlook: The Raiders could return two region qualifiers from a year ago including district finalist Grant.