Sebastian River High School Wrestling teams competed at the 2024 Florida High School Individual Bracketed Tournament (IBT) Wrestling State Championships, which was held February 29th – March 2nd at Kissimmee’s Osceola Heritage Park’s Silver Spurs Arena.
The Sharks wrestlers had seven state qualifiers for the 2024 season, including one who placed 8th. Those placing in the top 4 at Regionals, earning a trip to compete at the Silver Spurs Arena for the State Championship, include:
- Senior Ciara Cortez proudly joins her uncles Corey, Brad, and Bryan as a State Qualifier and State Placer (8th) at SRHS. The addition of another “Cortez” to the state qualifiers and placers boards adorning the wrestling room wall is a source of pride for the school.
- Junior Beatrice Williams had a remarkable season, a rarity for a first-year wrestler. Beatrice has a knack for rising to the occasion during big matches and upsetting many more experienced wrestlers. She not only qualified for State, but she also placed in her senior season.
- Timothy Rattiger, a senior, improved by leaps and bounds from last season by winning tough matches against opponents he had previous losses to and upsetting state-ranked wrestlers to qualify for States. SRHS is proud of Timothy for finishing his Senior year as a team leader and improving to make his last season his best.
- Junior Kaden Wheeler finished the season as a two-time State Qualifier, and she is on track to place high at States in 2025. Kaden is a hard worker and a quick learner. He also keeps a cool head during matches, often coming from behind to win close matches.
- Lucas Boecker is a Junior who continues to improve; he is on track to meet his goal of placing high at State next season. Lucas is becoming a technician on the mat and continues to win matches that were out of his reach last season.
The departure of Senior Carlos Almanza leaves a void within his team and coaching staff. Carlos evolved into a formidable team leader throughout the season, showcasing unwavering dedication, grit, and perseverance. His resilience and commitment were evident as he secured a place on the State Qualifiers board, earning the admiration of both peers and coaches. Carlos’s attendance record remained flawless, consistently demonstrating a thirst for improvement and a positive outlook while striving to make this his most remarkable season yet.
Senior Jonathan Tumblin finished his last season as a repeat State Qualifier. Jonathan was a crowd favorite with explosive technique. He also showed leadership this season by always helping the younger, first-year wrestlers.
The 2024 Florida High School Individual Bracketed Tournament (IBT) Wrestling State Championships showcased the remarkable talent and dedication of Sebastian River High School’s wrestling teams. The Sharks proved their prowess on the mat with seven state qualifiers and notable achievements throughout the tournament.
From seasoned veterans like Senior Ciara Cortez and Timothy Rattiger, who displayed exceptional growth and leadership, to rising stars like Junior Beatrice Williams and Kaden Wheeler, whose determination and skill shone brightly, the team’s performance was nothing short of inspiring.
As they bid farewell to departing seniors like Carlos Almanza and Jonathan Tumblin, we acknowledge their invaluable contributions to the team and enduring legacy within the wrestling program. With promising prospects like Junior Lucas Boecker poised for success in the seasons to come, the future of Sebastian River High School wrestling looks bright. As the team reflects on their achievements this season, they stand united in their commitment to excellence and eagerly anticipate the challenges and triumphs ahead.
Congratulations to the SRHS Shark wrestling team.
