Lake Gibson’s Braves Invitational Lived Up To The Hype [Photo Credits: Full Circle Sports Photography]

This past weekend at the Advent Health Complex in Winter Haven, Florida, the Braves Invitational, hosted by Coach Danny Walker and Lake Gibson High School, showcased why it is regarded as one of the premier wrestling events in the state. Drawing top talent from across Florida for both boys and girls, the tournament has solidified itself as one of the toughest in-season competitions. Wrestlers at the Braves Invitational delivered incredible performances, setting the tone for an exciting season ahead.

In addition to the Braves Invitational, several other marquee events took place, including the Clay Rotary, Cradle Cancer, Panhandle Championships, Ron Peter’s Tournament of Champions, and Somerset Scuffle. Each of these tournaments featured high-quality competition, promising significant shifts in the official TFWR state rankings.

Braves Invitational Highlights

Attending the Braves Invitational was an electrifying experience. Fans witnessed top-ranked wrestlers clash early in the season, with several athletes making bold statements. Here are some standout moments:

• Jovanni Tovar (Miami Southridge HS): The #1 ranked wrestler in 3A at 122 pounds proved his dominance by defeating Lucas Barrios (Mater Academy), the #1 ranked wrestler in 2A, with a 7-4 decision to claim the 122-pound title.
• Jose Callava (South Dade HS): Wrestling at 108 pounds, Callava shocked the field with a commanding performance. Ranked #5 at 113 pounds in 3A, he edged past 1A #1 ranked Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee HS) in a thrilling 3-2 final. Callava, now 17-4 this season, has proven himself a contender for the state championships.
• Nathan Lyttle (Harmony HS): Competing in the loaded 115-pound bracket, Lyttle displayed grit and skill. Ranked #3 in 3A at 113 pounds, he defeated current #1 Bryan Morales (South Dade HS) in a 3-2 semi-final clash. In the finals, Lyttle faced Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze HS) in an exhilarating match that went to sudden-death overtime. Lyttle secured the win 10-7, marking his 100th career varsity victory—a milestone moment.

Lady Braves Invitational

The weekend began with the Lady Braves Invitational on Friday, where South Dade’s Lady Bucs emerged as team champions. Facing tough competition from defending state champions Hernando HS and other strong teams, South Dade secured the title with 277.02 points. Their performance was bolstered by six finalists and additional podium placements. At 102 and 107 South Dade did not have anyone make the podium. But they started doing damage at 112 pounds with Rebekkah Kinkade placing 5th.  At 117 Beyonce Espinosa placed first by pinning Jazlyn Diaz of Riverdale HS.  Willow White placed first for the Lady Bucs at 127 pounds by defeating the defending 115 pound state champion Iyonna Church-Ross of Charlotte HS by a 12-5 decision.  At 132 pounds Kaitelynn Oliver placed first by knocking off Strawberry Crest’s Ariel Goble with a pin in just :50 seconds of the first period.  Arianna García made the championship finals at 137 pounds but ran into a buzzsaw by the name of Kailani Barrientos.  Barrientos from Oakleaf HS  is regarded as one of the best in the state and defeated Garcia via pin in the second period. At 142 pounds Shamari Smith met up with Julianna Caisse of Riverdale in the championship finals. Caisse is also regarded as a top female wrestler in our state and proved it by pinning Smith from South dade is just :58 seconds. At 147 Geraldine Honore wrestled top ranked Kristy More of Sunlake HS.  More showed why she was the heavy favorite by pinning Honore in the third period.  Anayalee Masso was able to score valuable team points for the Lady Bucs at 157 pounds. Masso made the podium with a 5th place finish and was able to help secure her teams title.  Amaris Echezarreta held it down for the Lady Bucs at 172 pounds and was able to place 4th.  Jikayla Hutto of Orlando Freedom beat Echezarreta in the match for 3rd-4th place. At 192 pounds Amirah Williams found her way to the podium and placed 5th in a very tough weight class.  Kenzie Barrett is the teams anchor at 237 pounds and shocked a few people by placing 3rd after defeating some very good wrestlers. Barrett knocked off  Eliana Johnson from Bell Creek Academy by a very close 2-1 decision in the match for 3rd-4th.

• Team Results:
  1. South Dade: 277.02 points
  2. Orlando-Freedom HS: 227.53 points
  3. Hernando HS: 213.04 points

Looking Ahead

This weekend’s results showcased the depth and talent in Florida wrestling. With TFWR state rankings due for updates, fans can expect significant movement across weight classes and divisions. The road to the FHSAA state championships is heating up, and these early-season tournaments have set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable season.

Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, and teams for an incredible weekend of wrestling! Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds.