Unfinished Business For Wiregrass Ranch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was October 20, 2023, and as Wiregrass Ranch left the playing field after beating Sarasota Booker, 30-21, head coach <strong>Mark Kantor </strong>andhis football team was feeling pretty good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven wins in the first eight games – with the only setback coming to area power Zephyrhills, the Bulls had become a team that had embraced the state playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even when they dropped a 37-35 decision the following week to Land O'Lakes, this program stayed strong, beating The Villages and Springstead in the first round of the state playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When they traveled to Lake Minneola in the second round of the state playoffs, there was a sense that if they played well, moving on to Round 3 was a reality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Falling short on the road sent this program into the off-season with a sense that there was some unfinished business that would carry over to 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knowing that while there were many quality seniors moving on, it was the junior (2025) class that needed to step up and get ready to lead and use their experience, filling a void that had graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That rising senior class is back, and prospects such as <strong>Alex Condon</strong> (WR/TE, 6-3, 215 – 3.4 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1130833' first='Ameer' last='Elghazaly']</strong> (LB, 6-1, 200 – 4.0 GPA), <strong>Gavin Gilyard</strong> (DB/WR, 5-10, 170 – 3.3 GPA), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1128582' first='Reid' last='Grek']</strong> (PK, 6-1, 185 – 3.9 GPA), <strong>Jethro Ifemade</strong> (OT, 6-4, 255 – 2.9 GPA), <strong>Landon Louis</strong> (WR/RB, 5-11, 190 – 2.5 GPA), and <strong>Elvis Mahoum-Nassar</strong> (OL/DL, 5-11, 280 – 3.0 GPA) are working hard to take what happened in 2023 to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition, prospects such as <strong>Wesley Malave</strong> (OL/DL, 6-2, 260 – 2.5 GPA), <strong>Lincoln McManus (</strong>QB, 6-2, 190 – 4.1 GPA), <strong>Olo Omoyole </strong>(LB, 5-10, 185 – 3.0 GPA), heavily recruited <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1315712' first='Bryce' last='Randolph']</strong> (DB/WR, 6-0, 170 – 3.3 GPA), <strong>Billy Rodriguez</strong> (DT, 6-1, 330), <strong>Brixton Watson</strong> (WR, 6-3, 175 – 2.56 GPA), and running back <strong>Ian Wilson</strong> (5-9, 185 – 3.1 GPA) have embraced the spring and summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UNDERCLASSMEN USING THE OFF-SEASON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the rising senior class will certainly be needed to be the cornerstone for this program, the rising junior class (2026) will also be counted on heavily – starting with the transfer of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='927711' first='Dillon' last='Rose-Bailey']</strong> (6-2, 185) from Bloomingdale.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulls will also look to <strong>Patrick Cognetta</strong> (QB, 6-0, 175 – 3.95 GPA), <strong>Noah Day</strong> (OL, 6-0, 250), <strong>Caleb Grone</strong> (WR/LB, 6-2, 180 – 3.1 GPA), <strong>Eric Jackson</strong> (DT, 6-4, 260), <strong>Carmelo Joseph </strong>(DE/LB, 6-0, 190), Christian King (WR, 6-0, 170), <strong>Justin Semczuk</strong> (LB, 5-10, 180), and receiver <strong>Scott Simmons</strong> (6-0, 165).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on the rising sophomores (2027) as well with <strong>Carson Kantor</strong> (OL, 6-3, 240), <strong>Daniel Merisio</strong> (OL, 6-3, 240 – 2.8 GPA), and offensive lineman <strong>Kameron Saechao</strong> (6-2, 280).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily.</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/florida/">https://prepredzone.com/florida/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <strong><a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->