2023 Defense Soap Super 32

13 Former Super 32 Champs Are Looking To Add Another Belt

13 Former Super 32 Champs Are Looking To Add Another Belt

Between the boys and girls divisions, 13 former high school division champions are registered with hopes of repeating.

Oct 9, 2023 by David Bray
13 Former Super 32 Champs Are Looking To Add Another Belt

A Super 32 belt just might be the toughest high school wrestling accolade to achieve. This year's boys division has over half the top-twenty-ranked wrestlers in the country, and the girls division is just as tough. While winning Super 32 is incredibly difficult, 7 boys and 6 girls in this year's field have already accomplished the task at least once. They'll be looking to repeat their Super 32 success again this year.


7 Returning Boys Division Champions

120 lbs - #1 Anthony Knox, St. John Vianney, NJ (junior)

120 lbs - #1 (113) Christian Castillo, Valliant College Prep, AZ (junior)

132 lbs -#1  Ben Davino, St. Charles East, IL (senior)

132 lbs - #3 Bo Bassett, Bishop McCort, PA (sophomore)

157 lbs - #2 Ladarion Lockett, Stillwater, OK (junior)

215 lbs - #4 Jude Correa, Wyoming Seminary, PA (junior)

285 lbs - #8 Parker Ferrell, Christiansburg, VA (senior)


While seven different former champions will enter this year's boys high school division at Super 32, at most, five can win. At 120 lbs, both #1 Anthony Knox and #1 (113 lbs) Christian Castillo are looking to repeat. Both will have their hands full as their bracket contains a total of 11 ranked wrestlers and six in the top ten. Knox owns a victory over Castillo from Who's Number One in 2022.

Two champs are also registered at 132 lbs. Ben Davino won a title last year at 126 lbs while Bo Bassett took the belt at 113 lbs. Their bracket has 13 ranked wrestlers and seven in the top ten.

Ladarion Lockett beat a tough Ty Watters last year for his first belt. In order to win a second, he'll likely need to top fellow U17 World champion Joe Sealey in the finals.

At 215 lbs, Jude Correa is hunting for a second title up a weight from where he won a year ago. His toughest tests could be Fargo champions Michael Mocco and Dreshaun Ross, two tough sophomores from Florida and Iowa respectively.

Parker Ferrell has also moved up a weight since last year. His bracket has a lot of parity. He can repeat, but it won't be easy.

5 Returning Girls Division Champions

112 lbs - #1 Gabriella Gomez, Glenbard North, IL (junior)

132 lbs - #1 Taina Fernandez, Archbishop Spalding, MD (freshman)

160 lbs - #8 Kaylie Hall, Hampshire, WV (junior)

175 lbs - #18 Ella Murphey, Hardin Valley Academy, TN (senior)

175 lbs - #5 Amarisa Manuel, Romeo, MI (senior)


The girls division, like the boys division, can't have as many returning champs as it has contenders. At 175 lbs, Both Ella Murphey and Marisa Manuel are looking to repeat.

Gabriella Gomez secured here Super 32 title in 2021 but came up just short last year. She's coming off a victory at Who's Number One and looking to stick to her winning ways.

Taina Fernandez won her first Super 32 belt before she set foot in a high school hallway. She proved herself again at Who's Number One in September, and she'll be the favorite to repeat at 132 lbs.

West Virginia junior Kaylie Hall already has two titles here. She won in 2020 and 2021 but finished 4th last year. She currently sits at #8 in the national rankings but could climb with a title here as both #7 Genevieve An and #4 Alexandria Alli are also registered at 160 lbs.