South Walton (FL)

Head Coach: Travis Laxton (3 yrs as head coach)

Staff: KJ Beavers, Hayden Meyer, Carey Nick

A young squad with a ton of upside. South Walton finished 15th a season ago and return both Nick Lee and Isaac Brinson. Lee finished 8th in 1A at 285 and will come into his senior campaign looking to climb the podium. Brinson qualified for the state tournament a season ago as just a freshman and will look to be hunting a spot on the podium in 2023. Lee is just one of five Seniors on the squad. Chase Maas has post-season experience and will be looked on to punch his ticket to Kissimmee this season. Lee and Maas are joined by fellow seniors Frank Bonjean, Daniel Hamichi, and Judah McCoy.

The bulk of this squad are freshmen and sophomores … so expect a few growing pains this season. Gibson Moore and Kaden Shaw have post-season experience, but the majority of the squad will be learning as they go. Look for Noah Withers, Madden Jackson, Sam Madden, Devohn Fowlkes, Dylan Hardin, Owen Kurfirst, Aspan Ridge, and Donavan Trinidad to fill the spots around Brinson down low. Madden is just a freshman but could make some noise at 113 this season. The middleweights feature talented freshman Jackson Roach as well as Blaine Stout, Charlie Fife, Barron Kutz, Weldon Terry as well as seniors McCoy, Bonjean and Maas. The top should be led by returning State Placer Nick Lee, Hamichi and Zachary Budd, Sampson Souder, Jonathan Almeida, and talented freshman Cody Johnson. This is a young squad that should be much better in February than they are in November … look for tons of growth this season.

“We’re extremely young but there is still plenty of experience on the team. I’m excited to watch these young men grow this season.”

— Coach Laxton

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Cardinal Gibbons (FL)

Head Coach: Jamel Morris (3 years)

Staff: Jamal Morris, Chris Cupas, Armand Algarin, Steve Mocco

Gibbons finished 6th a season ago at the 1A traditional state tournament … expect that to be different this season. The Chiefs graduated none of their point-getters from 2022 and add some hammers to the lineup with the transfer of State Champion Frankie Florio and State Placer Michael Mocco as well as Bryan Picallo. Florio, Mocco, and Picallo are huge for the Chiefs, but this team runs on four seniors - returning State Champ Nicholas Yancey as well as State Placers Jonathan Hudson, Richard Tauriello, and Grant Cooper. The Cheifs were going to be in the hunt with or without Florio, Mocco, and Picallo, but with the addition of those hammers Gibbons is likely the favorites as we enter the 22-23 season.

Keep an eye on Joseph Michaels, Dominic Pantuso, and Gavin Hooten - all three won matches in a tough Region 4 last year and each will look to punch their ticket to Kissimmee this season. Nico Conte, Nicholas Lopez, and Christopher Johnson should figure into the lineup as well as Michael Palermo and Will Parker. With 2 returning Champs, 3 Placers, and a handful of others - is Gibbons the best team in Florida regardless of class this coming season?

“I’m excited for this upcoming season. We have a lot of guys that can compete for a state championship.”

— Coach Morris

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Middleburg Girls (FL)

Head Coach: Coll Robertson (1 year as Head Coach)

Staff: Richie Dusinberre, Jamie Harrison

We now have a year under our belts in terms of sanctioning girls wrestling in Florida and the level of interest across the state has never been higher. Middleburg is a perfect example of that growth - just 2 wrestlers in the post-season a year ago and now with a solid lineup that should be ready to make some noise in 2022-23. The Broncos are led by nationally-ranked (and Fargo All American) Cheyenne Cruce. Cruce just missed the top of the podium last year as a freshman and has the top step firmly in her sights this year. She is joined by Senior Gracie Bradshaw who also made the podium a season ago. With those two leading the way … Middleburg has a shot to improve on their 25th place finish in 2022. In fact, if the pieces come together this is a team that could be pushing for a spot in the top 10.

The key to that rise will be the continued development of a group of freshmen. Skyla Fisher has been to Fargo and knows the big stage even though she is just a freshman. Keep an eye on Memphis Moses, Lily Bradshaw, Sara Egesdal, and Toni Silcox … the biggest challenge for Coach Robertson might be finding a way to get them all on the mat since many are bunched between 100-110 lbs. Keep an eye on Middleburg this season.

“Last year we were district runner-ups with only 2 wrestlers. This year we’ll have more depth and more weights filled, so the expectation is to bring home a district title as a team, then qualify all of these ladies for the state tournament. Cheyenne Cruce is coming back from a 4th place finish at state, a 4th place finish in 16U at Fargo, and a bloodround finish in 18U at Fargo. Expect her at the top of the podium this year. Gracie Bradshaw being our lone senior will be wrestling at the right weight class this season, after a certification error and an 8th place finish up two weights last season. She’ll be looking to finish much higher at a more comfortable weight class. The depth we have at the lower three weight classes will provide great competition within the room. These ladies have put in an insane amount of work preparing for this season over at Riot Performance Academy with Jamie Harrison. He’s been a huge help in the development and growth of girls wrestling in North Florida.”

— Coach Robertson

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.