Heritage (FL)

Head Coach: Jeff Degginger (entering 7th season)

Staff: Tom Gregg, Cody Barton, Tori Degginger

Heritage, like many teams, graduates a few hammers, but also returns a solid core ready to make a run for the podium this season. State Placer Julian Stoneman and State Qualifier Austin Jones have graduated, but Heritage has a solid group to work with in 21-22. State Qualifiers Gabriel Ferreira and Roman Maldonado both won matches in Kissimmee in 2021 and both will be hunting a place on the podium during their Junior season. Heritage also returns Vicente Ramirez, Tannahil Jean, and Solomon Peterson - all three will be looking to punch their ticket in 2022.

They key to another District title and a run at the Regional crown will be the continued development of wrestlers like Dominick Maldonado, Ethan Cataldo, Keith Cole, etc. Keep an eye on Bayside transfer Aiden Baker who made a run at qualifying for state a year ago … he will look to be on the Heritage bus to Kissimmee in March.

“We’ll be an interesting mix of experience and youth this season. With the exception of a couple of weights, we’re reloading nicely this season. Heritage has a couple of returning SQ’s (Gabriel Ferreira BR and Roman Maldonado), two more that went out in the Regional blood round and 9 more kids with varsity experience. District 13 (2A) will be far more competitive this season with the additions of Merritt Island and Rockledge. Both teams are well coached and have good athletes. Couple that with Sebastian River returning a number of kids including 3 SQ’s and we should see some greatly improved wrestling this year. We look forward to defending both District titles and making a run at the Regional title. ”

— Coach Degginger

McIntosh (GA)

Head Coach: Nick Bellantoni (1st year back at McIntosh - previous head coach)

Staff: Joey Petras

McIntosh return a nice core group that could make the 21-22 season a memorable return for head coach Nick Bellantoni (Bellantoni was the head coach at McIntosh for more than a decade). This is a Junior-heavy squad and that means McIntosh should make some noise in 21-22, but could really make their mark in 2022-23 (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). Senior Nick Kallas and Juniors Gavin Proffitt and Xander Harris each won matches in Macon in 2021 and all three will be hunting a spot on the podium in 2022.

State Qualifiers Brayden Petras and Tony Jimenez also return looking to climb onto the podium in their second trip to Macon. The return of Chase Nerenberg could be huge for this team … Nerenberg qualified for the state tournament as a freshman, but missed last season due to injury. A few others to keep an eye on include James Ward, Grant McKenzie, Lex Chao, Robbie Julian, and Tristan Newton-Smith. They will be key to how far the team goes in 2022.

“We have 6 returning state qualifiers coming back this season and several other wrestlers who could qualify for state. Returning state qualifiers include:
-Brayden Petras
-Chase Nerenberg (not last season, but the season before)
-Xander Harris
-Gavin Proffitt
-Tony Jimenez
- Nick Kallas”

— Asst. Coach Petras

Richmond Hill (GA)

Head Coach: Bill Evans (entering 4th season as Head Coach)

Staff: Jeff Delgrosso, Zach Sheets, Robert Parker

Richmond Hill has long been a powerhouse in Georgia 6A and the 21-22 should be no different. Coach Evans crew graduates several hammers including State Champ Tate Evans and State Placer Anthony Taylor, but this squad returns 6 that have been to Macon before. State Runner-up Colin Dragon as well as Seniors Thomas Crawford, Jackson Crawford, and Caleb Gonser should lead the way in 2021-22. 6A is probably the deepest class in Georgia so the Wildcats will need others to step up if they are going to make a run into the top 5 again.

Hunter Cash and Bradley Barrett both qualified a year ago and figure to be hunting a spot on the podium like Crawford x2, Gonser, and Dragon. The key for Richmond Hill is how well David Wright, Gaven Hill, Adam Cardenas, Raymond Luna, and the other Wildcats wrestle this season. Keep an eye on transfer Charles King (who took 2nd at the Georgia Super 32 Qualifier) as well as Lucas Raymond - both will make some noise in 2022.

“The team looks good, we should be solid.”

— Coach Evans