Miami Columbus (Florida)

Head Coach: Jim Husk (17th season at Columbus)

Staff: Jacob Grant, Andres Gonzalez, Sonny Gulesian

Coach Husk is an absolute legend and if you don’t know your Florida Wrestling history you should take a minute and look back at all of the people he has influenced over the years. Coach Husk’s Southwest Miami team finished 2nd in 1972 - nearly 50 years ago and he has been grinding out individual state champions, team state champions, etc. ever since. His first State Championship team was Miami Southridge in 1978 in 4A … but so much for memory lane. Coach Husk is now commanding the Columbus program and they have quite a group of young men.

Returning State Champ Christian Guzman as well as State Placer Derrick Hart return and will look to lead Columbus back into the 3A top 10 again in 2021. Aiden Gasper, Van Huffman, and Rocco Dascoli all return and should help push Columbus through a very tough Region 4. The key for Columbus to make a push at the team level is the development of Jaime Rodriguez, TJ Brown, Anthony Piaia as well as Zachary Ruiz, Arturo Sanchez, Nolan Vergel, and Javier Taylor. Columbus should be a force again in 21-22 … don’t be surprised to see both Guzman and Hart on the top step in March.

“We are looking forward to another great season and look to build off of our 9th place finish in the state last year. We return 2 state placers who are as well NHSCA All American’s Christian Guzman (State Champion) and Derrick Hart (4th). We have 3 other wrestlers who have been to the state tournament in Aiden Gasper 2x, Van Huffman, and Rocco Dascoli. This summer TJ Brown and Jaime Rodriguez became AAU All Americans at the Disney Duals. We are excited for this season and to see how are team competes against the best.”

— Coach Grant

Moody (Alabama)

Head Coach: Danny Vazquez (entering 1st season)

Moody returns in 2021-22 led by Seniors Cory Land, Ryan Summerlin, Owen Moore, and Matthew McDonald. Land, the University of North Iowa commit, will look to claim his 5th individual state title in 2022. Summerlin has been on the podium, but finished off the top step a year ago. Both McDonald and Moore won multiple matches in Huntsville and will look to climb onto the podium in 2022. It will be interesting to see how the non-seniors compete this season. Erius Clark and Skyler Gomer each won matches in Huntsville and will look to make an impact … but for Moody to climb into the team race they will need some others to step up. Keep an eye on Caleb Griffin, William Farley, Grant Long, and Brynn Jenkins.

“We should have a solid team next year that will be lead by a tough group of seniors. This team has the ability to turn some heads this upcoming season. The team could turn out to resemble the Moody team that won a state title a couple of years ago.”

— Coach Vazquez

Oakleaf (Florida)

Head Coach: Rory Roderick (1st season as head coach; 3rd season on staff)

Staff: John Powers-Young

Oakleaf enters the 2021-2022 season with a lot of expectations. Marcus McGee and Isaiah Shevchook each qualified for the 3A State Tournament a year ago and both are back to lead the team in 21-22. The Knights also return several wrestlers that just missed on a trip to Kissimmee a year ago and will look to punch their ticket in 2022. Roman Polinsky and Jordan Mitchell both finished just short a year ago and could make it at least 4 Knights in Kissimmee in 2022. Keep an eye on Braden Cole and Ben Gaddis as well as Adrianna Barrientos, Angel Rodriguez, Ion Hortinela, Ghais Cooper, Keon Barrientos, and Onjel Caraballo. Each will look to make a difference this coming season.

“We are projected to have one of the most, if not the most talented teams in Oakleaf wrestling history. We have returning wrestlers that have been seasoned and are ready to let loose. With Fleming no longer in our district, that opens up 1 more spot to qualify for regionals, and 1 more spot to qualify for state.

The expectation for this season is district dual champs, district IBT champs, at least 6 state qualifiers and at least 2 state placers. We also expect to have the best dual record in Oakleaf wrestling history, and to finish higher than we did previously at Flagler Rotary and Green Cove Rotary.

We have returning wrestlers that did not make it to state and are hungry. Ben Gaddis, Roman Polinsky, and Jordan Mitchell all lost in the blood round to make it to state and are determined to change the outcome this year. Onjel Caraballo was out last season due to a shoulder injury but is now back to 100% and hungry to make it to state. We also have a few freshmen who have been wrestling all summer and are ready to make a name for themselves.”

— Coach Roderick