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.

Central Phenix City Girls (AL)

Head Coach: Matt Gittens (entering 4th year)

Staff: Nic Griggs, Ben Green

From top to bottom - Central Phenix City has one of the largest girls programs in the state and should be competitive with the other top dogs in Daphne and Thompson this season. Savannah Daniel, Caidence Sellars, Nevaeh Jackson, Zoe Jones, and Ashlynn Johnson make up the core of this squad. Add in Arianna Dinkins and Hannah McDuffie and this team will be tough … especially up top with Jackson, Jones, McDuffie, and Johnson. None of the seven mentioned above is a senior - so this is team is not only one to watch in 22-23, but also for years to come.

““Winning Traditions Start Here”
We as a staff and athletic program live by that, If we can take care of the little things; the big things will fall in place according to our works and work ethic. Expectations remain the same: “DO YOUR BEST” winning and losing is a very minor aspect in the grand scheme of what we’re building. Do your best, put your best foot forward, and seize the day. Our state champion and a huge cornerstone has chosen not to return to the program, that doesn’t stop what we’re building... Every young lady knows what’s at stake and everyone to this point has picked up the slack just fine.”

— Coach Gittens

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.

Signal Mountain (TN)

Head Coach: Houston Clements (entering 2nd year)

Staff: Dean Clements (2nd Year), Matthew Cate (2nd Year), Brian Beasley (1st Year, former head coach at Chattooga where he won a state title in 2020), Paul Shriner (3rd year), Joe Jellison (11th year)

It will be tough to top what Signal Mountain did a season ago, but this is a group that has all the talent in the world and should be in the hunt once again in 2023. The Eagles claimed the A duals title and finished 2nd to a very tough Greeneville squad at the traditional state tournament. They graduated State Runner-up Noah Shriner, but return every other state point-getter including State Champs Ethan and Caleb Uhorchuk as well as State Runner-up Jojo Uhorchuk. Down low there might not be a better trio in the southeast and the three Uhorchuk’s should lead the way for the Eagles in 22-23. But you don’t win team titles on three hammers alone.

Greeneville also returns a very good lineup so for the Eagles to climb onto the top spot in duals (again) as well as at the traditional state tournament they will need Cole Jenkins and Jackson Davis to be in the hunt for a spot high on the podium as well. Both return after claiming wins at the state tournament a year ago. Add in returning State Qualifiers Ian Bryant and Jaxon Quails and Signal Mountain will be tough to beat in 7 of the 14 weights. Daniel Odom and Jackson Owens will play a huge role if the Eagles are to climb to the top … both have the ability to make their mark in 22-23. Keep an eye on Eben Shriner, Jacob Winchester, and Brandon Clifford … as well as incoming hammer Luke Higdon. Don’t be surprised if Shriner, Winchester, Clifford, and Higdon are called on to make an impact this season.

“We return 12 of 14 starters from last year’s State Championship team and 9 of those guys won 25+ matches last season. This is a tight-knit, battle tested team that trains together year around with one goal—to repeat as champions. The Uhorchuk brothers—Caleb (West Point commit), Ethan, and JoJo—who are all NHSCA All-Americans will again lead the way for us this year. I also expect Jackson Davis, Cole Jenkins, and Ian Bryant who were all state qualifiers to be in the hunt for individual titles this season. Daniel Odom and Jackson Owens both won 30+ matches last year despite battling through injuries and are guys to keep eyes on, too. This team built on toughness, thrives under the bright lights, and has the potential to be the best group to ever come through the school. Signal Mountain wrestling fans should be excited. It is truly an honor to serve as this program’s head coach.”

— Coach Clements

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.