Jensen Beach (FL)

Head Coach: Tom McMath (entering 17th season)

Staff: Chris Smith, Denzel Rego, Chris Favoroso, Kyle Kirkham

The Champs are back and will look to collect more titles in a deep 1A. Jensen Beach navigated a very tough Region 4 before taking both the dual and traditional titles a year ago. They will need to do the same if they are going to bring home the titles again in 2023. This is a team that remains largely intact from a season ago. State Runner-up Ryan Duguay and State Placers Johnny Dobbs and Matt O’Hara have graduated, but the firepower that the Falcons return is largely unmatched in 1A (we will get to how they match up with Gibbons and the other Region 4 powers in the previews).

Nationally-ranked Sebastian Degennaro returns as does fellow Champ Jewell Williams. But JB is far from being one or two hammers … this is a team that is stout from top to bottom. State Placers Ryan Mooney, Nate Sopotnick, Dylan Fox, and Gian Oritz all return with their sights set on claiming an individual title. The Falcons also return State Qualifiers Mike Pierce-Walker and Malachi Harriel and welcome 3A State Placer Charlie Armstrong who moves in from Okeechobee. Jensen Beach is not only one of the top teams in 1A … they are one of the best in Florida regardless of class. With Degennaro moving up a weight … expect the Falcons to fill the 106 lb. spot with another hamemr in Ben Norris. The Falcons also add a very tough Ashton Roeder to an already deep lineup. Colten Byrd, Luke Krakoff, and Toby Rooney could fill out the lineup and the Falcons are tough from top to bottom. Expect the Falcons to be back hunting another title in 2023.

“We are a very experience team that scores a lot of points and is fun to watch! We will continue to individually get better with the hope of having another run at both the dual and traditional state championships.”

— Coach McMath

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.

Briarcrest Christian (TN)

Head Coach: Anthony Degani (entering 4th season)

Staff: Alex Green, Maverick Rorie, Alan Bosworth, Harry Fogle, JP Miles

The Saints return a yound squad that should continue to develop as the season goes along. Aidan Hydrick returns after qualifying for the Division 2 State Tournament a year ago and should be a force up at 220 this season. How well the Saints do as a team will likely depend on the continued development of their core group which features a ton of sophomores. Noah Mansfield, Jase Setzer, and Daniel Worsham will look to make noise at the top of the lineup with Hydrick. Keep an eye on Junior Preston McCormick as well as sophomores Caleb Norman, Bryant Simpson, and Harmon Kelly throughout the middle of the lineup.

Briarcrest should be tough from the middle through the top of the lineup … the question is who will step in down low for the Saints. Keep an eye on freshmen Johnathan Morris (120), Kalvin Moua (126), Reece Saliba (132) as well as 8th grader Kohl Vargas (132). Luke Hydrick is certainly a freshman to watch and should push for a spot in the middle of the lineup as well as Cooper Sherrod up at 285. Tons of young faces … will be interesting to watch this team continue to develop over the course of the season.

“The 22-23 season will continue to build on the successes we’ve had the past few years. We lost some key contributors to the lineup, but have a good mix of talent returning and new wrestlers to fill in the gaps. With lots of young wrestlers in the room, expect to see an entirely different looking team from the beginning of the year to the postseason as they get more experience under their belt. We will be tested early and often. Looking forward to seeing who will step up and lead. The sky is the limit!”

— Coach Degani

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.

Weaver (AL)

Head Coach: Andy Fulmer (entering 20th season)

Staff: Justin Brown

The Champs are back and ready to defend their title from a season ago. Weaver got the most from their hammers a year ago and topped Ohatchee by a point to take the 1A-4A title … look for a similar battle this season. Weaver loses State Champion Devin Anderson and State Placer Cameron Thornton, but otherwise return the bulk of their lineup. JD Johannson claimed the 160 lb. title a year ago and he is joined by State Placers Dalton Fink and Anthony Usry as well as State Qualifiers Brandon Joliff and Hayden Ransom.

The run to a title was very much a team effort last year … and if Weaver is going to defend it will be a team effort again in 2023. Johannson and company will lead the way, but Coach Fulmer will need Leo Mondragon, Gianluca Torres, Quinn Sani, Caden Thornton, and Kaden Gaines to come up big if they are going to repeat. Keep an eye on Hunter Hise, Richard Knowlton, and Chris Thornton … they will look to play an important role this year as well.

“We are excited about the 2022-2023 season. Our kids have worked hard in the weight room and on the mat this off season. We have a great group of kids and a competitive room. We have 3 returning senior starters and several under class men that will have the opportunity to be big contributors for us this season. The kids know that we will not sneak up on anybody after last year’s results. We will continue to put our head down and work each day to be better than we were the previous. Our kids are ready for the opportunity to defend our state championship and know the expectation of competing at a high level on a daily basis.”

— Coach Fulmer

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.