1A-2 Preview: Florida High looks to make history in tight three-way battle for top

BY BRANT PARSONS

Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.

Last season: Suwannee rode six individual champions and eight finalists to a third consecutive district crown.

How did Kabra do?: We picked the champions to win and our team to watch finished in second place.

Last year’s district tournament results

Last year’s region tournament results

Wrestlers to watch: Jasper Croom (Florida High), Thiago Finuff (Liberty County), Aaron Robinson (Wakulla), Holden Corbin (Suwannee), Brady Jackson (Wakulla), William Harvey (Wakulla), Jordan Haigler (Florida High), Landon Slater (Suwannee), Matthew Thaxton (Wakulla), Terence Hinson (Florida High), John Cheney (Florida High), Blake Barodte (Wakulla), Wyatt Feltgen (Florida High), Rylan Milian (Suwannee).

The favorite: Florida High. This race is super tight, so we’ll pick a historic finish, but race seems wide open.

Team to watch: Wakulla. The difference between the two teams is minimal, and being a champion wouldn’t surprise us.

District duals: Wednesday, January 7 at Florida High, 4:30 p.m.

District IBT: Thursday, February 19 at Wakulla, 4 p.m.

Florida High Seminoles (#9 IBT, #7 Duals)

Coach: Clay Allen (16th season)

Assistant coaches: MaShawn Knight, Kevin Concepcion, Hunter Stanley, Nic Timmons

Click here for 25-26 schedule

24-25 dual record: 8-6

Recent district results: 2025:2; 2024:3; 2023:2; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:3; 2019:2; 2018:2; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:3; 2013:3; 2012:3

Last state champion: Xander Hawkes, 2024 (175)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Keaton Ellis, 55-8, 4th, R2, DC; Christian Ajose-Adeogun, 38-19, RQ-BR, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Jasper Croom, Jr., 52-6, 5th, RC, DC; Terence Hinson, Sr., 46-18, SQ, RC, DC; Jordan Haigler, Sr., 35-8, SQ, R2, DC; John Cheney, Fr., 36-17, SQ, R3, DC; Brayden Reed, Jr., 24-13, SQ, R4, D3; Malik Leonard, So., 33-17, RQ-BR, D3; Sterling Hollingsworth, Sr., 20-4, RQ, DC; Wyatt Feltgen, Fr., 27-13, RQ, D3; Myles Dupont, So., RQ, D4.

New wrestlers: Weston Middleton, 7th; Diego Silva; Jack Costello

What they are saying: “We've got a really talented group of kids coming back and a really good group of young kids coming up. A lot of guys that have wrestled for me, even going back all the way to elementary school, but most of them through middle school and up into high school. I think if we can get everybody in the right spots, I really think we got a shot to, make a run to get down there to Kissimmee for the first time in our program's history. Which would be big for us from a team dual standpoint. I think that we could qualify up to 10, maybe 11 kids, place five or six of them, if not, one or two more on the IBT side. Our goals are to win the region, which is another thing we've never done, and then strangely enough, to win the district, which we've also never done before, which is kind of wild, but again, we just try to build from the bottom up and try to get our own kids through our system.

On coaching staff: "I'm returning all of my coaches. For a long time I did everything by myself but now I've got a full coaching staff, both on the boys and the girls side. It just allows us to have a little bit more freedom to focus individually on some more kids when we need it. We are very excited about this upcoming season and our potential.

On Jasper: "He's going to go everywhere. He's going to compete at everything. He's always done those things, it's the iceberg philosophy of everybody sees what's above the water, but what a lot of people don't see is that Jasper went to all of those tournaments the last two or three years and he's put himself in those tough situations and he goes and finds different people to practice with and different coaches to learn from and things like that. He puts himself in a position where he'll compete with anybody, anywhere, anytime. He's definitely one of the leaders when it comes to that part in our program."

Outlook: Florida High should find themselves fighting for district titles in duals and IBT and looking for some place-winners in Kissimmee.

The Florida High School Wrestling 2025-2026 Season District Previews

Click on link to see preview

Class 3A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Class 1A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Girls: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Independent: Ind

District Predictions: All 64 projected final IBT standings

Other content: Transfers | Coaching changes | Tournament schedule | Dual schedule | Team schedules

For Kabra+ members (Join here)

Rankings: Class 3A | Class 2A | Class 1A | Girls | Team

Wakulla War Eagles (#8 IBT, #8 Duals)

Coach: Nate Litowski (2nd season as HC, 4th overall)

Assistant coaches: Benny Litowsky, Jon Sanchez , Larry Reeves

Click here for 25-26 schedule

24-25 dual record: 22-6

Recent district results: 2025:3; 2024:2; 2023:3; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:1; 2018:1; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:1; 2013:1; 2012:1

Last state champion: Jacob Marin, 2017 (285)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nate Jacobs, 46-17, SQ, R3, D2; Austin Ryals, 12-12, D6; Mason Blair, 15-9.

Notable returning wrestlers: Matthew Thaxton, Jr., 46-18, 7th, R2, D2; William Harvey, Sr., 43-14, SQ, RC, D2; Aaron Robinson, Sr., 44-19, SQ, R3, D2; Blake Barodte, Sr., 40-22, SQ, R4, DC; Patrick Cooksey, So., 28-24, SQ, R4, D2; Colt Sanders, So., 41-14, RQ-BR, DC; Brayden Manning, Jr., 26-19, RQ, D3; Clayton Manzi, Sr., 7-5, RQ, D4; Troy Thaxton, Sr., 24-15; Gavin Mitchell, Sr., 24-13.

New wrestlers: Brady Jackson, Sr., 27-6, 2nd, RC, DC (Transfer from Lincoln)

What they are saying: “ We have all the puzzle pieces this year, it's just can we create the picture? The kids are working every day and the goals are very simple: win all the work and all the discipline wrestling takes. For most of my team, it's the last bite of the apple. We have a lot of seniors this year and it's just this last hurrah to win. I've been here four years now, with only two in the main chair, but this is the closest I've ever seen any team from Wakulla. They're believing in it.”

On some wrestlers to watch: “Matt Thaxton had a little breakout year last year and then I think he's been putting the work in. I'm excited to see him. William Harvey came up short a little last year and we’ve got Brady back in the room. And another one is Aaron Robinson, I think Aaron is a bad man. Troy Thaxton and then of course we have Colt Sanders returning and then our big man Blake up top at 215. It's good.”

On the program: “We're a strong county. We're very proud of being here. We're your typical 1A. No one's going to move into here or come here out of nowhere. We're homegrown and we're just working to be the best. We believe in the work. There are no tricks to this, we're just working and trying to be the best we can be.”

Outlook: The War Eagles bring back a ton of experience from a year and with Jackson joining the group, Wakulla could be in the battle to win its first district title sine 2022.

Suwannee Bulldogs (#13, #12)

Coach: Joey Phillips (1st at school/6th overall)

Assistant coach: Luke Smith

Click here for 25-26 schedule

24-25 dual record: 42-5

Recent district results: 2025:1; 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:2; 2021:4; 2020:2; 2019:3; 2018:3; 2017:3; 2016:3; 2015:3; 2014:2; 2013:2; 2012:2

Last state champion: Shawn Brown, 2014 (160)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Marshall White, 53-1, 2nd, RC, DC; Eli Jolicoeur, 56-3, 3rd, RC, DC; Justin Contreras, 25-9, 6th, R3, DC; Clay Starling, 26-12, SQ, R3, D2; Torynn Johns, 31-14, SQ, R3, DC; Arthur Vanderpool, 40-17, SQ, R4, D3; Jonathan Gonzalez, 23-32, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Rylan Milian, Jr., 27-19, SQ, R3, D3; Holden Corbin, Sr., 53-10, 7th, R2, DC; Landon Slater, Sr., 43-11, RQ-BR, DC; Jayden James, Sr., 17-13, RQ-BR, D2; Kameron Miller, So., 9-21, RQ-BR, D3; Jose Garcia, So., 22-21, RQ, D3; Nasir Smith, Jr., 23-16, RQ, D3.

Outlook: Phillips takes over the reigns as Suwannee looks to fill seven spots vacated by a great senior class.

Marianna Bulldogs

Coach: Richard Davis (3rd season)

Click here for 25-26 schedule

Recent district results: 2025:4; 2024:5; 2023:6; 2022:4; 2021:5; 2020:4; 2019:3-1A1; 2018:3-1A1; 2017:5-1A1; 2016:2-1A1; 2015:2-1A1; 2014:2-1A1; 2013:2-1A1; 2012:1-1A1

Last state champion: Bill Sedgewick, 1994 (189), Reggie Toombs, 1994 (220)

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Samuel Basford, 15-20, RQ, D4; Landon Hollister, 22-10, RQ-BR, D2.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: Nicholas Heineman, Sr., 27-16, RQ, D2; Roy Hughes, Sr., 21-14, RQ, D3; Aaryn Brown, So., 12-14, RQ, D3; David Miller, Sr., 14-15, RQ, D3; Luan Nguyen, So., 7-22, RQ, D4; Connor Chandler, So., 8-19, RQ, D4; Jaden Cody, Sr., 17-16, RQ, D4.

Liberty County Bulldogs

Coach: Jason Brown (5th season)

Click here for 25-26 schedule

Recent district results: 2025:5; 2024:4; 2023:4; 2022:5

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Josh Mercer, 38-21, SQ, R4, D2; Jay Brown, 52-9, SQ, RC, D2.

Notable returning wrestlers: Thiago Finuff, Sr., 35-18, SQ, R2, D2; Marcello Watson, Sr., 11-33, RQ, D3.

What they are saying: We are definitely looking to grow it's looking like we're going to have a lot of newer kids, a lot of freshman coming in. I say a lot for me, maybe 10 kids that would shooting looking for these kids to learn, get a base. We do have two starters coming back with Thiago Finuff and Marcelo Watson. We are definitely looking for Thiago to be a leader. He's finally got his shot and just want him, to kind of help me not only teach these kids, but get himself the goals he's wanting to achieve.

On Thiago working to build team: "He's became a great ambassador for the sport. I'm not a big social media guy, but he's always on there putting stuff out about wrestling. If he doesn't have a role in wrestling later in life, a recruiter or something of that nature would be great. He's working his tail off to grow this team."

On schedule: "We're still here. My kids are gone, and everybody thought I would leave, but I'm like, what else I got to do in my life? I might as well do this. Our schedule probably won't be quite as crazy as before. I will say we're in Georgia a lot and South Florida a lot. This year won't quite be as crazy."

Outlook: The numbers may not be big at Liberty County, but Finuff will be looking to make school history this year as an individual.

Godby Cougars

Coach: Matthew Forbes

Click here for 25-26 schedule

Recent district results: 2025:6; 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:6; 2020:6; 2019:4; 2018:4; 2017:4; 2016:5; 2015:4; 2014:4; 2013:4; 2012:4

Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gedalyah Fletcher, RQ, D4.

Potential notable returning wrestlers: LaTroy Coleman, Jr., 2-9, RQ, D4.

1A-2 Season Schedules

Florida High

Dec. 5-6: Cam Brown Seminole Classic

Dec. 12-13: Bobcat Round Robin at Alachua Sports Complex

Dec. 19-20: Rumble on the Range at The Villages

Jan. 1: at Zephryhills Christian, 5

Jan. 2-3: Braves IBT at Advent Fieldhouse

Jan. 10: Dual at the Dunes at Fernandina Beach

Jan. 23-24: George Mulligan at Bay

Jan. 30-31: Colby Singletary Memorial at Estero Sports Complex

Feb. 6-7: Capital City Classic at Chiles

Suwannee

Dec. 6: 1A Kickoff at St. John Neumann

Dec. 11: at Wakulla

Dec. 12-13: Bobcat Round Robin at Alachua Sports Complex

Dec. 19-20: Knockout Christmas Classic at Silver Spurs

Jan. 2-3: Braves IBT at Advent Fieldhouse

Jan. 9-10: Billy Saylor Duals

Jan. 12: at Union County

Jan. 14: at Columbia, 5:30 (Battle for the Paddle)

Jan. 16-17: Gator Brawl at Wewahitchka

Jan. 23-24: Moskowitz IBT at George Jenkins

Jan. 30-31: Colby Singletary Memorial at Estero Sports Complex

Wakulla

Dec. 4: vs. Chiles

Dec. 6-7: Danny Byron at Kissimmee Osceola

Dec. 11: vs. Suwannee (Talon vs. Tooth Rivalry)

Dec. 13: Ryan Blackwell at Gulf Breeze

Dec. 19-20: Beast of the Beach at Fort Walton Beach

Dec. 29-30: Bobby Stanley at Cardinal Gibbons

Jan. 9-10: Cradle Cancer at Jensen Beach

Jan. 16-17: Gator Brawl at Wewahitchka

Jan. 30-31: Wakulla FCA Invitational

Feb. 6-7: Ippolito at Brandon