1A-3 Preview: Five schools to battle for top spot in one of most competitive districts
BY BRANT PARSONS — (The lead here will come from speaking to a few coaches about their teams)
Trinity Christian, Fernandina Beach, Baker County, Baldwin, West Nassau
Stanton Prep is coming off its best district finish since 2013, but the Blue Devils likely return just 35% of their postseason points from a year ago.
Paxon and Raines continue to sit in the bottom half of the standings but could have some optimism this year and each team could return its entire postseason lineup from a season ago.
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Baker County won its third district title in four seasons, outscoring Yulee 214-203 in the IBT. The Wildcats also made their second trip to the region final in the state duals series.
How did Kabra do?: Kabra was proved wrong both times by Baker County as we had the 1-2 spots switched in each of the two competitions. We did get third and fourth place correct in our predictions, but that’s not enough to make a career on.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Jordan Perez, Sr. (Baker County); Nicco Musso, Sr. (Trinity Christian); Michael Carpenter, Sr. (Fernandina Beach); Brannon Spurlin, Sr. (Stanton Prep); Antonio Walker, Jr. (Baldwin); Jayden Holmes, Jr. (Fernandina Beach); Tristan Holmes, So. (Fernandina Beach); Adrian Deleston, Sr. (Stanton Prep); Ethan Shiver, Sr. (Fernandina Beach); Drake Cole, Sr. (West Nassau); Robby Driggers, Jr. (Baker County); Eli Leggett, Jr. (Baker County); Breaden McBeath, So. (Paxon); Malachi Proctor, 8th (Trinity Christian); Colt Richter, Jr. (Fernandina Beach).
The favorite: Trinity Christian. The Conquerors come to their new district after taking a massive leap in just their second season a year ago. They have the most potentially coming back and are a school that is invested in developing a top-performing program.
Team to watch: Fernandina Beach. There are two teams that could return 10 wrestlers from a year ago and the Pirates are the other one. There is a history of recent success here and this could be the year they jump to the top.
Trinity Christian Conquerors
Coach: Matthew Page (3rd season/6th total)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:3-1A4; 2025:6-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Alexander McKay, 26-14, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Nicco Musso, Sr., 32-9, SQ, R3, DC; Malachi Proctor, 8th, 17-15, RQ, D2; Matthew Greer, Jr., 22-19, RQ, D4; Ryan Plummer, Fr.
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
The Florida High School Wrestling 2026-2027 Season District Previews
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Class 2A: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
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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
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Baker County Wildcats
Coach: Richard Crews (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Josh Trippett, Juliana Cubias
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 15-5
Recent district results: 2026:1; 2025:2; 2024:1-1A4; 2023:1-1A4; 2022:3-1A4; 2021:3-1A2; 2020:5-1A2; 2019:8; 2018:4; 2017:5; 2016:4; 2015:3; 2014:6; 2013:5-1A2; 2012:5-1A2
Last state champion: Shawn Kinghorn, 1993 (152)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Taz Kinghorn, 37-11, SQ, R2, DC; Nathan Roll, 27-12, RQ-BR, DC; Sebastian Overland, 24-13, RQ-BR, DC; Anthony Williams, 20-13, RQ, D2; Kristian Chancey, 26-14, RQ, D3.
Notable returning wrestlers: Jordan Perez, Sr., 17-8, SQ, R4, D3; Connor Alexander, So., 20-15, RQ, D2; Robby Driggers, Jr., 22-14, RQ, D2; Eli Leggett, Jr., 18-13, RQ, D2; Cooper Richardson, So., 16-15, RQ, D3; Ayden Prehaska, Jr., 12-13, RQ, D4; Kenneth Watson; Robby Driggers; Layndyn Larive; Collin Daniel.
New wrestlers: Kaelyx Hybki (Transfer from Kansas); Torin Brady.
What they’re saying: “"We have some key wrestlers that graduated and were very key in helping us in winning our district championship and going on to team state and replacing those guys is going to be very difficult. We do have some senior leadership coming back and some underclassmen who are going to have to step up but our expectations are still the same. We want to compete for district and regional championships. We want to compete to go back to team states and it's kind of the expectation we've set here now these last four or five years. That's kind of the standard we want to live up to. Our guys know that and so I think they bought in pretty well and hopefully our underclassmen are ready to step up and help fulfill that as well."
On Jordan Perez: "He's a senior coming back for us at heavyweight. He only got to wrestle half of a season last year because he was coming out for football and weightlifting so him coming out and already had lost some time of the season he surprised us and really wrestled hard and got to states and was made a big splash on the team and so he has that leadership coming back and he's kind of hungry this year to try to go win it all to try to compete and so we want to help him."
On chasing another district title: "Knowing that everyone has a role on the team as far as team goals is concerned, whether you're on JV or varsity and the better our room is overall, the better our team's going to be. So just getting guys to buy in and make each other better and have some strong competition and wrestleoffs, I think if we're at our best and everybody's healthy, I'm confident that we can at least compete to return as district champ again. And that's the goal."
Outlook:
Baker County won their third district title in four years last season.
Fernandina Beach Pirates
Coach: Eric Kubatzke (9th season)
Assistant coach: Jeremy Ferry
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 14-10
Recent district results: 2026:4; 2025:3; 2024:4; 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:6; 2019:4; 2018:8; 2017:8; 2016:8; 2015:5; 2014:3; 2013:5; 2012:8
Last state champion: Enzo Gamba, 2024 (157)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Crew Richter, 40-17, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Tristan Holmes, So., 29-17, RQ-BR, DC; Colt Richter, Jr., 38-17, RQ-BR, DC; Jayden Holmes, Jr., 34-11, RQ-BR, D2; Ethan Shiver, Sr., 24-14, RQ, D2; Adam Wilson, So., 14-16, RQ, D4; Ethan Lavin, So., 9-27; Landen Six, So., 18-27; Chase Harris, Sr., 19-20; Antonio Rivera, Sr., 8-27.
New wrestlers: Lucas Flannery, Sr., 18-8 (Transfer from Yulee); Jack Wilson, Fr.; Michael Carpenter, Sr. (Transfer from Washington); Connor Goodman, Fr.
What they’re saying: “We are more battle-tested after being so young and new last year. Plus, there is more leadership on the team this year.”
Outlook:
Baldwin Indians
Coach: Nathaniel Mumbulo (2nd season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:5; 2025:9; 2024:6-1A4; 2023:10-1A4; 2021:8-1A4; 2020:7-1A4
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Taylor Davenport, 24-5, S3, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Antonio Walker, Jr., 24-13, RQ-BR, DC; Dominic Canchola, Jr., 17-15, RQ, D3; Bartek Machnikowski, Jr., 13-20, RQ, D3; Bentley Howard, 8th, 5-23, RQ, D4; Caleb Ingham, Sr., 14-20, RQ, D4; Liam Pellicer, Jr., 5-15, RQ, D4.
What they’re saying: “The Baldwin Wrestling team enters the upcoming season with a young, scrappy, and determined group of wrestlers looking to build on last season’s historic success. With a strong mix of experienced returners and hungry newcomers, this team is ready to take the next step in the program’s growth. Coming off a season that saw the program achieve its first winning dual record, send a school-record nine wrestlers to regionals, and produce its first state placer, expectations continue to rise. While this team may be young, they are tough, hardworking, and eager to prove themselves every time they step on the mat. The goal is simple: continue building a winning culture, compete with toughness, and push Baldwin Wrestling to new heights.”
Outlook:
West Nassau Warriors
Coach: Jackson Rowell (2nd season)
Assistant coaches: Bobby Evans
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 7-14
Recent district results: 2026:6; 2025:7; 2024:9; 2023:7; 2022:5; 2021:6; 2020:4; 2019:3; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:3; 2015:4; 2014:4; 2013:4; 2012:6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Bryce Mangum, 38-10, SQ, R4, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: Teague Tomberlin, So., 21-21, RQ, D2; Kolbie Costello, So., 10-20, RQ, D3; Jake Terry, So., 4-13, RQ, D4; Emmanuel Davis, Sr., 14-11, RQ, D4; Drake Cole, Sr., 21-11, RQ, D4; Chris Messer, Sr., 24-10; Ian Blanton, Sr., 13-10.
What they’re saying: “"I think we had a great year considering what we had a lot of the young pieces on this team. I think the thing I'm most excited about is that we have all the pieces in place beforehand, and knowing what I'm getting into, and just to see our young guys excel. I know we had seven guys make it to regionals. That was out of just 10 competing at districts. And of those seven, three of them were freshman. So we're really amped to see what they can do this year."
On growth: "This group put in the work. Obviously, not all of them are going to step up into that leadership role, but there's a few that have really impressed our coaching staff. We've got seniors that are going to be great leaders for us. But we've got some freshman from last year too and as sophomores now, they are more vocal."
On this season: "We're a young program. We got a lot more seniors this year, but still half the team are underclassmen and they'll be starters. We kind of like it that way. We get a lot of time with these kids. And this year we are pushing our JV kids a I expect to have some more backups at the start of the year just because we have a lot of young guys returning. We want to get the backups involved as much as possible. We'll be going to a lot of call outs and things we didn't do as much last year. Schedule is very full. So, it'll be busy and hectic, but that's how we like it."
Fun stat: In 2024, West Nassau did not win a single dual, last year, the Warriors won seven.
Outlook:
Stanton Prep Blue Devils
Coach: John Dunn (5th at school/26th total)
Assistant coach: Henry Torres
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 3-0
Recent district results: 2026:3; 2025:4; 2024:5; 2023:6; 2022:7-2A3; 2021:8-2A3; 2020:7-2A3; 2019:6-2A3; 2018:7-2A3; 2017:6-2A3; 2016:7-2A3; 2015:9-2A3; 2014:8-2A3; 2013:2-2A2; 2012:3-2A2
Last state champion: Robert Drummond, 1998 (103)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Leonardo Torres, 33-5, S6, R2, DC; Diego Torres, 38-7, SQ, R3, DC; James Leiby, 31-14, RQ, DC; Saud Alburaih, 28-16, RQ, D2.
Notable returning wrestlers: Adrian Deleston, Sr., 17-6, RQ-BR, DC; Brannon Spurlin, Sr., 16-9, RQ-BR, D4; Josecarlos Martinez, Sr., 21-14, RQ, D4.
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Paxon Golden Eagles
Coach: Michael Dramis
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:8; 2025:10; 2024:7; 2023:9; 2022:6; 2021:7; 2020:8; 2018:7-2A4; 2017:7-2A4; 2016:7-2A4; 2015:9; 2014:9; 2013:7-2A2; 2012:6-2A2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Breaden McBeath, So., 15-11, RQ-BR, D5; Raymond Lako, So., 4-10, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Raines Vikings
Coach: Aaron Mason
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:9; 2025:8; 2024:11; 2023:8; 2022:7; 2021:5; 2020:3; 2019:7; 2018:7; 2017:7; 2016:5; 2015:7; 2014:7; 2013:8; 2012:5
Last state champion: Danny Jackson, 2010 (HWT)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jamaal Jones, Sr., 18-25, RQ, D4; Robert Francis, Sr., 9-15, RQ, D5.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Andrew Jackson Tigers
Coach: Emarlos Leroy
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:10; 2025:5; 2024:10; 2015:8; 2014:8; 2013:7; 2012:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Elijah Sanon, 6-7, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Ezekiel Rackley, So., 6-3, RQ, D2.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook: