1A-8 Preview: Cocoa Beach poised for run at team state title
Kabra Wrestling Rankings are updated every week all season long for Kabra+ members.
Last season: Cocoa Beach earned the district double and Gustavo Ferreira won the school’s first individual title in 23 years as the Minutemen finished third in Class 1A. Merritt Island wrestlers brought home a couple state titles with Tre Driggett and Timmy Boda both winning championships. It was the second state title for the junior Boda.
How did Kabra do?: We picked the 1-2 correct in each but didn’t see the surge of Space Coast last season into third-best in this talented district.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch:
The favorite: Cocoa Beach. The Minutemen are loaded across the board and enter the season as one of the main contenders in the state for the Class 1A state title.
Team to watch: Merritt Island. There are a few holes to fill for the Mustangs but the room is deep and filled with young guys ready to keep this team as one of the best in the state.
Cocoa Beach Minutemen
Coach: Chris Kelly (6th season/19th overall)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:1; 2025:2; 2024:2; 2023:3; 2022:4; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:4; 2018:3; 2017:4; 2016:5; 2015:7; 2014:3; 2013:4-1A6; 2012:3-1A6
Last state champion: Gustavo Ferreira, 2026 (157)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Gustavo Ferreira, 57-4, SC, RC, DC; Kealan Sieni, 39-11, S7, R2, D2; Wyatt Crouser, 17-4, SQ, R2, DC; Dorian Nicholson, 15-10, RQ-BR, D3; Micah Wittenberg, 8-4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Adrian Day, Jr., 43-11, S3, R2, D2; Jett Johnson, Fr., 34-4, S3, RC, DC; Asher Cabral, 8th, 44-8, S3, RC, DC; Anthony Acquafredda, Sr., 34-6, S3, RC, DC; Nathan Pond, Sr., 39-13, S4, R2, D2; Aaron Horr, Sr., 39-12, S6, RC, DC; Christian Day, 8th, 32-14, SQ, R4, DC; Duane Mallory, Jr., 26-10, RQ, D2; Landon Fischer, Sr., 27-17, RQ, D2; Ivan Eder, 8th; Shane Mallory, So.; Cole Webb, Sr., 29-8; Eric Green, Sr., 18-12; Miles Crouser, Jr., 15-4.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook: Ferreira’s state title was the first individual championship for the Minutemen in 23 years.
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
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Merritt Island Mustangs
Coach: Graham Smith (17th season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:2; 2025:1; 2024:1-2A13; 2023:1-2A13; 2022:1-2A13; 2021:2; 2020:4; 2019:1-2A13; 2018:2-2A13; 2017:2-2A13; 2016:2-2A13; 2015:2-2A13; 2014:4-2A13; 2013:5-2A13; 2012:7-2A13
Last state champion: Timmy Boda, 2026 (138); Tre Driggett, 2026 (190)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Tre Driggett, 49-5, SC, RC, DC; Landon Quiroga, 53-6, S3, RC, DC; Makana Tieri, 43-13, S7, R2, D2; Nolan West, 41-16, S8, R3, D2; David Serrano, S8, R4, D3; Titus DeYoung, 32-8, SQ, R2, D2; Anderson Flores, 26-12, RQ-BR, D3; Cameron Gill.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Timmy Boda, Jr., 48-4, SC, RC, DC; Alex Wardenburg, So., 24-18, RQ-BR, D3; Owen King, Jr., 17-11, RQ, D2; Rian Dufrene, Jr., 29-18, RQ, D3; Justus Giglietti, Sr., 22-20, D5; Nate Webster, So.
New wrestlers: Case Mangini, So., 29-15, RQ, D3 (Transfer from New Smyrna Beach); Devyn Hicks, Sr., 47-12, S5, R2, D2 (Transfer to Merritt Island)
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Space Coast Vipers
Coach: Tony McCormick (21st at school/22nd overall)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:3; 2025:4; 2024:3; 2023:2; 2022:2; 2021:6; 2020:2; 2019:2; 2018:1; 2017:2; 2016:2; 2015:2; 2014:7; 2013:5-1A6; 2012:2-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Drayton Gamradt, 46-17, SQ, R4, D4; Riley Realin, 21-25, RQ, D4; Colin Burke, 26-26, RQ, D4; Jaden Pyatt, 21-25, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Angel Jones, Sr., 42-16, SQ, R3, D3; Dominic Berger, Sr., 37-20, SQ, R3, DC; Ashton Swanson, Sr., 49-10, SQ, R4, DC; Jerrell Dossous, Sr., 38-13, RQ-BR, D2; Malik DeReese, 8th, 28-17, RQ, D4; Zakary Cordova, So., 16-8, RQ, D4; Rico Gonzalez, Jr., 18-20, RQ, D4; Brantley Morgan, So., 25-32, RQ, D4; Joseph Mitchner, Fr., 7-5.
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Palm Bay Pirates
Coach: Sean Ballard
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:4; 2025:3; 2024:1; 2023:1; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:1; 2019:2-2A13; 2018:1-2A13; 2017:1-2A13; 2016:1-2A13; 2015:3-2A13; 2014:1-2A13; 2013:1-2A13; 2012:1-2A13
Last state champion: Leonard Christian, 2025 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Clarence Shivers, 26-14, RQ, D3; Adson Laurent, RQ, D4; Alexander Vicente, 35-16, D5; Bobby Shivers.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Kevion Williams, Sr., 47-10, S3, R3, D3; Vindarious White, Jr., 48-15, S5, R3, D2; Brayden Auten, So., 37-16, RQ-BR, D2; Azriel Roberts, Jr., 25-11, RQ, D2; Bentley Spickler, Jr., 21-13, D5.
New wrestlers:
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Titusville Terriers
Coach: Victor “Yadi” Rosario (3rd season)
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:5; 2025:6; 2024:4; 2023:5; 2022:7; 2021:7; 2020:9; 2019:6; 2018:7; 2017:7; 2016:6; 2015:4; 2014:5; 2013:3-1A6; 2012:6-1A6
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Jeremy Priest, 22-6, S8, R2, D2; Eric Williams, 44-6, SQ, R3, D3.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Fran Carrion, Sr., 29-13, SQ, R4, D3; Carson Bryant, Sr., 34-8, RQ-BR, DC; Van Russell, So., 23-21, RQ-BR, D3; Julian Smiley, Sr., 22-25, RQ, D3; Chandler Ironfield, Sr., 23-20, D6.
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Eau Gallie Commodores
Coach: Kelly Benninger
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:6-2A13; 2025:6-2A13; 2024:7-2A13; 2023:7-2A13; 2022:7-2A13; 2021:5-2A13; 2020:5-2A13; 2019:5-2A13; 2018:3-2A13; 2017:5-2A13; 2016:6-2A13; 2015:4-2A13; 2014:5-2A13; 2013:3-2A13; 2012:5-2A13
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Elijah Norsworthy, 11-11, RQ, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Julian Dominguez, Sr., 17-7, RQ-BR, D2; Leiland Lanham, Sr., 15-8, RQ, D2; Gavin Wentworth, So., 4-7, RQ, D4.
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Astronaut War Eagles
Coach: Muhammed DeReese
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:6; 2025:5; 2024:5; 2023:6; 2022:8; 2021:9; 2020:8; 2019:7; 2018:4; 2017:1; 2016:1; 2015:1; 2014:2; 2013:1-1A6; 2012:1-1A6
Last state champion: Joe Hennis, 2001 (285)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Elijah Cardwell, 31-6, S7, RC, DC; Anthony Rice, 30-10, RQ, D3; Drake Small.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Logan Futch, Sr., 22-19, D5; Mohamad Al Sheikh Ahmad, Jr., 29-16, D6; Anthony Gisondi, Sr., 13-23; Macih Simmons, Sr., 17-7.
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Master’s Academy Patriots
Coach: JP Demsick
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:7
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Chase Donnon, 5-7, RQ, D4; Nolan Wilkie, RQ, D4.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Rio Tanacs, Fr., 30-7, RQ-BR, D3; Cortez Ramirez, Sr., 13-10, RQ, D4.
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Cocoa Tigers
Coach: Shawn Adams
Click here for 26-27 schedule
Recent district results: 2026:9; 2025:7; 2024:6; 2023:4; 2022:5; 2021:8; 2020:6; 2019:5; 2018:6; 2017:6; 2016:7; 2015:6; 2014:6; 2013:6-1A6; 2012:5-1A6
Last state champion: Jonathan Cornman, 2003 (112)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Ivan Townsend, So., 29-26, RQ, D4; Julian Bates, So., 15-19.
New wrestlers:
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