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: Jett Johnson, Fr. (Cocoa Beach); Asher Cabral, 8th (Cocoa Beach); Timmy Boda, Jr. (Merritt Island); Devyn Hicks, Sr. (Merritt Island); VinDaryus White, Jr. (Palm Bay); Anthony Acquafredda, Sr. (Cocoa Beach); Adrian Day, Jr. (Cocoa Beach); Kevion Williams, Sr. (Palm Bay); Nathan Pond, Sr. (Cocoa Beach); Duane Mallory, Jr. (Cocoa Beach); Cole Webb, Sr. (Cocoa Beach); Aaron Horr, Sr. (Cocoa Beach); Ashton Swanson, Sr. (Space Coast); Dominic Berger, Sr. (Space Coast).
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)
Assistant coaches: Tony Acquafredda, Nico Balestari
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 23-2
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.
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; Kaleb Anderson, Sr.; Lawson Gobel, Jr.
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
For Kabra+ members (Join here)
Merritt Island Mustangs
Coach: Graham Smith (17th season)
Assistant coaches: Evan Bergeron, Tim Boda
Click here for 26-27 schedule
25-26 dual record: 11-2
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.
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.; Jason Benitez, So.; TJ Fierro, So.; Logan Scott, Jr.; Khalil Hobbs, Jr.; Sam Kaious, Jr.; Robi Aeisia, Jr.
New wrestlers: Case Mangini, So., 29-15, RQ, D3 (Transfer from New Smyrna Beach); Devyn Hicks, Sr., 47-12, S5, R2, D2 (Transfer from New Smyrna Beach); Tory Love, Sr. (Transfer from Rockledge)
What they’re saying: “We are younger this year than we have been in past seasons but have a great group of up and comers that are working hard to establish their own legacies as well as some upper classmen that are looking to take home state titles.”
On team goals: “We want to work hard and continue to build and develop the young core of this team.”
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; Jerrell Dossous, 38-13, RQ-BR, D2.
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; 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.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Palm Bay Pirates
Coach: Sean Ballard (27th season)
Assistant coach: Brycen Turner
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.
Notable returning wrestlers: Kevion Williams, Sr., 47-10, S3, R3, D3; VinDaryus White, Jr., 48-15, S5, R3, D2; Brayden Auten, So., 37-16, RQ-BR, D2; Azriel Roberts, Jr., 25-11, RQ, D2; Jayden Lebolo; Kaden Barnes; Jose Rivera; Kyler Adams.
New wrestlers: Tyler Garcia; Talen Cole-Powell; Brycen Sowards; Corbin Swearingen
What they’re saying: “They enjoy coming to practice and take pride in working hard. They are a great group of kids to coach.”
Outlook:
Titusville Terriers
Coach: Yadiel Rosario (3rd season)
Assistant coach: Manuelle Rosario
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.
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.
New wrestlers: Mohamad Al Sheikh Ahmad, Jr., 29-16, D6 (Transfer from Astronaut); Spencer Coleman (Transfer from South Carolina)
What they’re saying: “This team is hungry, they are a little bit more experienced and I think our upper classmen will lead the way to a great season.”
Outlook: The Terriers are strong in the upper weights and should see another multi-wrestler state qualifying group this year.
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.
Notable returning wrestlers: Leiland Lanham, Sr., 15-8, RQ, D2; Gavin Wentworth, So., 4-7, RQ, D4.
Outlook:
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; Mohamad Al Sheikh Ahmad, Jr., 29-16, D6 (Transfer to Titusville).
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Logan Futch, Sr., 22-19, D5; Anthony Gisondi, Sr., 13-23; Macih Simmons, Sr., 17-7.
New wrestlers:
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
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; Rio Tanacs, Fr., 30-7, RQ-BR, D3 (Transfer to Jensen Beach).
Notable returning wrestler: Cortez Ramirez, Sr., 13-10, RQ, D4.
What they’re saying:
Outlook:
Cocoa Tigers
Coach: Paul Wade (2nd at school)
Assistant coaches: Alan Jennings, Shawn Adams, Brittany Jennings
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
Notable returning wrestlers: Ivan Townsend, So., 29-26, RQ, D4; Zevin Lower, So.; Marvin Martinez, Jr.
What they’re saying: “We want to make a mark and surprise some people and have enough wrestlers to compete in dual meets.”
Outlook: