Regional Wrestling Shoutouts: Lots of Local State Qualifiers
- Coach Jason Weslager
- 5 days ago
- 14 min read
These past two weeks have seen triumphs and heartbreaks as state berths were earned and others' seasons ended in shambles. It's the nature of the beast in late February and early March in high school wrestling.
In 1A, regionals were contested last weekend in Panama City. 2A competition went down right here at Chiles HS. And two weeks back, girls regionals were in Panama City. Top 4 competitors from each bracket advance to Kissimmee this weekend for the FHSAA State Championships.
Over the years, we've been BLESSED to have tons of wrestlers come through the room and get to be just a small part of their wrestling journey. Some of the kids on the list have been with the club since inception, some began with us as 1st year wrestlers, some visit us for FCA practices, others have taken private instruction over the years. There's current club members here, freestylers, offseason trainers, drop-in practicers, offseason campers, and more.
The intent is not laying claim to any wrestler's success, just simply congratulating all the area's kids who have worked so darn hard to get to this moment. I've been around wrestling in some capacity for 34 years now. Most people have zero clue the level of work, discipline, tenacity, relentlessness, and grind that wrestling training is. Those that have been there get it. It's DIFFICULT. And we're one of the least recognized sports. We train 99% of the time for that 1% of the time we get the OPPORTUNITY to compete. When the 1% of the time comes around, and kids accomplish goals, they deserve praise for their efforts. Proud of everyone we're about to call out.
It takes a village to raise an athlete. So many people have had, and continue to have, positive impacts on all these kids. As a coach, I'm grateful for the awesome local coaches that support one another as we all work together to help these kids into adulthood.
Without further ado, here are some state qualifiers who we're extremely proud of. And sorry, I'm going to tell stories about these kids because I've watched a lot of them grow up from little tots into mat assassins, and I think I've got some cool memories that highlight these kids' character.
FROM FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL (FSUS):
2026 District & Regional IBT Team Champions
Congrats to Coach Allen and his staff on these state qualifiers and more.
Jasper Croom - 132 lbs., District Champ, Regional Champ, 40-0 , Junior
J has been with us in one capacity or another since we started back in 2019. He's one of the OGs. Somehow, he may be better at academics than wrestling. Speaks latin, plays classical music, and absolutely mauls kids on the mats. He dominated his way through regionals (all tech falls and pins) and has had a season for the record books. He helps anyone that wants it or needs it and brings others up with him. Everyone knows J's expectations for how the season should end. Regardless of how it ends up, the proof is in the preparation. I dare you to find someone who wants it more. And it shows in how he works at it year-round. Not just in our room, but ANY room that has kids who want to wrestle and learn. Let's get it this weekend, bud!
Wyatt Feltgen - 120 lbs., District 2nd, Regional 2nd, 37-16, Freshman
He's been pretty steady with the club for a few seasons now and just goes after it. He shows up, listens, and genuinely likes wrestling to the point of just wanting to be around it. My favorite story about Wyatt in the past few years has very little to do with wrestling and sheds light on his personality. When we were moving into the new facility in July 2024, Wyatt was fairly new to the club. He'd been training with us for 2-3 months regularly, and we needed some help with maintenance work as we tried to get the new facility ready. For a week straight, he showed up and put in 6+ hours a day alongside me putting that facility together. We chatted about wrestling, goals, high schoolers' lingo, and more while painting, cutting mats, hanging wall mats, and doing much more grunt work. As we neared the end of the project, we had black mats, black and gold walls, and a bare wood storage rack that needed to be painted gold. We had a lot of volunteers that day working on different projects, and Wyatt asked what he could do. I thought, what's the worst that could happen, and provided him with a brush, a roller, and a gallon of gold paint, and walked away to help with another
project. An hour later, I returned to a pretty well-painted gear storage rack and a very well-painted wrestling mat. Gold paint drips everywhere. I looked at him and said, what happened here, dude? He said, I don't know, I'm not the one who left a 13-year-old in charge of a paint brush. Well played. You can still find a couple of those gold paint drips on the warmup mats in the back, haha. Congrats Wyatt, go get a medal this weekend!
Sterling Hollingsworth - 144 lbs., District Champ, Regional Champ, 41-5, Senior
We've known this kid for a few years, as he's a regular at FCA practice and was on the freestyle scene with us a bit this past season. He's got the craziest, funkiest wrestling style, and just finds ways to win. His arsenal of techniques is wide, and he always seems to be in great position. The point is, he's extremely fun to watch wrestle. He wasn't the top seed but gutted through an overtime match to take down the regional title in his last chance. Very proud of this kid, and don't be surprised if he makes a sneaky run this weekend, although those of us who know won't think it's too sneaky.
Terrence Hinson - 157 lbs., District Champ, Regional Champ, 46-10, Senior
Another kid we've known for a few seasons through camps, FCA, freestyle, and offseason stuff. A fun memory from the freestyle state tournament last year, in his first real season transitioning to the style. In the first period of his opening match, I noticed he kept getting in deep on double legs, and the kid would feed him hips and eventually sprawl. During the break, I said something like, if you can't finish the shot, switch to a body lock and just lift him (not knowing his style super well, but understanding that God gifted him athletically). Terrence, wanting to make something happen, came out off the whistle, took a shot, got stuffed, went to a body lock, and lifted the kid 5 feet off the mat, slammed him for 4, which is legal in freestyle, and I think finished with a pin. It was one of those 'wow, this kid is EXPLOSIVE' moments. Great work this weekend, bud, bring back some hardware!
Jordan Haigler - 175 lbs., District Runner Up, Regional Champ, 42-5, Senior
Another that we've known for a few seasons through freestyle and FCA. The kid is an absolute powerhouse. Explosive, quick, intelligent, and always game in big matches. In the regional finals, he took out a D1 commit, 4-0. I've watched him do some things on the mat this season that have put me in awe. He's a bad draw for anyone at the state tournament, and we'll always be rooting for him. Go get it, Jordan!
Malik Leonard - 113 lbs., District Champ, Regional Runner Up, 37-11, Senior
Another that we've gotten to know a lot over the last few years. Malik started wrestling as a freshman and has done a ton in that time. The kid is just always on the mat, which is how you get better at this sport. He's qualified for states now 3 times, if I recall correctly, and has been wrestling at a pretty high level despite his short time in the sport. He's quick, experienced at the State Tournament, and is gonna throw a lot of people's brackets for a loop this weekend. Can't wait to see it unfold for him!
From Wakulla High School
2026 District & Regional Dual Champions
Congrats to Coach Nate & his staff on these state qualifiers and more.
Kendal Haynie -120 lbs., District Champ, Regional Champ, 20-0, Sophomore.
Another one of our OGs. Though she's largely moved on to high school wrestling and full-time Olympic styles in the offseason, she's like a family member. To this day, she and her family babysit our children for date nights. Since the age of 9, I've watched her slowly grow from a shy, timid girl into an absolute hammer on the mat and a delightful young person off the mat. With and without GHWC, she's accomplished SO much, including National Championships, Fargo All American honors, youth state titles galore, and more. Wanna know why all that is a thing? Because she works hard. I've known her since she was 9, and seen her do things that even surprised herself, just because she dives head first and gives effort. For example, when she was in 7th grade, we were doing buddy carries.
Where you jog around the mat circle while piggy backing a partner. Kendal was all of 90 lbs, maybe 100 at the time. She said "I think I can carry Coach Justin (former asst, Lincoln legend)." Half laughing, I told her to try to lift the 170 pound coach, with her dad's approval. She didn't just pick him up, she ran 5 laps with him on her back. There's a video somewhere on our Facebook page for those that care to look back. I can't wait to watch her compete for her goals this weekend. She's a technician on the mats, but her real superpower is that mindset. She just blocks out the noise and crowd and executes. It's fun to watch. Go get it Kendal!
Brady Jackson - Regional Champ, 60-6 , Senior
Another wrestler we've known for a short time. He's been in and out of our room a good bit these past 2 seasons getting extra reps and silently working his butt off the whole time. Seriously, I've been in a lot of wrestling rooms. It's easy to get distracted, easy to lose focus, and easy to stray a bit from what you're trying to accomplish. I've never seen Brady have that issue. He's laser focused on whatever he's working on and just trying to get a little better each day. Barely talks unless it's about wrestling and improving. Always respectful, polite, and helps the younger kids OFTEN. I've always admired that type of person who just comes in, puts their head down, and works. And gives back to the younger kids as much as possible (seriously, he might be Levi Segal & Joey Stepien's favorite wrestler of all time outside of Joe Tucker). Brady was the state runner up last year. I don't think those are his plans for this year. Good luck Brady, hoping you get that Gold.
From Lincoln High School
Congrats to Coach Crowder & staff on these state qualifiers and more!
Luke Rodriguez - Senior, 126 lbs., Regional 4th, 46-11
Luke's been in our room a good bit these past few seasons. It's been great getting to know this young man and watching his journey unfold. You rarely hear him talk in practice, he's just getting after it. If he ever lifts his head up from working, it's to ask a question in an attempt to get better. He just works hard and gives everything he has every time he's on the mat. We've enjoyed watching his progression in the sport unfold. Go get that state medal Luke, we're pulling for ya!
Daniel Clement - Junior, 285 lbs., Regional Runner Up, 37-7
Daniel hasn't been active with the club in some time. Honestly, since he was 12 years old in 8th grade in 2023, when the demands of football and weightlifting and high school wrestling began taking up all his free time. It doesn't mean we haven't been following his journey. He was one of our original crew of kids back in 2019ish. He had come from Mississippi, and his dad had him in youth wrestling there and wanted to get him into it here. He was with the club for a few years and grew a TON in the sport in that time. He's still on the wall in the wrestling room for his Youth State performance (4th) in 2021/2022. Daniel has gone on to do awesome things with Lincoln, and we're proud as heck of the wrestler they've molded him into. Funny anecdote, Daniel has always been a large child. The last time he wrestled with us, he was about 12 years old, 190ish lbs, 5 foot 10 maybe? I randomly ran into him this summer at a gas station with my children. He's no longer under 6 feet tall, and nowhere near 200 lbs. Weightlifting, young adulthood, football, and wrestling have turned him into a giant. Daniel is a full grown man now, towering over me. Think Ben Roethlisberger. He said, Hey Coach, and I double took until I recognized the face. Best of luck this weekend, big guy!
Juan Torres - 113 lbs., Regional 4th, 30-6
Juan's been around the GH mats since we opened a location in Thomasville back in 2022 for a short time. He pops in for random practices, FCA, camps, and whatever else we've got going on that he can make it over for. You'll notice a theme with the kids that have spent time in the Lincoln room; silent worker. When he's here, he pays attention and does everything he can to get better. He's one of those wrestlers you can't overlook in a State Tournament. He's quick, got lots of mat savvy, has plenty of experience, and isn't afraid of a big stage. That's a dangerous draw for someone in the opening round of FHSAA's. Go get it!
Yuri Caceres - District Champ - Regional Champ - Undefeated
Yuri is like a lot of the other kids on this list. We've known her since 2021 maybe, back when she was a freshman. She's a STAPLE on our offseason national dual team (shoutout Not Plain Janes), and frequently in the room over the years. We haven't seen her as much recently, but again, it doesn't mean we're not following her season. The returning State Champion is primed to add another to the list this season. She's quietly racked up a ridiculously dominant season, one that we all hope ends with another Gold. Let's get it Yuri!
From Chiles High School
Congrats to Coach Marschka & staff on these state qualifiers and more!
Toby Trumbower - 144 lbs, Regional Runner Up, 22-14
Another one of the original crew, starting for a little bit in 2018 (we'll save the story about having to be barefoot on the Zicro mats for another time), and more steadily after COVID. Even into high school, we still see him for camps, private lessons from time to time, and random drop-in practices and hopefully for freestyle here soon. Toby is an athlete through and through. The kid is very good at just about any sport he tries. I think he's a 6 or 7 sport athlete, something like that (exaggerating, but not really). Either way, his attention has always been spread over multiple sports and seasons and practices, and he hasn't fully gone all in on wrestling yet. Recently, a little birdie told me that mentality is starting to shift and he's begun taking wrestling training much more seriously and plans to spend more time on the mats this offseason. After that conversation with his dad, literally 48 hours later, Toby goes into the regional tournament as the number 3 seed and breezes into the semifinals with 2 tech falls, then gets a big 9-7 win in the semifinals to secure his berth to the state tournament. Great job Toby, excited to watch your run through the state bracket!
Hayden Smith - 165 lbs, 44-3, Regional Champ
Hayden is one we know from over the years. He isn't a regular in practices, but often comes along to private lessons with his Chiles buddies. I've gotten the opportunity to work with him 1 on 1 maybe 10-12 times over the course of his 4 year career. He always works along with whatever his partner is working on, works diligently, and always asks questions. That's the biggest takeaway from my time working with him. He asked a lot of questions. Not pestering ones, but genuine 'I want to know more and get better at this' questions. That mentality carries over to his work with the Chiles staff, clearly, because they've got him firing on ALL cylinders. Even though he's not someone in our room all the time, I wanted to shout him out because he's doing great things, and we're proud of him. Go make a run at gold!
Kelsey Marschka - 135 lbs., Regional Runner Up, 27-6, Junior
We haven't worked a whole lot with Kelsey. She swings past for camps and clinics from time to time, and she's been on our Not Plain Janes Dual team the last few years. She's the head Coach's daughter, but don't tell her that because she's paved her own path. 2x State Qualifier, absolutely relentless on the mats, and just attacks. Rarely defensive, almost always offensively thinking. In wrestling, we often talk about "the switch." What we mean by that is learning how to be a polite/respectful person off the mat, but when you're competing, turning into an assassin. Getting the "eye of the tiger," so to speak. It's one of those 'you have it or you don't' things. Kelsey has it. Best of luck this weekend!
Jason Marsala - 113 lbs, Regional Champ, 44-6, Senior
Last on this list is one of our ORIGINAL crew, when Jasper and Kendal were first year wrestlers alongside him. Back on the red mats at Zicro, then the green mats at Titus, and finally the black mats at the new facility. He's been through every room many a time, starting when they moved here from New Jersey back in 2019. While he's mainly with us in offseason and camps and whatnot, he's been fun to follow this year. Again, the Chiles crew has Jay ready to run through a wall based on the results. He's put together a heck of a season, culminating with a dominating regional performance that saw 3 pins and a decision, including a pin in the finals. Hate to watch your career come to a close, but no better place than in Kissimmee. Best of luck to you, buddy. Hopefully the next time I see you, we'll be celebrating a gold medal!
All these kids have worked EXTREMELY hard (for many years) to get here. It's been a privilege getting to watch the growth over the years and can't wait to watch the celebrations when more goals are accomplished this coming weekend. And I can't wait to brag about it on the internet to anyone that'll read my ramblings.
Until the next update (sometime after the HS State Tournament).
Coach Jason
Comments