Wakulla War Eagle wrestling preview
By Walt Jacobs
Long before a plant reaches maturity and subsequently bears fruit, a seed must first be planted. Beneath the soil, hidden from view, a private process begins in solitude. It is a cycle that begins with breaking and ends in fruitfulness. While you may be able to count the number of seeds in a particular fruit, it is impossible to know how much fruit is in a seed. For the War Eagle wrestling team, there is reason for optimism, but only time will tell how fruitful this current crop of combatants will be.
Coach Will Pafford will begin this season with an abundance of wrestlers. Among them, 11 are returners from last year’s starting lineup and 5 of those qualified for the FHSAA State Tournament in 2023.
Last season, for the first time in Coach Pafford’s career, the War Eagles did not win the District Championship. One could be tempted to say that the War Eagles were in a rebuilding year, but 8 wrestlers qualified for State last year. Only the 2013, 2019, and 2020 teams have qualified more wrestlers for state. With the re-emergence of Suwannee High as a state power, winning District 2 has not been nor will be an easy task, but it is one that many feel is well within the War Eagles’ grasp.
Currently in Kabra’s State Dual Team rankings, Suwannee is 5th, followed by Florida High at 6th and Wakulla at 11th. The War Eagles will begin their 2023-24 campaign at Wewahitchka High School as the Gators host the season opening Jamboree on Friday, Nov. 17th.
Returning Starters from 2022-23:
• Anthony Fondo – Junior; Weight Class: 113 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 34-16; 2nd at Districts, 3rd at Regionals. DNP at State
• Troy Thaxton – Sophomore; 120 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 35-22; 3rd at Districts, DNP at Regionals
• David Culley – Senior;126 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 30-16; 3rd at Districts, 2nd at Regionals, DNP at State
• Brady Jackson – Sophomore; 138 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 44-13, 1st at Districts, 3rd at Regionals, DNP at State
• Nate Jacobs – Junior; 152 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 44-17; 3rd at Districts, 2nd at Regionals, DNP at State – Led the team with 29 pins for the year
• Wyatt Brown – Sophomore; 170 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 19-25; 3rd at Districts, DNP at Regionals
• Blake Barodte – Sophomore; 182 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 16-26; 4th at Districts, DNP at Regionals
• Noah Vernon – Sophomore; 195 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 8-12; 3rd at Districts, DNP at Regionals
• Kohl Pippin – Senior; 220 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 33-11; 2nd at Districts, 2nd at Regionals, 8th at State
• Adleigh Caquimbo – Senior; 285 lbs; 2022-23 Record: 13-6; 1st at Districts, DNP at Regionals
Beyond the returning starters, Wakulla has an abundance of wrestlers, some of which have loads of experience and are looking to make an impact this season.
Aiden Alvarez
Trent Burnsed
Addison Carter
Bo deMontmollin (FR)
Jonah Hicks (FR)
Bricyn Kennedy (SR)
Cole Manning (FR)
Matthew Thaxton (FR)
Austin Hill (SO)
Brady Wilson (SR)
Hayden Wilson (FR)
Zachari Waldrop
Trent Wells
Connar Paarlberg (FR)
Aaron Robinson (SO)
Keiland Carraway (JR)
Auston Ryals (JR)
Lane Cole (JR)
Nathan Sewell (JR)
Gavin Mitchell (SO)
Hayden Fringer (SR)
Alex Akins (SO)
Sultan Ellington (JR)
Nathan Braverman (SR)
Aaron Caquimbo (SR)
Kane Watford (FR)
Caleb Thompson
Kyle Manzi
Clayton Manzi
Gavin Mullins
Reice Carraway
Coaching Staff: Will Pafford, Jon Sanchez, Nate Litowsky, Benny Litowsky, and Larry Reeves
Additionally, the Girls Wrestling team will be led by Coach Greg Bettis. The sole returner from the girls team is Senior Austin Brown, who placed 2nd in the District last season.
The Lady War Eagles roster will be bolstered by the addition of Julia Baggett, Bella Vernon, Savannah Nowak, Ruby Scott, Chloe Doskocil, Caitlyn Hall, and Hannah Hall.
