War Eagles dominate at Gator Brawl

By Walt Jacobs

The War Eagle wrestling team, above, after winning the Gator Brawl in Wewahitchka.

Wewahitchka High School welcomed 19 teams from Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida to compete in their annual Gator Brawl wrestling tournament.
The War Eagles dominated from beginning to end as they won almost 80% of their matches throughout the tournament.
Wakulla’s exceptional performance that yielded 534 team points, would prove to be more than enough to secure the Gator Brawl championship.
Ridgeview placed a distant 2nd with 416.5 points, followed by Waccamaw (SC) at 3rd with 411.5, Episcopal of Jacksonville at 4th with 402, and Mosley at 5th with 366 points.
Individually, seven Wakulla wrestlers advanced to the championship finals and five of those were crowned Gator Brawl champs. Matthew Thaxton, Troy Thaxton, Brady Jackson, Aaron Robinson, and Nate Jacobs all placed first in their respective weight classes.
Brady Wilson and Adleigh Caquimbo placed 2nd.
Others placing in the top 5 were Bricyn Kennedy (3rd), Kane Watford (4th), David Culley (5th), and Gavin Mitchell (5th).
On Wednesday, Jan. 24th, the War Eagles will travel to Chiles High to compete in a dual meet at 6 p.m.
On January 26th and 27th Wakulla will host the Annual Wakulla FCA Invitational. Wrestling will begin on Friday at 1 p.m.

Wrestling Year in Review

Three Wakulla wrestlers place at state

Three of the podiums taken by Wakulla wrestlers: above, Brady Jackson 1st at 138.
Troy Thaxton 1st at 126
Brady Wilson 2nd at 106.

Photos by Walt Jacobs