Sports around Wakulla county
Wakulla War Eagle strong safety Andrew Nelson signed a scholarship on National Signing Day, Wednesday, Feb. 4, with the Missouri S&T Miners, a Division II team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Head Coach Scott Klees praised Nelson and the support of his family. Nelson said he chose Missouri S&T because he will get a great education at school and play for a great football team. He is the 106th player from Wakulla under Coach Klees to get a football scholarship.
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
The Wakulla wrestling team closed out their regular season at the Ippolito Memorial Tournament held at Brandon High School. The War Eagles had a strong showing despite missing four wrestlers from their roster. No. 9 Brandon (2A) won the tournament with 274.5 points, followed by No. 7 Harmony (3A) with 200 points, No. 7 Aubrey Rogers (1A) in third, with 183 points, and Wakulla with 182.5 points for a fourth place finish.
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By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
On January 31st, the Lady War Eagle wrestlers competed in the Lady Trojan Invitational at Lincoln High School. The tournament served as a preview of the upcoming FHSAA District 1 Championship which will be held on February 14th in Niceville. Of the 25 teams in the district, 14 were represented on Saturday in Tallahassee.
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By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
On Friday, Jan. 23rd, the Wakulla High wrestling team defeated Baker County 64-15 to win the Region 1A dual championship in Kissimmee.
The dual against the Wildcats was mostly a display of domination by Wakulla, as the War Eagles had 8 pins and two technical falls throughout the dual.
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
On Thursday, January 15th, the top four teams from Districts 1 and 2 met in Lynn Haven to battle it out for a chance to compete for the FHSAA 1A Regional Dual championship title in Kissimmee on January 23rd.
An air of confidence emanated from a stone-faced Nate Litowsky and his intrepid squad of wrestlers as they walked into the gym at North Bay Haven Charter Academy.
In their first dual of the night, Wakulla faced South Walton. The outcome of the dual was never in question as the War Eagles dismantled the Seahawks 60-18. With Florida High’s 44-32 defeat of North Bay Haven, the match that everyone anticipated was set.
Only a week earlier, Wakulla soundly beat Florida High 58-18. It was expected that Florida High would make roster adjustments in hopes of pulling off the upset, but the Seminoles dramatically changed their lineup the second time around. Eleven wrestlers competed in different weight classes this time for Florida High, while Wakulla only made adjustments at 138 and 144.
The dual began at the 157 pound weight class and by the time the dual reached the midway point, the War Eagles had built a commanding 27-11 lead. Although the momentum was firmly in Wakulla’s favor, there was still some work to be done before Wakulla fans could begin to breathe easier.
At the conclusion of the 126 pound bout, Wakulla led 38-15. The Seminoles still had hope, but they would need to pin their way through the four remaining matches to win.
They got one of the four pins needed at 132, when Florida High’s Wyatt Feltgen pinned Patrick Cooksey, but both Feltgen and Cooksey received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties which brought the score to Wakulla 37, Florida High 20.
The Seminoles got the second of four pins that they needed when Jasper Croom pinned Caleb Thompson at 138 pounds. That brought the team score to Wakulla 37, Florida High 26. After the bout, Croom was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty which resulted in the deduction of another team point, making the score 37-25.
With two matches left, the dual could still end in a 37-37 tie and have to be decided on criteria.
However, Brady Jackson received a forfeit at 144 pounds, which sealed the win for Wakulla.
At 150 pounds, Troy Thaxton put an exclamation point on Wakulla’s victory with a pin of Florida High’s Diego Silva in the final bout of the evening.
The final score was Wakulla 49, Florida High 25.
Coach Nate Litowsky commented, “We wrestle in a dominant district against some tough teams in the region. After Thursday, there’s no question who the best is.” He added: “Shouldn’t have been a question in the first place.”
The win advances Wakulla to the Regional Finals where they will take on Baker County on January 23rd in Kissimmee.
WAKULLA
PLACES 2ND AT
GATOR BRAWL
Wakulla High placed second at the Gator Brawl held in Wewahitchka on January 16th and 17th. The Middleburg Broncos placed first with 551.5 points followed by Wakulla with 461.5, North Bay Haven with 339.5, Fort Walton Beach with 334, and Suwannee with 313 points to round out the top five.
Wakulla advanced five wrestlers to the finals and came away with three champions: Kyle Manzi at 113, William Harvey at 126 and Brady Jackson at 138.
INDIVIDUAL
PLACERS
106- Brayden Hodges: 6-2; 4th place
113-Kyle Manzi: 8-0; 1st place
120-Matthew Thaxton: 8-1; 2nd place
126-William Harvey: 9-0; 1st place
132-Patrick Cooksey: 6-2; 4th place
138-Brady Jackson: 8-0; 1st Place
150-Troy Thaxton: 8-1; 2nd place
175-Cole Manning: 5-2; 5th place
190-Gavin Mitchell: 5-3; 3rd place
215-Blake Barodte: 9-1; 2nd place
285-Lonnie Pearce: 5-3; 6th place
BRADY JACKSON BREAKS RECORD
On January 17th, Brady Jackson etched his name in the record books with his 28th tech fall of the year. It came on a 20-4 technical fall over Aiden Reeves of Fort Walton Beach.
Jackson added a 29th tech fall with a 19-3 win over Jude Merrell, also of Fort Walton Beach. With several dates remaining on the schedule, Jackson will no doubt continue to add more. The record was previously set by Jae T Thaxton in 2023 with 27.
LADY WAR EAGLES EXCEL AT RYAN BLACKWELL
The Ryan Blackwell Invitational in Gulf Breeze provided the Lady War Eagle wrestling team an opportunity to get a glimpse of half of the district opponents that they will see in the postseason.
Julia Baggett and Kameron Easter had stellar performances with both placing 2nd in their respective weight classes.
In her second match, Baggett faced 11th ranked Elizabeth Herhold from Gulf Shores, Alabama. Coach Jon Sanchez described it as “a dogfight the whole match. There was a lot of back and forth action. Julia ended up pinning her in the second period.”
In the finals, Baggett wrestled Choctaw’s 20th ranked Mary McKinney.
Sanchez said, “She wrestled great and gave McKinney all she could handle. Unfortunately, she came up short, losing 12-2. However, the match brought out a lot of good things overall when you look at the progression of the season.” He added: “We still have some time to work on some small adjustments, but the growth she’s seen this season has been great.”
In her opening match, Kameron Easter came out firing on all cylinders pinning Bay High’s Tamya Leveret in just 55 seconds.
In the finals, Easter wrestled 11th ranked Adalyne Fowls from Gulf Breeze. “Her finals match didn’t go the way we wanted,” said Sanchez, “but again, we were able to take away a lot of positives. Kameron is continuing to work on things in the room and is getting better every week.”
“I’m very proud of how these girls performed and I’m looking forward to the postseason,” he said.
“All the work we put in was aimed at this weekend and March. We’ve accomplished more than anyone ever thought we would. Now the boys are prepared, confident, and ready to finish it.”
– Coach Nate Litowsky
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
Seneca is credited with saying, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
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Wakulla High School Girls Golf finished their 2025-26 season as District runner up and Regional finalist. Congratulations to Hadley Brown for making 2nd Team All Big Bend. Abbigal Lawhon and Jessalee Core received honorable mention. Pictured: Hadley Brown, Brianna Stephens, Abbigail Lawhon, Raegan Wester, Jessalee Core.
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
The Wakulla High Wrestling team traveled to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale to compete in the Bobby Stanley Duals on Dec. 29th and 30th. The War Eagles went through the tournament virtually untested, as they utterly dominated their pool to advance to the Gold bracket on the last day of competition.
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By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
Fort Walton Beach is located on what is called the Emerald Coast. It is known for its white sand beaches, pristine coastline, and clear emerald waters. It’s an image that depicts tranquility and relaxation.
However, the scene at Fort Walton Beach High School gymnasium was neither tranquil nor relaxing, it was more reminiscent of a battleground. On Friday and Saturday, Dec.19th and 20th, the school hosted its annual Beast of the Beach tournament. The competition, a dual format tournament, attracted 21 teams from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida.
Coach Nate Litowsky and his War Eagles were among those who made the trip to lay claim to the title.
In the opening round of their bracket, Wakulla defeated Marianna 58-15. The War Eagles followed that up with a 63-6 mauling of Milton. Subsequently, Wakulla pummeled Fort Walton’s B team 58-11. In their final match of the day, the War Eagles finished strong with a 55-25 drubbing of Niceville. Virtually unchallenged, Wakulla advanced to the next day’s championship round.
On day two, the War Eagles faced Fort Walton Beach. Wakulla prevailed over their hosts 50-24. Next, Wakulla took on Collierville High from Tennessee. The Dragons gave the War Eagles their closest match of the tournament at this juncture, but Wakulla advanced to the championship match with a 43-36 victory.
In the championship, the War Eagles faced Tallassee from Alabama. Tallassee entered the contest on a 73 dual win streak, and like Wakulla, had cut through their competition at the tournament like a hot knife through butter. All signs indicated that it would be the most competitive match of the tournament. The championship dual started at 126 pounds, and William Harvey got the War Eagles going with a 16-0 tech fall over Dylan Price.
Tallassee’s Karter Armstrong responded by winning a close 13-12 decision over Patrick Cooksey.
Wakulla’s Brady Jackson answered with a 16-1 tech fall over Aiden Bridgman.
Aaron Robinson continued Wakulla’s winning ways with a 30 second pin over John Creswell.
Troy Thaxton made it 19-3 in the War Eagle’s favor with a decision over Tallassee’s Avery Brantley.
Wakulla’s Colt Sanders increased the lead by six, with a pin over James Mote.
At 165 and 175, Tallassee got back to back wins. Brady Adams pinned Clayton Manzi late in the first period and Tra’Mel McCoy got a 7-6 decision over Cole Manning, making the score 25-12.
Wakulla and Tallassee traded wins in the next two weights. At 190, Gavin Mitchell pinned Tallassee’s Randal Morgan with one second remaining in the second period and Wakulla forfeited the 215 pound class. The score at this time was Wakulla 31 Tallassee 18.
Looking ahead, Wakulla knew that they would be forfeiting the 106 and 113 pound weight classes as they had most of the tournament. With that in mind, the results of the impending 285 pound bout would be consequential on the final outcome of the dual.
Going into the final period of the bout, Wakulla’s Lonnie Pearce was locked in a 3-3 tie with Tallassee’s Vincente Diego. However, Pearce removed the suspense from the room when he pinned Diego just 30 seconds into the final period. War Eagle fans in the stands and teammates matside erupted in jubilation. Although there were three matches remaining, regardless of their outcome, Pearce’s victory made the score 37-18 and drove the final nail in the proverbial coffin. Tallassee received forfeits at 106 and 113 and in the final match of the dual, Thomas Patterson won by decision 11-7 over Wakulla’s Matthew Thaxton. The final score of the dual was 37-33.
Next, the War Eagles travel to Fort Lauderdale to compete in the Bobby Stanley Duals at Cardinal Gibbons on December 29th-31st.
GIRLS KNOCKOUT CHRISTMAS
CLASSIC
The Lady War Eagles traveled to Kissimmee to compete in what is considered one of the toughest in-season tournaments in the nation.
Julia Baggett and Kameron Easter, the only wrestlers to make the trip, both went 2-2 respectively over the weekend.
Coach Jon Sanchez said, “The girls wrestled well at Knockout. This was a good tournament to see where we’re at against some of the best in the state. We just need to make some adjustments in different areas of our technique that will help them peak at the right time in the season.”
Regarding his wrestlers’ performances, Sanchez accentuated the positives. “Julia continues to keep pushing forward. She went 0-2 last year at this tournament. This year she improved to 2-2. She’s putting in the work and she’s starting to see some of the fruits of her labor.”
Kameron Easter reached a milestone over the weekend winning her 100th career match. Sanchez commented, “Before the season started, Kameron had the goal of reaching her 100th win. She even had it down to which tournaments she would achieve this mark.”
Next, the Lady War Eagles will compete at the Panhandle Championships in Lynn Haven on Jan. 3rd.
“We’re not where we need to be yet by any means. We have a lot of work to do, but this group wants to win. Everyone is sick, beat up, and worn down, but that’s part of wrestling season. What mattered was the ones who showed up for each other and found a way to win.”
– Coach Nate Litowsky
By WALT JACOBS
Correspondent
The sonorous sound of the announcer’s voice rang throughout the gym at Wakulla High School, affectionately known as “The Nest.”
Energetically, he proclaimed, “And now, for the most exhilarating, the most electrifying, the most sensational show in high school sports. It’s time for Wakulla High School Wrestling.”