1A-1 Preview: North Bay Haven looking to add more to school’s record books
BY BRANT PARSONS — North Bay Haven has been building for this moment for the past three seasons.
Last year’s district duals champions will be looking for the double this year when they return nine region qualifiers and one state champion from a season ago - and have a Washington state champion on the team too.
“So we set the bar at historically, what has our school done and what do we want to be the first to do,” North Bay Haven coach Zane Turnipseed said “And so last year, that was a district championship, which we got the duals, but not quite IBT.”
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Last season: Bay finished with four individual champions and narrowly beat North Bay Haven by 17 points.
Last year’s district tournament results
Last year’s region tournament results
Wrestlers to watch: Derrick Williams (Bozeman), David Mercado (North Bay Haven), Preston Neufeld (North Bay Haven), Jake Parker (Wewahitchka), Bear Siegal (North Bay Haven), Gibson Moore (South Walton), David Drake (Bay)
The favorite: North Bay Haven. It’s been a three-year build for the Buccaneers to get here, but they’re ready to take the top spot.
Team to watch: Wewahitchka. This is one of the most experienced groups the Gators have had and they’ll look to move up the standings.
District duals: Jan. 4 at Freeport
District IBT: Feb. 15 at South Walton
Kabra Says: Everything is falling into place for North Bay Haven to have a special season this year and I expect this group to take advantage of it with its first IBT district title.
North Bay Haven Buccaneers (#11 IBT | #9 Dual)
Coach: Zane Turnipseed (3rd at school/6th overall)
Assistant coaches: David Mercado Sr., Jon Myers, Sam Buatu, Wes Lumpkin
22-23 dual record: 13-8
Recent district results: 2023:2; 2022:4; 2021:6; 2020:7; 2019:8; 2018:9; 2017:9; 2016:9; 2015:6
Last state champion: David Mercado, 2023 (220)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Logan McAlister, Jr., 30-6 (Transfer to Mosley)
Notable returning wrestlers: #2-190 David Mercado, Sr., 61-3, SC, RC, DC; #7-165 Bear Siegal, So., 40-12, RQ-BR, DC; #16-126 Nathan Mercado, So., 36-21, RQ-BR, D2; #16-150 Zander Stillgess, So., 39-18, RQ, D3; #16-175 Julian Hernandez, Jr., 23-20, RQ, DC; Caleb Fuster, Fr., 25-19, RQ, D3; Will Lundgren, So., 20-15, RQ, D3; Brayden Harper, Sr., 21-21, RQ, D3; Peyton Saluto, Fr., 15-24, RQ, D4; .
New wrestler: #11-106 James Oliver, So., 36-13, RQ-BR, D2 (Transfer from Arnold); #2-113 Preston Neufeld, Jr., SC-Wash (Transfer from Washington)
What they are saying: "We have a tougher schedule going into this year than I think we've had in the past. Just getting kids on the mat with those higher level kids so that when we get to regionals, and we get to that round, they qualify for state. It's not a level they haven't wrestled before, it's not a kid they maybe even haven't seen before. This year we're real blessed, just kind of the way the kids have grown and filled out in the weights, we're gonna have better practice partners. So just hold them all accountable, making sure that when we're going live, or we're doing drills, we're not taking that break with our buddy, but we're looking to score as much as we can and push that other person to be better."
On winning and losing: "I like to bring out when I'm talking to the kids about how the regular season should be in their minds. David had the most matches he's lost in regular season last year and then that's the same year he goes and wins the state title. It just gives you those coachable moments and we were talking about the tough kids that you're looking to compete against. And it's a balance, because there's always going to be that two or three kids, the first year wrestlers and they're just on a different scale. So you have got to find some wins for those kids. Because it's a long season with a lot of hard work to not be getting your hand raised once or twice."
On team goals: "We try to be pretty realistic. That first year I got here, we had I think one kid that had wrestled before, and the rest were starting that year or they were middle schoolers. And then this year, I really think if the lineup comes together correctly, we can push Wakulla and Suwannee, That's going to be a tough region."
Outlook: Although still a “young” team, this group has been competing against varsity competition that it’s time to now see if they can take the next step in their growth.
Bay Tornadoes
Coach: Mark Deaton
Recent district results: 2023:1; 2022:5; 2021:5; 2020:5; 2019:6; 2018:1; 2017:4; 2016:6; 2015:7; 2014:3; 2013:7; 2012:7
Last state champion: Earl Crawford, 1999 (189)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Elijah Stillgess, 46-22, RQ-BR, DC; Derrick Williams, Sr., 64-2, 2nd, RC, DC (Transfer to Mosley)
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #10-132 David Drake, Jr., 47-25, SQ, R4, DC; #13-165 Shaun Sandidge, Sr., 45-19, RQ-BR, DC; #20-120 Jaylen Bennett, Jr.; Treysen Villegas, So., 12-23, RQ, D4; Leonardo Sanchez, Sr., 26-11, RQ, D2; Deven Bradshaw, Jr., 22-24, RQ, D3; Tanner Collins, Jr., 29-20, RQ, D3; Garrett Pelt, Jr., 13-35, RQ, D4; Garet Zenker, Sr., 9-18, RQ, D3.
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South Walton Seahawks
Coach: Travis Laxton (6th season at school, 7th overall)
Assistant coaches: KJ Beavers, Hayden Meyer
22-23 dual record: 10-10
Recent district results: 2023:4; 2022:1; 2021:1; 2020:2; 2019:4; 2018:2; 2017:7; 2016:7; 2015:3; 2014:5; 2013:4; 2012:4
Last state champion: Max Brewster, 2022 (120)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Nick Lee, 32-10; Carlos Sanchez, 34-10, SQ, R2, DC; Nathan Lyttle, So., 44-15, SQ, R4, DC (Transfer to Harmony)
Notable returning wrestlers: #7-144 Gibson Moore, Jr., 43-13, SQ, R2, DC; Dylan Hardin, Jr., 3-18, RQ, D4; Kaden Shaw, Jr., RQ, D3; Nick Mitchell, Sr., RQ, D4; Cody Johnson, So., RQ, DC; Isaac Brinson.
What they are saying: "We have a very young team, I think we have two seniors but even those kids are first-year wrestlers. We've got about 33 kids in the program now. We opened up our first middle school program two years ago and now we're starting to see those kids come into the high school and they're all wrestling all the time. They wrestled in the Disney Duals this summer. We had about eight freshmen wrestle in the Disney Duals this summer and so they're getting matches under their belt. They've been getting this tough competition in and I think they're going to be ready."
On goals for the team: "The reason that you you take a coaching job is to set these expectations for these kids that every year you should be trying to achieve a state championship. And if you don't, and you fail, at least you failed forward, you've done something that you haven't done before, you may have set the goal, but you you missed your goal. But if you place third, or fifth or sixth or eighth or whatever, you've accomplished something that you've never accomplished before. So we try to instill that in every kid that walks into our wrestling room and if we can, if you set the bar that high, then those kids are going to want to achieve that goal."
Outlook: The team took a step back last year after winning two-straight district titles, but the Seahawks have an influx of talented young wrestlers coming in to join a returning group ready to get back in the hunt.
Rocky Bayou Christian Knights
Coach: Tim Andersen (1st season)
Assistant coaches: Kevin Walsh, Wyatt Kirkpatrick, Josh Latham
22-23 dual record: 4-10
Recent district results: 2023:7; 2022:2; 2021:3; 2020:3; 2019:9; 2018:10; 2017:10; 2015:9; 2014:7; 2013:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: #16-106 Thomas Pluhar, So., 36-10, RQ-BR, D3; Wyatt Moore, Fr., 11-7, RQ, D3; Jeremiah Herron, 8th, 4-9, RQ, D4; Clay Nelson, Fr., 8-7, RQ, D2; Parker Sage, Sr., 5-9, RQ, D4; Kaleb Rasmussen, Sr., 11-12, RQ, D3; Owen Parry, Sr., 6-5.
What they are saying: “We will be improved from last year, but still very young.”
Outlook: Past assistant coach Tim Andersen takes over the program from Kevin Walsh.
Wewahitchka Gators
Coach: Tracy Malcolm (16th season)
22-23 dual record: 13-22
Recent district results: 2023:5; 2022:6; 2021:7; 2020:8; 2019:7; 2018:8; 2017:3; 2016:5; 2015:4; 2014:8; 2013:5; 2012:5
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Conner Roberts, 54-7, 6th, R2, DC.
Notable returning wrestlers: #5-132 Jake Parker, Jr., 59-12, 6th, R3, D2; #18-175 Calvin Ross, Fr., 32-23, RQ, D2; Jarrett Spencer, Sr., 27-31, RQ, D2; James Hardy, So., 26-25, RQ, D3.
New wrestlers: Tyler Johnson, So., 11-11 (Transfer from Bozeman); Chris Johnson, So., 6-18 (Transfer from Bozeman)
What they are saying: "We're still a small school in the panhandle. Wrestling is not as prevalent up here but we're working on it. The kids have been working a to get better better."
On Jake Parker: "His brother wrestled for me several years ago, finishing third his senior year and I just think the brother versus brother drive - I'm going to do better than you - is what's pushing him. It's a very healthy situation those two have together and a very healthy respect they have and they are very competitive. But I think that's it for Jake honestly. And it's not that he refuses to lose, he refuses to settle and is always looking to improve."
On Gator Brawl: "We do the Gator Brawl on January 12 and 13th. This year, it's round robin format. Two brackets of 10 limited to 20 teams and we do allow you know extra wrestlers so that we can fill those weight classes. It is two brutal days of wrestling and the hospitality is second to none. So we would love to see a couple of new teams to get into the fold. I've got teams from South Carolina coming this year and one from Georgia and from Alabama. So we have got some different competition that we can bring into the area."
On staying unknown: "I'm hesitant on giving interviews simply because I like the fact that we're unknown and then when I have those one or two kids that are just special, especially for this area, I like having them unknown."
Outlook: The team is growing in numbers and there is expected overall improvement coming and the focus is also on Parker moving up the podium this year.
Bozeman Bucks
Coach: Robert Dobbs
Recent district results: 2023:6; 2022:7; 2021:8; 2020:6; 2019:10; 2018:6; 2017:2; 2016:4; 2015:8; 2014:6; 2013:6; 2012:2
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Justin Johnson, 32-10, RQ, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: Jeremy Tavernier, Sr., 10-15, RQ, D2; Daniel Pierce, So., 15-15, RQ, D4; Zachary Rosalis, Jr., 18-11, RQ, D2; Asher Burris, So., 21-8, RQ, D2.
New wrestler: #1-120 Derrick Williams, Sr., 64-2, 2nd, RC, DC (Transfer from Bay).
Freeport Bulldogs
Coach: Carey Nick (2nd at school/17th overall)
Recent district results: 2023:8
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): None
Notable returning wrestlers: Michael Summers, So., 7-31, RQ, D4; Chase Justice, So., 15-25, RQ, D4; Aiden Hines, Jr., 14-21, RQ, D4; Colby Crompton, Jr., 16-14, RQ, D4; Lewis Adams, Sr., 24-13, RQ, D2.
What they are saying: “We are a second year program and still learning. This season we will hopefully see some major steps forward.”
Outlook: The group coming back will get to use the experience learned from a year ago to have a more successful season.
Rutherford Rams
Coach: Zach Edmonds
Recent district results: 2023:3; 2022:3; 2021:2; 2020:4; 2019:5; 2018:4; 2017:6; 2016:7; 2015:5; 2014:4; 2013:3; 2012:6
Last state champion: Gerald Bradley, 1983 (UNL)
Notable losses (Graduation/Transfer): Michael Lurvey, 19-18, RQ, D3; Romero Black, 43-10, RQ, D2; Wyatt Griffin, 16-28, RQ, D3; Keaton Schirmer, 35-16, SQ, R4, D2; Bryson Schirmer, 41-11, SQ, R3, DC.
Potential notable returning wrestlers: #12-106 Dylan Malott, Sr., 36-15, RQ, D2; Augustine Lurvey, ?, 22-26, RQ, D4; Tyler Hall, Sr., 16-20, RQ, D2.