Lincoln, Chiles and Florida High Wrestlers Place at State Championships

Starting on Mar. 6, Lincoln, Chiles, and Florida High competed in state tournaments at different classifications. Chiles and Lincoln had athletes on the boy’s and girl’s sides competing in the FHSAA 2A state tournament, while Florida High had athletes competing on the boys’ side of the FHSAA 1A state tournament. Both the 2A and the 1A state tournaments were held at the Silver Spur Arena in Kissimmee, FL.

Florida High

Florida High had several strong performances at the FHSAA Class 1A State Championships, highlighted by Jasper Croom capturing the state title at 132 pounds. Croom completed a dominant, undefeated season, finishing 50-0 after defeating Mater Lakes Academy’s Keagan Mesina by fall in the championship match. After the victory, Croom briefly celebrated the moment with a quick backflip on the mat before joining teammates, a fitting reaction after securing the title.

The Seminoles also saw Sterling Hollingsworth place fourth at 144 pounds, Terrence Hinson finish seventh at 157 pounds, and Jordan Haigler place fourth at 175 pounds. With four wrestlers earning podium finishes, Florida High delivered an impressive showing at the state tournament and proved to be one of the stronger programs competing in Class 1A.

Chiles

Senior Hayden Smith represented Chiles in the FHSAA Class 2A State Championships in the 165-pound weight class. Smith delivered a strong performance throughout the tournament and finished fifth in the state, ending his season with an impressive 49-5 record. After battling through a competitive bracket, Smith secured his podium finish with a medical forfeit victory over Port Charlotte’s Hayden Hansford in the fifth-place match. Placing in the top six at the state level is a significant accomplishment in Florida’s highly competitive 2A classification. Smith’s finish capped off an outstanding senior season and served as a major highlight for the Timberwolves wrestling program.

Chiles had one wrestler earn a podium finish at the FHSAA Girls State Championships, with senior Jordan Herron placing fourth in the 130-pound weight class. Herron entered the tournament with a strong record and battled through a competitive bracket to reach the placement rounds. In the third-place match, Herron faced Charlotte’s Kami Rice but was forced to exit due to injury, resulting in a fourth-place finish. Herron finished the season with an impressive 32-5 record, and her performance at states highlighted a successful year for the Chiles girls wrestling program.

Lincoln

Lincoln had two wrestlers earn podium finishes at the FHSAA Class 2A State Championships, with juniors Juan Torres and Luke Rodriguez both placing in their respective weight classes. Torres finished seventh in the 120-pound division after defeating Archbishop McCarthy’s Jacob Rhodes by a 9-4 decision in the seventh-place match, ending the season with a 33-8 record.

Rodriguez placed eighth at 126 pounds, finishing the year with a 48-14 record after falling to Jesuit’s Ethan Smith by a 12-0 major decision in the seventh-place match. Having two wrestlers place at the state tournament highlighted Lincoln’s competitiveness and marked a strong showing for the Trojans program.

Lincoln’s Sayuri Caceres delivered an outstanding performance at the FHSAA Girls State Championships, finishing third in the 100-pound weight class. The senior capped off a strong tournament run by defeating Osceola’s Aniyah Whayne in the third-place match by an 8-5 decision. Caceres finished the season with an impressive 37-4 record and earned a spot on the state podium as one of the top wrestlers in her division. Her third-place finish marked a major accomplishment for the Lincoln girls’ wrestling program.