Back-to-back: Gulf Breeze wrestling claims second consecutive District 1-2A Duals title

The Gulf Breeze wrestling team was down to its final bout in the District 1-2A Duals tournament.

Trailing in the match against Fort Walton Beach, 34-31, up came the final battle – the 115-pound weight class – with Dolphins freshman Gavin Samons. With the score displayed on small monitor near the wrestling mat in the Gulf Breeze gym, Samons knew what was on the line.

As teammates cheered on an empty mat near the upcoming tilt between Samons and FWB’s Isaac Vosburgh, Samons walked out to the center of the mat with a smile.

“I was just trying to do what I usually do: score points and put the pressure on,” Samons said. “Everyone was trying to hype me up, but I didn’t want to be hyped up. I wanted to make sure I had my match.”

After going up 4-0 after the first period and earning another pair of points for a takedown in the second frame, Samons was in control. But a simple decision wouldn’t be enough. He’d need a major decision or better.

But as time expired in the second period, Samons pinned Vosburgh to secure the necessary six points, and the 37-34 victory for the second consecutive District duals title.

“My mind went blank. I was excited and happy,” Samons said of hearing the final whistle during his battle. “It was amazing. I thought it was cool to see everyone celebrating.”

“That’s what we set after to get. But the team stepped up,” Gulf Breeze head coach Dave Dailey said after the Dolphins posed for a picture with their new trophy.

Gulf Breeze went 3-0 during the tournament, winning matches against Milton, Niceville and ultimately FWB. The Dolphins easily rolled by the Panthers, 74-3, before getting by the Eagles, 49-30.

The Dolphins will now host the regional tournament on Jan. 11.

‘They’ve been training for it’

Just two days prior to the district duals, Dailey learned that he would be missing four of his varsity wrestlers due to injury or other sickness. That meant four junior varsity wrestlers would have to fill in.

After “bumping” a couple weight classes to make sure the Dolphins would get the win, all Dailey could say was his wrestlers “stepped up.”

“That’s all I can say, man. They’ve been training for it,” Dailey said. “They knew if they were called upon, they would do it – and they did it.”

As far as the team’s performance, especially in the championship match, Dailey noted there weren’t any “momentum changes” against the Vikings, with each individual bout being “strategic.”

But the Dolphins knew they would have to muster some points in the heavier weight classes. Londen Taylor, in the 217-pound weight class, picked up a 15-2 major decision over Roman Jackson, getting the necessary advantage.

That’s when Dailey knew his 115-pounder, Samons, and 108-pounder, Garrett Ferguson, could seal the match. Both got pins and the six points that came with them.

“I knew my 108- and 115-pounder would get pins. They’re just dominant. They’re beasts,” Dailey said. “If we kept it within nine (points), I knew we were going to get 12 (points) at the end.”

“It feels really great, but I can’t do it without my team,” Samons said of the district title.

‘You’re going to see this kid for the next four years’

It’s not often that the match falls onto the shoulders of a freshman like Samons. But Samons isn’t any ordinary freshman, getting a lot of training at Well Trained in Gulf Breeze – plus he’s “been wrestling for a long time,” Dailey said.

“That kid wrestles like he’s a senior. He’s probably the most technical kid on this team,” Dailey said of Samons. “He’s a true student of the sport. You’re going to see this kid for the next four years.”

While the Dolphins still have the regional duals tournament – and potentially state tournament depending on how next Thursday goes – there are also the individual tournaments set throughout February.

“(This) does give me motivation to keep going,” Samons said.

“There are seniors that look up to this kid. … We’ll count on him all the time,” Dailey said. “I look forward to him being on the podium this year as a freshman.”

Championship match results

Gulf Breeze 37, Fort Walton Beach 34

108 pounds: Garrett Ferguson (GB) by pin at :20 over Jack Hanneken (FWB). 115 pounds: Gavin Samons (GB) by pin at 4:00 over Isaac Vosburgh (FWB). 122 pounds: Aiden Macken (GB) by pin at 1:39 over Jimmy Singleton (FWB). 128 pounds: Coby Shields (GB) by 5-1 decision over Zak Vosburgh (FWB). 134 pounds: Layne Lutz (FWB) by pin at 5:27 over George Selmeister (GB). 140 pounds: Landon Burbidge (FWB) by 7-4 decision over James Pukish (GB). 146 pounds: Sky Wnetrzak (GB) by forefeit. 152 pounds: J.J. Martinez (FWB) by pin at 3:06 over Ethan Ruddick (GB). 159 pounds: Matthew Sinclair (FWB) by 11-2 major decision over Jack Donahoe (GB). 167 pounds: Blain Nita (GB) by pin at 2:56 over Charles Fregger (FWB). 177 pounds: Jeremiah Sadler (FWB) by 6-2 decision over Tyler Lynch (GB). 192 pounds: Sean Bard (FWB) by pin at 5:14 over Rock Merk (GB). 217 pounds: Londen Taylor (GB) by 15-2 major decision over Roman Jackson (FWB). 287 pounds: Noah Reyes (FWB) by pin at 1:27 over Jacob Heisinger (GB).

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze wrestling beats FWB for District 1-2A Duals tourney title