It was benchmark year for Polk County high school wrestling in the 2025-26 campaign.
Lake Gibson wrestling added on to its prestige, winning a seventh dual state title in February and a fifth IBT state title this past 2026 wrestling season in March.
Also at state IBTs there were 20 state placers from the county.
And George Jenkins girls wrestling won its first-ever girls district title back in February.
Below are the wrestlers and the coach who represented these programs and more.
The Ledger Boys Wrestling Co-Wrestlers of the Year
Raymond Shaw
George Jenkins, senior, 190, 43-3
Shaw racked up his second straight state title back in March in Kissimmee, which was a first for George Jenkins in school history as far as a wrestling securing back-to-back titles. This is sensational for a student-athlete who was contemplating quitting the sport a couple years ago.
Jeremiah Chavis
Lake Gibson, sophomore, 215, 42-4
Chavis put up a seminal season, eventually becoming a first-time state champ. He was also the only state champ of a state IBT-winning program, which is a historic feat in of itself.
The Ledger Boys Wrestling Coach of the Year
Danny Walker
Lake Gibson
The program’s accolades in 2026 are self-explanatory: another dual state title and an IBT state title for the Braves. A clean sweep of the most important title makes Lake Gibson head wrestling coach and Hall-of-Famer The Ledger’s 2026 Coach of the Year.
The Ledger Boys Wrestling First Team
Jaxon Hackett
Lake Gibson, freshman, 106
Third in state, regional champ, district and county champ
RJ Phelan
Lake Gibson, sophomore, 113
Third in state, regional champ, district and county champ
Justo Medina
Davenport, senior, 120
Fifth in state, regional runner-up, district and county champ
Tyler White
Lake Gibson, senior, 126
Second in state
Andrew Taylor
George Jenkins, junior, 126
Regional and district champ
Roberto De Jesus
Lake Gibson, senior, 132
Third in state, regional, district and county champion
Jordan Harrison
Lake Gibson, senior, 138
County champ, district champion
Isaac Lowe
Lake Gibson, junior, 144
Sixth in state, county champ
Jacob Reber
McKeel, senior, 150
State champion
Tra’Vonte Burgess
Lakeland, senior, 150
State runner-up, regional runner-up, district and county champ
Bryson Thompson
Winter Haven, junior, 157
Fifth in state, region, district and county champ
Konstantin Khaspekian
Lake Gibson, junior, 165
Second in state, county champ
Paul Wright
Lake Gibson, junior, 175
Fifth in state, county champ
Leylan Callahan
Lake Gibson, senior, 285
State qualifier, county champ
The Ledger Boys Wrestling Second Team
Alejandro Mendoza: Auburndale, 106
Noah Brown: Davenport, 113
Jarold Cervantes: Lake Gibson, 120
Draven Thompson: Winter Haven, 132
Seth Jones: Winter Haven, 138
Kevin Harold: Ridge Community, 144
Hunter Adams: Bartow, 144
Kaleeb Tribbett: George Jenkins, 150
Mateo Martinez: Lakeland, 165
Caleb Causey: McKeel, 175
Mason Desandolo: Lake Gibson, 190
Aiden Austin: George Jenkins, 215
Jakari Johnson: Lake Region, 285
The Ledger Boys Wrestling Honorable Mention
Auburndale: Daniel Buford (126), Tyler Chinnery (120), Yomaliel Rodriguez (152), Connor Trevino (215)
Bartow: Cole Stevens (157), Levi Peeples (285), Yaziel Pantoja (150), Jeremiah Alex (132), Kirby Russell (165), Jordan Lajara (215)
Davenport: Josh Ebanks (215)
George Jenkins: Liam Kelley (106), Lincoln Woodsby (132), Kyle Gay (138), Zavious Brown (144), Adriel Jaramillo (150), Jett Baker (165)
Haines City: Gabriel Sniadecki (175)
Kathleen: Tristan Morante (126), Ryder Osborn (190)
Lakeland: Preston Thorton (138), Luke Thorton (157), Xazavien Lamones (175)
Lake Region: Taylor Davidson (138), Josiah Dobson (144)
Ridge Community: Diego Torres (190), Alex Penaloza (132)
Tenoroc: Dylan Vasquez (12), Hawken Crawford (126)
Winter Haven: Elijah Jefferson (150)
Mulberry: Gabriel Romero (190), Dashton Tolbert (215), Yandel Goyco (285)
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Meet The Ledger’s 2026 Boys Wrestling All-County Team
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
