You can call the past few days in Kissimmee a learning experience for VSN Space Coast.
Getting to know the teams, the wrestlers, and the coaches was all part of the deal at the FHSAA Wrestling State Championships over the past few days.
Up to this point we’ve done a few feature stories but this was the first event we’ve covered for our new multimedia sports network covering sports in Brevard County.
After highlighting the Heritage wrestling program two weeks ago, and previewing the Viera girls team this past week, we had a pretty good foundation to start.
Heritage coach Jeff Degginger really helped us get the proverbial “lay of the land” for the local wrestling community. Not only was it a joy getting to know him and his team, but coach Degginger made sure to suggest other top wrestling teams in the area when he realized that we were all about promoting the top wrestling teams and wrestlers as we led up to the state tournament.
He lit up when he said that we should do something with the Viera girls team. He also said Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island had strong programs.
As usual, Coach Degginger was spot on.
I was able to get in touch with Viera coach Jason Custer and set up a preview story on his girls team leading up to the state tournament.
“On paper, this is by far the best girls team we’ve ever had,” said coach Custer.
In our story (in which I had Custer mic’d up) I included a clip of him saying “The toughest match will probably be the first one on Thursday.”
That statement echoed in my head as I shot highlights Thursday in Champion ship Round 1 where his seven state qualifiers went a combined 2-5.
It was a pleasure getting to know Coach Custer and some of his team.
All three wrestlers that I interviewed earlier in the week wound up placing.
Although Ryauna Nepomuceno was the only one of the three that lost her opening match, she fought back in the consolation bracket and wound up finishing the highest of the Viera girls in 4th at 125.
I told Savannah Nazario-Darnell who finished 5th at 170 that she could be a sportscaster someday after hearing how intelligent and articulate she answered my questions. I wasn’t surprised when she told me she was going to be a Pre-med major.
I saw a lot of heartbreaking losses for area wrestlers but non more so than with Viera senior Cat Kenney.
“I’m blessed to be in this position,” Kenney said at practice Tuesday. “I’m also excited to see what happens. Four years of hard work, let’s get the job done.”
Kenny stormed into the semifinals with first period pins in Round 1 (0:49) and the quarterfinals (1:21).
She led Nova Estrada of North Bay Haven 4-3 after the first period. About 20 seconds into Period 2 Kenney went in for a takedown dropping to her knees then shooting up to bring Estrada down. But the 8th grader from North Bay Haven slipped out of the move and countered by driving her left shoulder catching Kenney on her back and seconds later it was over.
If the old intro to the “Wide World of Sports” ever needed a video clip from 2026 to use, it unfolded before my eyes on Mat 1 of the Silver Spurs Arena.
As Estrada and her coaches and fans jubilantly rejoiced the unexpected and sudden pin, Kenney sat on the mat in disbelief.
Four years of hard work.
The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat in one video highlight.
After finishing 8th at state as a freshman, 6th as a sophomore, and fourth last season as a junior, Kenney took 6th in the state at 115. An awesome prep career.
The Viera girls finished 6th in the state.
Cocoa Beach
Still just days into covering Space Coast sports, I am still very much just figuring things out as I go.
I have covered several wrestling state championships in Louisiana so I understand how it works. Different mats designated for each class, wrestle backs, consolation matches, etc.
But I took for granted was my familiarity with knowing the teams in Louisiana and my lack of recognition for the Space Coast teams.
In Louisiana I knew by uniform colors Brother Martin, or could quickly pick out Alex Rozas (4X Louisiana State Champ from Teurlings Catholic) in a large group.
Outside of the coaches and wrestlers I met from Heritage and Viera, I knew NOBODY.
Not the top area wrestlers, teams, even fellow media members. It was kind of like the first day at a new school (which I had six of during my school days).
As I scanned mats 4-6 (designated for 1A) for Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island wrestlers, I finally locked in on a wrestler with a Cocoa Beach Wrestling T-shirt.
That wrestler just happened to be the No.1 ranked wrestler in the state at 157 Gustavo Ferreira.
The one thing I observed about Ferreira was that he would run quick sprints after his match concluded. The first guy I saw do that was Paul Klein who was Louisiana’s first 4X State Champ.
“Cocoa Beach has been amazing,” said Ferreira after a first period pin in Round 1 Thursday. “We’re like a family. My mindset coming into this year is that I’m unstoppable, no one can stop me. All thanks to God of course.”
After back-to-back 7th place finishes, Ferriera closed out his prep career in style winning a 1A State Title at 157.
Cocoa Beach finished 3rd in the state in 1A.
“We had a bunch of heartbreaking losses,” said Cocoa Beach coach Chris Kelly. “At the end of the day we’re not really happy where we’re at but we did get nine people making the podium so we’ve got to be a little bit proud of ourselves.
“We put six people into the semis so that’s huge for our program too. Just would have liked to punch a few more into those finale.”
Other Space Coast highlights
A very successful state tournament for Merritt Island as well. Not only a 5th place state finish in 1A but TWO individual state champs.
138 Timothy Boda Dec 8-7
190 Tre Driggett Major Decision 10-2
Boda AKA “Takedown Tim” is just a sophomore and is already a 2X State Champ.
Vlad Drown of Rockledge is also a sophomore and a state champ after a 6-4 Decision in the 106 2A finals.
Rockledge finished 23rd in the 2A State team standings.
Heritage, which started our wrestling coverage for VSN Space Coast finished 28th in 2A.
Senior Ben Gordon took 7th place at 190 with sophomore Cam Riche grabbing 8th place.
Yes the 2026 Wrestling State Championships were quite the learning experience for VSN Space Coast. Already excited for things we can do better next year.
Plus, this will always have a special place for us, as it was the first event ever covered by VSN Space Coast.