The North Florida Wrestling Show

On this episode of the North Florida Wrestling Show, host Jordan Cone sits down with Madison Carroll of Gulf Breeze, the 100-lb Champion at Queen of the South, the largest all-girls wrestling tournament in the South, held in Enterprise, Alabama.

Madison breaks down her journey through pool play and championship Sunday, the mindset shifts that fueled her run, and what it felt like to step onto the finals stage, smoke, music, crown and all. She shares how preparation, confidence, and support from her coaches and teammates played a key role in her success, along with advice for young girls just starting their wrestling journey.

The episode also highlights the importance of girls-only tournaments, creating meaningful opportunities, and why Queen of the South continues to set the standard for women’s wrestling in the region.

🎧 Sponsored by Pat Lugo & Miami Hawks
Follow Pat Lugo as he competes at Real American Freestyle 5 in Miami and begins his run toward the featherweight belt.

Welcome back to the North Florida Wrestling Show!
In this episode, Jordan sits down with Coach Travis Laxton, Head Coach of South Walton High School and Tournament Director of the Chris Pickren Memorial — Border Wars XII, one of the toughest and fastest-growing tournaments in the Southeast.

Border Wars has become the early-season test for wrestlers across multiple states — and in this episode, we get the full story:

🔥 How Border Wars was created by Chris Pickren and why it carries his name
🔥 Why national-caliber teams travel from Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi & more
🔥 How the tournament grew from a local event into a multi-state powerhouse
🔥 The addition of a GIRLS division for the first time in tournament history
🔥 The logistical grind behind running a 7-mat event at the start of the season
🔥 Why hosting a major event at home changes a program — and the whole community
🔥 Plans for expanding Border Wars into a dual + individual experience

Travis also shares incredible insight into:
✔ Rebuilding the importance of duals
✔ Keeping wrestling local to grow community support
✔ The future of girls wrestling in Florida
✔ Why Border Wars is transforming North Florida wrestling

PLUS — big news:
🏆 Two-time NCAA All-American and Iowa Hawkeye Pat Lugo will be at Border Wars XII all weekend with Miami Hawks Wrestling, signing autographs, meeting athletes, and connecting with coaches.

If you care about wrestling in Florida, this episode is mandatory viewing.

Welcome back to the North Florida Wrestling Show!In this episode, Jordan sits down with Coach Calvin Williams and Coach Jacob Owens, the leaders behind Bay County Elite Wrestling, one of the fastest-growing and most passionate youth wrestling programs in the Panhandle.What starts as a casual interview quickly becomes one of the most powerful origin stories in Florida wrestling:🔥 How Bay County Elite started on a tarp in a front yard🔥 Calvin’s wrestling journey from Oklahoma, through military service, to coaching champions🔥 Jacob’s MMA background and how the two combined their styles to build something special🔥 The growing wave of youth wrestling in Bay County and the plan to unite Panhandle clubs🔥 The mental battles coaches fight—especially during Men’s Mental Health Month🔥 Why effort, pressure, and humility matter more than wins and losses🔥 Plans for beginner duals, nonprofit expansion, and building opportunities for ALL local kidsThis is more than a wrestling conversation—it’s a blueprint for growing a program, overcoming adversity, and creating a community.Featuring:Coach Calvin Williams (Retired Military, Fargo Champ Coach, State Champ Coach)Coach Jacob Owens (All-In-One MMA, Youth Development & Program Growth)Sponsored by Miami Rock & Pat Lugo Wrestling Academy👉 If you care about wrestling in North Florida, this is a must-watch conversation.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Bay County Elite Wrestling02:55 Coaching Backgrounds and Experiences06:50 The Evolution of Coaching Styles11:51 Collaboration in Coaching17:59 Coaching Philosophy and Mental Health Awareness25:04 Future Aspirations for Bay County Elite Wrestling

Step inside the ultimate crash course for new wrestling coaches as Josh, the newly appointed head coach at Rutherford, sits down with a panel of seasoned experts to get his toughest questions answered.

From scheduling challenges and building community support to tackling the unique obstacles of North Florida wrestling, this conversation is packed with insights that every coach—rookie or veteran—can put into action. With valuable perspectives from Tracy, Jeremiah, and Zane, listeners will walk away with practical strategies, motivational guidance, and the wisdom to elevate their program.

Whether you’re taking over your first team or sharpening your leadership for the next season, this episode is your playbook for success on and off the mat.

On behalf of the entire North Florida wrestling community—thank you, Coach Jeffrey Estrada. Your passion, vision, and relentless drive have not only raised the bar for our athletes, but have also opened new doors for the sport we love. From bringing home 3 Fargo All-Americans to fostering growth in women’s wrestling, your impact is being felt in every corner of the mat.In this episode, host Jordan Cone sits down with Coach Estrada to trace his journey from Illinois to Florida, explore his unique coaching philosophy, and dive deep into the importance of Greco-Roman wrestling in building complete athletes. You’ll hear how community involvement fuels success, the challenges that come with developing champions, and why Estrada believes the future of wrestling in Florida has never been brighter.

In this inspiring episode of the North Florida Wrestling Show, host Jason Weslager sits down with two of the Panhandle's top-ranked youth wrestlers — Levi Siegel (11) and Miles Rinkas (13) — both diagnosed with high-functioning autism.🎙️ We dive into:How wrestling became a powerful outlet for focus, structure, and confidenceWhy traits like hyper-focus and repetition make athletes on the spectrum thrive in the sportTheir journey, goals, and how the wrestling mat has become their second homeWhat it means to build friendships, bounce back from losses, and use wrestling as a tool for growth🧠 This special Autism Awareness Month episode highlights the unique link between autism and wrestling — and why we should celebrate and support athletes of all neurotypes.📍Featuring:Levi Siegel | Grappling HouseMiles Rinkas | Niceville Wrestling Academy📅 Filmed during the 2025 Panhandle Spring Series🔥 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to follow their journey.#WrestlingOnTheSpectrum #YouthWrestling #AutismAwareness #PanhandleWrestling #NorthFloridaWrestlingShow #GrapplingHouse #KnightsvilleWrestling #SpringSeries2025

"We want to take care of the fighters."-Robert Moriarty

The conversation also highlights the growing youth scene in combat sports, the challenges and opportunities for women's MMA, and the need for better promotion of female athletes. Rob shares insights on key fights to watch at the event and the overall mission of promoting a healthy and competitive environment for fighters.

🚨 Welcome to Episode 12 of the North Florida Wrestling Show! 🚨
This week, Jordan and Jason break down the latest rankings and some incredible breakthrough performances from youth wrestlers. From unexpected wins to the buildup of our season finale, we’ve got it all covered!

💥 In this episode, we discuss:

⏰ Timestamps for this episode:
00:00 – Introduction & Event Planning
03:00 – Rankings Drama & Key Performances
10:00 – Preview of the Youth Wrestling Finale
15:00 – Community Impact: Mentorship & Hurricane Adaptation

🔔 Don’t miss out! Make sure to subscribe for weekly content that dives into the heart of Florida wrestling. Hit that bell icon so you don’t miss an episode!

🔥 Checking in with Hot Sauce: Maya Alvarado 🔥

In this episode, we’re catching up with our old friend Maya Alvarado, aka "Hot Sauce," who used to live in the North Florida area but now wrestles for Lake Highland Prep. She’s been making big moves, and we wanted to check in on her journey, challenges, and what’s next. We talk about how she got into wrestling as the only girl in the room at first, and why she decided to head to Lake Highland for bigger opportunities.

We also dive into something super exciting—Maya’s upcoming trip to Bahrain! She’s pumped about experiencing new cultures, trying different food, and, of course, seeing how she stacks up against international competition.

Maya opens up about everything from her favorite study tunes (Billie Eilish fans, anyone?) to why she believes making wrestling fun is key for young girls just getting started.

Titles Include:

Sound Bites:

Catch the convo, get inspired, and see what’s next for one of our favorite North Florida transplants! 🌍💪

#NorthFloridaWrestlingShow #CatchingUpWithHotSauce #MayaAlvarado #WomensWrestling #LakeHighlandPrep #Bahrain #NFWS #YouthWrestling

In this episode of the North Florida Wrestling Show, hosts Jordan and Jason dive into the thrilling Glow-in-the-Dark Wrestling Tournament in Liberty County! From the glowing singlets to the electrifying atmosphere, this unique event had everyone buzzing. The duo also highlights the crucial role of community support in growing youth wrestling and how these kinds of events build stronger connections between families, athletes, and coaches.In addition, they break down the latest Top 30 Rankings from the Panhandle Fall Warzone Series, celebrating the incredible dedication of the region’s wrestlers and offering insight into the hard work behind their success.