Lake Gibson sophomore Jeremiah Chavis won the 215-pound state championship at the 2026 FHSAA State Wrestling Championships in Kissimmee on Saturday night, defeating Porter Loveland of Middleburg 2-0 in the championship match.
Chavis, who finished the season 42-4, controlled the bout with relentless pressure and strong top wrestling, scoring 25.5 team points for Lake Gibson during the tournament. His path to the title included a pin against Matt Moise of Heritage in 1:01, a technical fall over Rome Kendrick of Fort Walton Beach 15-0, a decision over Tyson Reyes of Jensen Beach 7-3, and finally a 2-0 decision over Loveland.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” Chavis said moments after the match. “Every time I’ve come here, I’ve been so close to winning. To finally get it done , it’s just incredible.” Chavis made key adjustments to his strategy, riding Loveland better on top and maintaining forward pressure throughout the match.
The Hernando Sun reported that Chavis’s journey to the top of the podium was years in the making, with previous appearances at the state tournament that fell short of a title. This year’s victory marks a significant achievement for the Lake Gibson wrestler.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
