JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Enzo Gamba couldn’t hit a baseball, but he sure was good at hitting his dad.
It was that feistiness that mapped out Gamba’s love of wrestling, and the Fernandina Beach senior parlayed that into a state championship and All-News4JAX wrestler of the year honors. Gamba’s final season — a 54-0 record and a Class 2A title at 160 pounds — capped a journey that began when he was 5 years old in Pennsylvania.
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“I started [wrestling] in kindergarten. I got into it because of my dad. I would come home [from school], and I’d fight him every day,” Gamba said. “Tried to find a sport that I really liked but nothing was really clicking, and I’d come home and I jump on top of him and try and fight him. And he told me one day he was just going to take me to wrestling. And that’s how it started.”
It started there and ended with the first state title by a Fernandina Beach wrestler in school history. And it wasn’t just a one-year thing. Gamba was a four-time district and region champ, and wrapped up his career with a 169-6 record. Gamba plans to wrestle on the University of Florida’s club team, but said he’ll turn more of his attention on biomedical engineering.
“I just always love to help people. And then I’ve done a lot of volunteering in my community, and I like to get hands on and stuff like fishing, fixing a lot of boat engines and working with diesel motors and stuff,” Gamba said. “I just like building things and helping people and I figured that’s a great combination right there. Help build a new technology to benefit the world. So, perfect for me.”
If 2024 was the “peak of the mountain” in wrestling like Gamba said, the journey to it was fun to see.
It began like it does with most children; he was a kid and wanted to find something to get involved in. So, baseball was the first choice. It didn’t take long for Gamba to realize that was the wrong sport for him.
“I started off in baseball, but I couldn’t hit a ball off the tee,” Gamba said. “So, had to switch that over.”
That switch wasn’t done purposely, at least not at first.
When Gamba would get home from school, his father, Brandt, would be working at home. Those two began wrestling around and play flighting around the house. His energy was through the roof and Gamba’s parents found the solution — wrestling. They started him out slowly in the sport, but Gamba advanced quickly.
“That was a more beginner room [the first year]. But right after that, I transitioned into one of the top wrestling rooms in Pennsylvania, which is like one of the best states for wrestling,” Gamba said. “And I mean, from there, I just got super into it. And I had a lot of good coaching and tons of partners up there with good competition.”
The family moved to Fernandina Beach in time for the start of Gamba’s seventh grade year. He went from the colder climate of Pennsylvania to the beach life of Florida and loved it. Fishing and the beach became part of daily life. Gamba talks about battling to pull in blue marlin during deep sea fishing trips, and fully embraced the Florida lifestyle.
And there was no dropoff in wrestling.
Gamba’s success on the mat was instant. He was 27-2 as a freshman, 40-2 as a sophomore and then 48-2 as a junior. Gamba lost at state to a three-time state champ and finished third. That put Gamba on a mission to finish the job in his final season.
“It just showed that I had some things to work on back in the wrestling room, and really just highlighted some of those,” Gamba said. “It was really just small stuff. I mean, that’s all at the end of the day, it’s usually one or two things that decide a match. And that’s what it was for me. And I went and worked on those trying to perfect everything I could, and this year worked in my favor.”
All-News4JAX wrestling team
First team
Wt, Name, School, Yr.
106, Gavin Fisher, Middleburg, Fr.
Comment: Season record 61-4. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
113, Jacob Bucci, Clay, Jr.
Comment: Season record 24-2. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state runner-up.
120, Jordan Mukaddam, Fleming Island, Sr.
Comment: Season record 49-5. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
126, Sebastian Bonachea, Oakleaf, So.
Comment: Season record 37-3. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 3rd place.
132, Toryion Stallings, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.
Comment: Season record 45-4. 3A-District 2 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
138, Cole O’Brien, Fletcher, Sr.
Comment: Season record 53-4. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 3rd place.
144, Wyatt Leduc, Middleburg, Jr.
Comment: Season record 56-4. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
150, Kaden Schaefer, Fleming Island, Sr.
Comment: Season record 44-1. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state runner-up.
157, Enzo Gamba, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
Comment: All-News4JAX wrestler of the year. Season record 54-0. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state champion.
165, Malachi Mista, Sandalwood, Sr.
Comment: Season record 45-4. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 3rd, state 5th place.
175, Nolan McKelvy, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
Comment: Season record 64-8. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 5th place.
190, Jordan Mills, Matanzas, Sr.
Comment: In the conversation as the area’s best wrestler. Season record 52-0. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state champion.
215, Tucker Cody, Middleburg, Sr.
Comment: Season record 61-2. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 3rd place.
285, Braylen Ricks, Yulee, Sr.
Comment: Season record 50-3. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state runner-up.
Second team
Wt, Name, School, Yr.
106, Kevin McLean, St Johns Country Day, 8th.
Comment: Season record 38-5. 1A-District 4 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 3rd place.
113, Topher Pearson, Suwannee, Sr.
Comment: Season record 52-10. 1A-District 2 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state runner-up.
120, Grady Woodard, Middleburg, Sr.
Comment: Season record 49-9. 2A-District 3 runner-up, Region 1 runner-up, state 7th place.
126, Rylan Herrera, Clay, Jr.
Comment: Season record 42-9. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state runner-up.
132, Bryson Hubbard, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Comment: Season record 31-6. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, 1 match from state medal.
138, Laird Duhaylungsod, Fleming Island, Jr.
Comment: Season record 50-6. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state 5th place.
144, Cole Misciagna, Fernandina Beach, Sr.
Comment: Season record 63-13. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
150, Austin McKinney, Suwannee, Sr.
Comment: Season record 53-5. 1A-District 2 champ, Region 1 champ, state runner-up.
157, Marshall White, Suwannee, Jr.
Comment: Season record 50-6. 1A-District 2 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 3rd place.
165, Benny Lewis, Baker County, Sr.
Comment: Season record 38-2. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state 3rd place.
175, Christopher Chop, Fleming Island, Sr.
Comment: Season record 47-8. 2A-District 4 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
190, Alan Rivera, Nease, Sr.
Comment: Season record 45-5. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 champ, 1 match from state medal.
215, Ethaniel Laupepa, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.
Comment: Season record 42-4. 3A-District 2 champ, Region 1 champ, state 7th place.
285, Cole Anderson, Creekside, Jr.
Comment: Season record 46-7. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 4th, state 7th place.
Third team
Wt, Name, School, Yr.
106, Eli Jolicoeur, Suwannee, Jr.
Comment: Season record 56-8. 1A-District 2 champ, Region 1 champ, state 4th place.
113, Matthew Newman, Fleming Island, Sr.
Comment: Season record 51-8. 2A-District 4 runner-up, Region 1 3rd, state 7th place.
120, Kyle Brown, Sandalwood, Jr.
Comment: Season record 38-21. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 3rd, state 6th place.
126, Jareb Lauramore, Baker County, Jr.
Comment: Season record: 38-7. 1A-District 4 champ, Region 1 3rd, state 5th place.
132, Logan Pugh, Yulee, Sr.
Comment: Season record 45-15. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 4th, 0-2 at state.
138, Cael Kubatzke, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
Comment: Season record 65-7. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 champ, state runner-up.
144, Elias Twigg, Fletcher, Jr.
Comment: Season record 41-7. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 8th place.
150, Vlad Chechkovsky, Tocoi Creek, Fr.
Comment: Season record 44-7. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 champ, 1 match from state medal.
157, Jeff Brown, Parker, Sr.
Comment: Season record 30-4. 2A-District 3 runner-up, Region 1 champ, 1 match from state medal.
165, Colton Leavell, Creekside, Jr.
Comment: Season record 41-7. 3A-District 1 runner-up, Region 1 champ, 1 match from state medal.
175, Eddie Craig, Beachside, Sr.
Comment: Season record 33-6. 2A-District 3 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 6th place.
190, Christian McGarity, Episcopal, Jr.
Comment: Season record 51-11. 1A-District 3 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 8th place.
215, Jacob George, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Comment: Season record 35-13. 3A-District 1 champ, Region 1 runner-up, state 6th place.
285, Keith Forbes, Wolfson, Jr.
Comment: Season record 30-5. 1A-District 3 runner-up, Region 1 runner-up, 1 match from state medal.
Honorable mention
Baker County: Brayden Martin (106, So.); Taz Kinghorn (132, So.); Jonathon Walker (138, Jr.).
Baldwin: Taylor Davenport (215, So.).
Beachside: Grady Smith (150, Sr.).
Bishop Kenny: Dylan Lunsford (120, So.); Ethan Warchol (126, Jr.); Christopher Hampton (150, Sr.); John Slade (157, Sr.).
Bolles: Thomas Holt (150, Sr.); Brooks Baker (190, Sr.).
Clay: Vonte Burke (120, Jr.); Drew Holmquist (132, So.); Landon Martin (157, Fr.); Kelly Williams (190, Sr.); Aaron Stacey (215, Jr.).
Columbia: Arthur Vanderpool (150, Jr.).
Creekside: Santiago Carrion (113, So.); Justin Umali (120, Jr.); Curtis Wright (126, So.); Jonathan Morrison (175, Sr.); Tristen Darling (190, Sr.).
Episcopal: Mikah Ikeda (126, Fr.); Turner Glenn (150, Jr.); Maddox Davidson (215, Jr.).
Flagler Palm Coast: Trey Twilley (126, Fr.); Carson Baert (144, Jr.); Kelton Howard (165, Sr.)
Fleming Island: Calvin Wells (106, Fr.); Shane Duhaylungsod (126, Jr.); Dylan Beck (157, Jr.); Matthew Kotler (165, Sr.); Kevin Reyes (285, Jr.).
Fletcher: Landon Locantora (106, Jr.); Noah Stidfole (150, Jr.); Theo Brase (175, So.); Joseph Kohlhaas (215, Sr.).
Florida Deaf and Blind: Ajani Zahira (157, Sr.).
Mandarin: Bradley Mier (157, Sr.); William Jackson (285, Sr.).
Matanzas: Michael Fries (144, So.).
Menendez: Bryce Alli (165, Sr.).
Middleburg: Nathan Harvey (113, Fr.).
Nease: Jason Choi (113, Jr.); Lucian Slayden (132, Sr.).
Oakleaf: Connor Barnes (106, So.); Micah Thomas (132, So.); Keon Barrientos (144, Sr.); Ghais Cooper (157, Jr.); Jerimiah Baker (165, Jr.).
Orange Park: Jonathan Garland (126, Sr.).
Paxon: Louis Eckles (113, Sr.).
Ponte Vedra: Jaiden Zajni (120, Jr.); Daniel De Almeida (138, So.); Talan Babin (190, So.).
Ridgeview: James Laycock (175, Sr.); Raymond Goforth (215, Sr.).
Riverside: Anthony Kearney (175, Sr.); Demontra Burnett (285, Sr.).
Sandalwood: Malik Wilson (175, Sr.).
St Johns Country Day: Colton Hill (113, 7th).
Stanton: Elias Spurlin (144, Sr.).
Suwannee: Justin Contreras (120, Jr.); Rylan Milian (126, Fr.); Christian Socorras (144, Jr.); Benjamin Lewis (165, Sr.); Torynn Johns (175, Jr.); Clay Starling (190, Sr.); Sam Ballard (215, So.); Holden Corbin (285, So.).
Tocoi Creek: Aiden Hubbell (113, Jr.).
Union County: Jonathan Howard (120, So.); Dylan Lane (285, Sr.).
Westside: Jacob Jackson (113, Jr.).
White: Alejandro Sanchez (285, Sr.).
Yulee: Andrew Watkins (150, So.); Michael McNair (165, Jr.); Christopher Aud (175, Sr.); Pheonix Barbour-Yerka (215, Jr.).