For our third annual Sober October, Jordan welcomes back Coach Jeffrey Estrada, founder of the Sons of Thunder and Daughters of Zion wrestling programs in Crestview and Panama City and current president of USA Wrestling South Carolina.

Coach Estrada holds nothing back. He shares how a missed weight and a loss at the state tournament as a junior led him to run away from home at 16, and how he spent years battling drugs, alcohol, gang life, and jail before turning to his faith. He explains the biblical story behind the Sons of Thunder name, why his first four attempts at sobriety didn’t last, and what it means to be an “angry sober” coach who wins everything but still feels empty inside.

He also gets honest about how his choices affected his wife and daughters, why “do what I say, not what I do” doesn’t work for parents or coaches, and how a wrestling dad’s stand against “Gangster Rap Tuesday” changed the way he runs his room. Now nearly eight years into his longest run at sobriety, Coach Estrada talks about leaning on Christ, prayer, and fellowship to get through the hard days, one day at a time.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Coach Estrada invited listeners to call or text him at 618-781-8713. You can also reach the SAMHSA National Helpline 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357 for free, confidential support.

Jordan sits down with Justin Grant, a Lincoln High School product from Tallahassee whose wrestling journey has taken him all over the country and onto the world stage.

Justin shares how getting caught on the cafeteria roof in sixth grade landed him in the wrestling room, and what he learned wrestling for Coach Mike Crowder at Lincoln. He walks through a college path with more turns than most: two Division I programs, Ellsworth and Indian Hills, and Brewton-Parker, where injuries and a skin infection outbreak cut both of his seasons short.

Those setbacks led him to beach wrestling. Justin explains how the sport works, how a Crowder lesson helped him win the 80 kg title at the Carolina Beach Nationals, and what it was like representing the U.S. at the Beach Wrestling World Championships in Greece, where he finished 13th in the world rankings.

Plus, Justin drops some big news: at 26, he has one more year of college eligibility, and he’ll be using it at New College of Florida while serving as the program’s graduate assistant coach.

Chapters

• 00:00 Wrestling Beginnings and Influences
• 03:40 High School Wrestling Journey
• 05:46 College Wrestling Experience
• 10:58 Coaching Philosophy and Culture Building
• 12:10 Transition to Beach Wrestling
• 15:01 International Competition in Greece
• 17:48 Returning to Coaching and Competing
• 22:06 Advice for Aspiring Wrestlers

Jordan sits down with Jayden Coleman of Well Trained Wrestling in Pensacola, one of the brightest young talents in the Panhandle. Jayden is a USA Wrestling U14 Greco-Roman National Champion, a Freestyle All-American, a Florida U14 State Champion, and a Team Florida standout.

Jayden talks about making the jump from jiu-jitsu to wrestling, what a practice at Well Trained looks like, and why Greco is his favorite style. He walks us through his national title match, a tight battle decided by a push out in the final 30 seconds, all while wrestling through a knee injury. He also shares the biggest lesson Coach Ryan Blackwell has taught him, what he learned from a tough loss, and his goal of earning All-American honors in both styles at Fargo this year.

Plus, we find out his favorite wrestler and which Dragon Ball Z character he identifies with most.

Jayden is a finalist for Youth Athlete of the Year, and the winner takes home $25,000 and a feature in Sports Illustrated. Voting closes October 8, so head to the link below and cast your vote for Jayden!

🗳️ Vote here: https://athleteoftheyear.org/2026/jayden-55a5

The conversation covers a range of topics, including personal wrestling experiences, coaching philosophies, and the future of the Swanee High School wrestling program. Bryan Wainwright shares insights on his wrestling background, the influence of Coach Laxton, and his coaching philosophy. He also discusses the challenges and expectations for the Swanee wrestling program, including the inclusion of female athletes and the goal of achieving consistent regional and district championships.

Takeaways

• Wrestling as a formative experience
• Coaching philosophy focused on individual growth

Chapters

• 00:00 Transition to Coaching and Philosophy of Athlete Development
• 06:03 Expectations for the Swanee Wrestling Program and Inclusion of Female Athletes
• 08:58 Challenges and Expectations for the First Season Under New Leadership
• 12:06 Coaching Philosophy and Approach to Athlete Development
• 14:55 Importance of Character and Standards in Wrestling
• 18:05 Comparison of Current Generation of Athletes to Previous Generations
• 21:12 Expectations for the Future of Swanee Wrestling Program

I interviewed my own replacement. 😅

When I stepped away from coaching North Bay Haven wrestling, Zach Deaton was one of the first people I called — and a few weeks later he's got the job. So yeah, this got a little personal.

In this episode Zach opens up about leaving Bay High after nearly a decade, what drew him to North Bay Haven, and how he plans to build something special with the Bucs. We also get into his coaching philosophy, his thoughts on youth wrestling and burnout, and what he believes really sits at the foundation of a winning program.

If you follow wrestling in North Florida, you don't want to miss this one.

🎙️ Hosted by Zane Turnipseed


📍 North Florida Wrestling Show

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the North Florida Wrestling Show
• 00:37 Zach Deaton's Wrestling Journey
• 03:01 High School Wrestling Career
• 05:34 Transition to Coaching
• 11:08 Moving to North Behaven
• 24:26 Coaching Philosophy and Style
• 29:56 Coaching Philosophy and Approach
• 32:52 Adapting to Wrestlers' Styles
• 34:04 The Impact of Coaching and Mentorship
• 44:29 The Value of Wrestling and Building a Team
• 50:15 Preparing for the Season

One of the most electric wrestlers in the North Florida area, Dominik is known for his cat like reflexes and lightning like agility that makes him dangerous from anywhere.

Couple that with a team full of hardworkers committed to the same goal day in and day out, then you have a wrestler that evolves faster than most of the competition can keep pace.

Make sure to keep an eye on King Dominik as we may well be in for a long reign!

Where are in for a very Special Episode as NWA's Director and Lead Instructor finds sometime amongst the painting and chaos that comes with opening a club. He gives us insights on what it takes to run a successful program, his hopes for the Panhandle going forward and the Connor Beebe Grand Opening Camp going down at the new NWA facility Nov 11-13

NWA Camp with Conor Beebe Nov 11-13

https://niceville-wrestling-academy.gymdesk.com/page/2022-nwa-camps

Get ready for the ultimate battle at the Panhandle WarZone Spring Series Finale from Florida High in Tallahassee!

These young wrestlers have shown incredible growth, pushing themselves to the limits and leaving everything on the mat. It's been an epic journey filled with unforgettable moments, jaw-dropping maneuvers, and heart-stopping drama. Now, as the dust settles and the top 30 leaderboard emerges, only the best of the best remain. Will it be the one who secured a flawless win streak, or the one who fought tooth and nail for every victory? Who will have the grit and determination to say "give me one more match?"

Get ready for a showdown like no other, where the future stars of wrestling will leave it all on the line in a quest for glory. Don't miss the electrifying finale of the Panhandle WarZone Spring Series - it all ends here!