The Florida Wrestling Room

Coach Anthony Cerullo joins Ricky Cheese on the Grinding for Greatness Podcast to talk about his incredible wrestling journey, building programs at Tenoroc and George Jenkins, and why wrestling is more than just a sport. Anthony opens up about how wrestling helped change the direction of his life, the challenges of coaching in low-income communities, and the “24/7 mentality” that has helped shape...

Florida college wrestling is growing faster than most people realize, and USF is putting a stamp on it. On this episode of The Florida Wrestling Room , Jordan (North Florida Wrestling Show) sits down with USF Wrestling Head Coach James Lawless , who took over the program this year and immediately raised the standard. Coach Lawless breaks down: How the USF program was rebuilt from the ground up Why...

Host Ricky Cheese brings together Joe Lowe, Jared Reber, and Brennon Chambers for a powerful Sober October conversation—wrestling, fatherhood, faith, and the real work of breaking addiction. What you’ll hear: Joe’s path from daily drinking to 620+ days sober, UNC Greensboro HOF, and competing at the U.S. Open Jared on giving up alcohol for his son, running 100+ mile months, and the mindset of a ch...

Join Alex Wisdom in this special collaboration with The Florida Wrestling Room as we unveil the Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Boys Wrestlers and Teams across the Sunshine State! 🏆 Discover the standout athletes, thrilling matchups, and powerhouse programs shaping the Florida wrestling scene. From Draven McCal's pursuit of another title to South Dade's domination, this episode dives deep into the perform...

Welcome back to TFWR , your #1 source for all things Florida Wrestling! In this episode, Ricky Cheese dives into the explosive growth of girls wrestling in Florida and how it's setting a national standard. 🏆 From top-ranked high school wrestlers to rising stars, we cover all the biggest names, including Rylee Lancaster , Maya Bethel , Ailey Briggs , and Gracie Leota . 💪 Key Highlights: Why Flori...

Join Ricky along with Coaches Kurt Montanye and Jamie Harrison as they reflect on the incredible road to victory for the RPA Headhunters Wrestling Club at the Disney Duals . From their strategic planning to the clutch moments that defined their success, this episode takes you behind the scenes of their historic 1st Place Gold finish . 💥 Key Moments Remembered: Match Highlights: A rollercoaster of...

In Episode 27 of Grinding for Greatness, we sit down with rising Florida wrestling star Julianna Caisse. Known for her remarkable consistency and mental toughness, Julianna talks about her recent transfer from Palm Harbor to Riverdale and how it has shaped her wrestling journey. She shares her advice for young athletes on how to stay focused and enjoy the process, plus an inside look into her trai...

In the longest episode of Grinding for Greatness to date, Ricky Cheese sits down with Demetri Kangas, a wrestling veteran and founder of the Will of a Warrior Foundation, for a deep dive into his wrestling journey, coaching philosophy, and the impact of his work in youth wrestling. Demetri shares his roots in Pennsylvania wrestling, his collegiate career at Delaware Valley University, and his tran...

In this special episode of Grinding for Greatness , host Ricky Cheese invites the Ortiz family—Rebecca, Carlos, and their son Gion—into his home for a candid and heartfelt sit-down interview. The Ortiz family shares their personal journey through the world of wrestling, reflecting on the recruitment process, family sacrifices, and Gion’s inspiring battle with Type 1 diabetes. Together, they discus...

In this special episode of Grinding for Greatness , host Ricky Marcus sits down with National Wrestling Hall of Famer Sal Basile to discuss his incredible journey both on and off the mat. Sal opens up about his wrestling career, his coaching philosophy, and the challenges he’s faced, including the devastating fire that destroyed his home. He shares the overwhelming support he received from the wre...

In this episode of Grinding for Greatness, Ricky Cheese sits down with licensed clinical psychologist and former Stanford wrestler, David Sacks. Together, they dive deep into the intersection of mental health and sports, discussing David's journey from wrestler to psychologist, the psychological challenges faced by athletes, and the concepts from his new book Extreme Balance, co-authored with...

Ricky Cheese of Grinding for Greatness welcomes Gian Ortiz, a 2023 state finalist from Jensen Beach High School, into his home to talk about his wrestling journey and future at Roanoke College. In this episode, Gian opens up about his experiences at the state tournament, the challenges he faced, and his aspirations to become an NCAA champion despite a recent Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. We dive into...

Special Episode: Super 32 Qualifer Middle School Preview! In this episode, Ricky Cheese provides an in-depth preview of the upcoming Super 32 Qualifier at Kissimmee Osceola High School, focusing on the middle school divisions. He highlights the achievements and potential of various young wrestlers across different weight classes, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these athletes as the futu...

In this episode of Grinding for Greatness , we sit down with Jaime Armando Rodriguez, the visionary behind the New Jersey and Florida Scorpions Wrestling Clubs. 🦂 Jaime takes us on a journey through his experience of building wrestling programs from scratch, his unique coaching philosophy, and the challenges he overcame to help grow wrestling in Florida. Whether you're a coach, parent, or ath...

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨We're excited to drop our latest episode featuring Grant Leeth, the inaugural head coach of Tarleton State University's first-ever Division I Wrestling Program! 🏆🤼‍♂️🎙️ In this episode:Grant shares his journey from being a standout wrestler to pioneering the first D1 wrestling program in Texas! Learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a Division I progr...

Join Ricky Cheese as he sits down with John Hosegood, a seasoned wrestling official and proud father, to discuss the intricate world of wrestling officiating, the challenges faced on the mat, and the life lessons learned along the way. From the importance of consistency in calls to the political undertones in selecting state tournament officials, this conversation offers a deep dive into the sport...

In this episode of Grinding for Greatness, Ricky Cheese sits down with Ron Lang, the author of Mat Return: The Resurgence of Amateur Wrestling in the United States. Ron shares his personal journey in wrestling and discusses how the sport has shaped his life. They dive deep into the transformative power of wrestling, from building character to fostering leadership and resilience. The conversation a...

In this episode of GFG's Club Cribs, we head to the Olympic Heights Cowboy Wrestling Club, where dedication knows no bounds. Join host Ricky Cheese as he teams up with Coach Levy "Boomer" Mears for an inside look at one of Florida's top youth wrestling clubs. From intense training sessions to the infamous cold plunge, this behind-the-scenes tour showcases the relentless spirit an...

In this special episode of Grinding for Greatness, Ricky Cheese dives deep into the incredible journey of the Lowe family—spanning across generations. We explore how Joe Lowe, once a Florida State Champion himself, instilled a winning mentality in his son, Elijah Lowe, who followed in his father's footsteps to claim his own state title. We are also joined by 2x State Champion and Elijah's girlfrie...

In this episode of Grinding for Greatness, we sit down with Mario Del Vecchio, a standout wrestler who has made waves in both Florida and New Jersey. Mario shares his journey from defeating state champions to transitioning between different wrestling cultures. He opens up about the influence of his father as his coach, his goals for the next three years, and his ultimate dream of becoming a lawyer...

Welcome to the latest episode of 'Grinding for Greatness'! This week, we dive deep into the July 2024 Boys Top 25 Pound-for-Pound rankings. Join us as we break down the top wrestlers from across Florida, highlighting their achievements, strengths, and what makes them stand out in this competitive landscape. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or wrestling enthusiast, this episode is packe...

In this episode of "Grinding for Greatness," host Ricky Cheese sits down with Blaine Ison, the renowned head coach of Palmetto Ridge High School's wrestling team. Blaine's journey from high school wrestler to influential coach is filled with inspiring moments and valuable insights. Blaine's Wrestling Journey : Blaine shares his beginnings in wrestling, from being unsure about...

We are finally here with the Boys "All Class" Rankings for the month of July is finally here! Let us know what you think? Should someone else be on this list? Should someone be higher? Let us hear your thoughts!

Jabari Irons, a beach wrestling champion and college national champion, shares his incredible journey in this podcast episode. He discusses his experience with a shooting incident and how it motivated him to achieve greatness in wrestling. Irons talks about his mindset of never quitting and the importance of education. He also shares his training experiences with top wrestlers and the impact it ha...

Join us for an exciting episode of Grinding for Greatness as Ricky Cheese sits down with wrestling legend and accomplished coach Conor Beebe! Conor, a four-time state champion from Montini Catholic High School and NCAA qualifier from Central Michigan University, shares his incredible journey from athlete to coach. Coaching Journey: Conor discusses his transition into coaching, including his impact...