The Treasure Coast HS wrestling program has a new head coach after Coach Roger Allcroft left the program at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season. Allcroft is now at Fort Pierce Central HS. New head coach Kevin Carter Sr. has stepped in as the new leader for the Treasure Coast HS Titans wrestling team. Carter is no stranger to the sport, as he wrestled for three and a half years while he attended Fort Pierce Central HS. He was a district and regional champion and went on to place 5th at the FHSAA State Championships in 2011. Coach Carter was coached by Peter Crespo, Jerome Todd and Terry Morgan while he was in school at FPC.
Coach Kevin Carter Sr. inherited a program with some pretty solid kids such as former state finalist Jabore Brown [senior]. In addition to Brown, Coach Carter said he has Jalia Allah an 11th grader state qualifier, Leah Balmaceda a senior, Kyle Leaich a senior, Zinos Mastroeni a junior, and Duran Tucker a sophomore. Although he has mostly underclassmen, it’s a good thing because he has multiple years to develop them. Carter said his vision is to make Treasure Coast a powerhouse over time and to keep them winning which will hopefully draw the attention of the student body and it will encourage more kids to want to give wrestling a shot to be a part of a winning tradition.
I asked Coach Carter about some of the obstacles he faces as a newer coach and he said “Treasure Coast HS is known for football so it’s difficult to get kids to come out and commit to wrestling, but I’ve grown a lot in the past year and now Coach Jones the football coach supports the wrestling program and advises his football kids to join the wrestling team. Kids got better technically in wrestling over the years since I’ve wrestled in high school, but their mentality got weaker so trying to find the balance and keeping things interesting is a job in itself.” He further told me he’s very happy with his administration because he has a ton of support from his Athletic Director Jay Stewart. He stated “I’m working my way to getting support from the rest of the school. Making sure we get special shout outs from the principal during the school’s morning announcements. But it’s a work in progress and it’s getting better”.
I had a chance to speak with Treasure Coast star wrestler and team leader Jabore Brown. He was a state finalist during his 10th grade season but could not compete last year due to an injury prior to the post season. This is his senior campaign and he has one thing on his mind. Winning an FHSAA 3A 165 pound individual state title. Jabore Brown started wrestling at the age of 14 and his plans are to continue wrestling at the next level, hopefully at a Division 1 program. He also wants to try and win a NHSCA Senior Nationals title to draw attention from the D1 coaches who will be there scouting the seniors for possible scholarships.
I asked Jabore how the coaching change affected him and if it was a difficult transition. He said the coaching change was a “shock” but a pleasant one. He told me how Coach Carter focuses a lot more on technique and “the true basics of wrestling”. He said he’s become much better since Coach Carter took over as the head coach and he is excited to keep improving.
As a leader on the team Jabore said it’s hard at times to motivate the rest of the team, especially the younger wrestlers, but through his actions they seem to be following his lead. He said ” I attempt to give my younger teammates a better glimpse of what they can do if they continue to practice hard through my own actions”. Jabore helps with the teams technique as well by showing the younger wrestlers different moves he’s learned and the proper way to execute these moves. He said he teaches each kid a little differently in order to cater to their particular style.
Jabore told me he has a lot of tough kids around his weight class but he’s really not too worried about anyone in particular. He said if he has to wrestle someone he’s never wrestled before then he accepts the challenge. He said he’s very confident in his abilities on the mat and welcomes all challengers. He further stated, with the hundreds of hours he’s put into his training he doesnt get too nervous about having to wrestle another big name guy because he’s very confident that all of his training will get him through any difficult match.
As far as where we can expect to see Jabore Brown after the wrestling is over? Well, we may see him at a hospital somewhere because he is interested in becoming a nurse or even a doctor. One thing I know is this, if a wrestler sets his sights on something there’s a strong chance he/she will accomplish it. The work ethic of a wrestler is unmatched and this is why wrestlers are usually very successful in anything they choose to do. So remember the name Jabore Brown because I have a feeling you’ll be hearing it on Saturday night, March 2nd at the Silver Spurs Arena!