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School is out for the summer, but we’re still celebrating Pensacola area 2025-26 high school sports accomplishments.
Next week, we’ll release our spring all-area award winners and teams. But before that, we’re highlighting a group of athletes that sometimes get overlooked at the high school level.
In an era of sport specialization, less and less athletes play multiple sports in high school. Over the next two days, we’ll recognize the athletes that don’t just play two sports, but excel at both across the Pensacola area.
Today, were recognizing the top boys multisport athletes in Escambia and Santa Rosa County and tomorrow we’ll recognize the top girls athletes. Athletes were chosen based on contributions for both sports as well as postseason success.
Here are the top 20 Pensacola area boys multisport athletes from 2025-26.
Sports: Football/basketball/baseball
Baxley was a man for all seasons. He threw for 665 yards and eight touchdowns in the Jaguars second ever football season. Next, he averaged 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game and crossed 1,000 career points on his way to being named PNJ All-Area second team. He ended the year as a two-way player in baseball, batting .338 with 25 RBIs and went 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA and 27 strikeouts on the mound.
Sports: Football/baseball
Baxley recorded a team-high 97 tackles (8 TFL), five sacks and caught a 54-yard touchdown while helping the Royals advance to the Rural state playoffs. He then batted .394 with 16 RBIs and seven stolen bases in the spring
Sports: Soccer/track and field
Beam recorded a goal and three assists and was a PNJ all-area second team midfielder, helping the Dolphins advance to the Region 1-5A semifinals. He also qualified for the FHSAA 3A state championship in the 400-meter hurdles, where he finished 12th (57.54 seconds)
Sports: Basketball/baseball
Boyd averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a key contributor for a young Dolphins basketball team, then batted .367 with nine doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs while playing middle infield.
Sports: Football/weightlifting
Carlisle was a key defensive lineman for the Jaguars in the fall, recording 34 tackles (4 TFL) and two sacks. Then in the spring he brought home two state weightlifting medals, finishing sixth in 2A at 238 pounds in Olympic (545 pounds, 255 snatch, 290 clean and jerk) and traditional (655 pounds, 290 clean, 365 bench)
Sports: Football/baseball
A South Alabama football commit, recorded 78 tackles with two interceptions and five pass deflections in the fall, then batted .341 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 41 runs scored in the spring.
He also had a flare for the dramatic, recording a pick-six against Milton in the Battle for the Golden Helmet and hitting a walkoff home run against Tate to win the District 1-6A championship.
Sports: Football/weightlifting
Dooley recorded 51 tackles (4 TFL) and a sack in the fall before securing back-to-back 1A Unlimited Olympic (605 pounds, 280 snatch, 325 clean) and traditional (765 pounds, 325 clean, 440 bench titles in the spring.
Sports: Basketball/track and field
Eccles averaged 12.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, helping the Tigers to their best season since 2021, garnering PNJ first-team all-area honors. He then won FHSAA 2A state titles in the high jump (7-0.25) and long jump (22-9) in the spring.
Sports: Football/track and field
Elliott caught 32 passes for 537 yards and two touchdowns and was also one of the area’s best sprinters this spring. He finished sixth in the 100 meters (10.82), fifth in the 200 and helped the Jaguars set school records in the 4x100 (41.38) and 4x400 (3:17.38) relays.
Sports: Football, baseball
Grissett recorded 74 tackles (13 TFL) 6.5 sacks, four pass deflections and an interception as a linebacker for the District 1-2A champion Crusaders, then batted .263 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in the spring.
Sports: Football/basketball
Gulley was one of the Crusaders primary receivers in the fall, catching 21 passes for 331 yards and eight touchdowns. He transitioned seamless onto the hardwood, averaging 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Sports: Football/lacrosse
Jasso caught 41 passes for 726 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to PNJ first team all-area honors and totaled 53 points (30 goals, 23 assists) to help the Crusaders to a Region 1-1A playoff appearance.
Sports: Football/basketball
Mandell recorded 41 tackles, an interception, two pass deflections, recovered a fumble and caught 16 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns and was a scoring machine on the basketball court.
He averaged 25.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.9 steals per game, garnering PNJ second team all-area honors.
Sports: Football/track and field
McDaniel was solid as a linebacker for the Gators in the fall, totaling 52 tackles (5 TFL), a sack, an interception and a quarterback hurry. He also caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. McDaniel was one of the area’s best high jumpers in the spring too, clearing 6-7.5 at the Eagle Invitational in February before finishing sixth (6-3.5) in the event at the FHSAA 3A state championship.
Sports: Football/basketball/baseball
A classic small-town athlete for every season, Morris started his junior year catching 14 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns on offense while also recording 66 tackles, three interceptions and 16 pass deflections on defense.
He then averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds per game in the winter and batted .333 with eight RBIs and seven stolen bases in the spring.
Sports: Football/baseball
Muldowney emerged as a wide receiver in the fall, catching seven passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. He then broke out as the Patriots ace in the spring, going 7-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
Sports: Football/baseball
Posta thrived as a defensive back in the fall, recording 62 tackles, two interceptions, two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Then in the spring he batted .289 with a home run, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases while playing centerfield.
Sports: Football/track and field
Rollins got it done in two sports at two different schools. He recorded 38 tackles (10 TFL) and 3.5 sacks playing for Escambia football in the fall, then finished eighth in the shot put (52-8.25) at the 3A state championship while representing Gulf Breeze. Rollins will play football at Huntingdon College.
Sports: Football/weightlifting
Spratt was a force for a resurgent Panthers team, recording 117 tackles (17 TFL), two sacks, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the spring, he finished fourth at 219 pounds in traditional (710 pounds, 320 clean, 390 bench) at the 3A state championship.
Spratt will continue his football career at Faulkner University.
Sports: Football/wrestling
Strickenburger ran for 581 yards and eight touchdowns on a 10-2 Patriots team in the fall, then helped Pace advance to his first ever state dual semifinals and repeat as IBT District 1-2A champions. Strickenburger went 24-9 and won the 165-pound District 1-2A title.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Top 20 Pensacola area boys multisport athletes of 2025-26
Continue reading...
Next week, we’ll release our spring all-area award winners and teams. But before that, we’re highlighting a group of athletes that sometimes get overlooked at the high school level.
In an era of sport specialization, less and less athletes play multiple sports in high school. Over the next two days, we’ll recognize the athletes that don’t just play two sports, but excel at both across the Pensacola area.
Today, were recognizing the top boys multisport athletes in Escambia and Santa Rosa County and tomorrow we’ll recognize the top girls athletes. Athletes were chosen based on contributions for both sports as well as postseason success.
Here are the top 20 Pensacola area boys multisport athletes from 2025-26.
Carson Baxley, jr., Central
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Sports: Football/basketball/baseball
Baxley was a man for all seasons. He threw for 665 yards and eight touchdowns in the Jaguars second ever football season. Next, he averaged 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game and crossed 1,000 career points on his way to being named PNJ All-Area second team. He ended the year as a two-way player in baseball, batting .338 with 25 RBIs and went 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA and 27 strikeouts on the mound.
Nick Baxley, sr., Jay
Sports: Football/baseball
Baxley recorded a team-high 97 tackles (8 TFL), five sacks and caught a 54-yard touchdown while helping the Royals advance to the Rural state playoffs. He then batted .394 with 16 RBIs and seven stolen bases in the spring
Matt Beam, sr., Gulf Breeze
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Sports: Soccer/track and field
Beam recorded a goal and three assists and was a PNJ all-area second team midfielder, helping the Dolphins advance to the Region 1-5A semifinals. He also qualified for the FHSAA 3A state championship in the 400-meter hurdles, where he finished 12th (57.54 seconds)
Parker Boyd, jr., Gulf Breeze
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Sports: Basketball/baseball
Boyd averaged 9.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a key contributor for a young Dolphins basketball team, then batted .367 with nine doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs while playing middle infield.
Javon Carlisle, sr., West Florida
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Sports: Football/weightlifting
Carlisle was a key defensive lineman for the Jaguars in the fall, recording 34 tackles (4 TFL) and two sacks. Then in the spring he brought home two state weightlifting medals, finishing sixth in 2A at 238 pounds in Olympic (545 pounds, 255 snatch, 290 clean and jerk) and traditional (655 pounds, 290 clean, 365 bench)
Braiden Cheshire, sr., Pace
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Sports: Football/baseball
A South Alabama football commit, recorded 78 tackles with two interceptions and five pass deflections in the fall, then batted .341 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 41 runs scored in the spring.
He also had a flare for the dramatic, recording a pick-six against Milton in the Battle for the Golden Helmet and hitting a walkoff home run against Tate to win the District 1-6A championship.
Chase Dooley, jr., Jay
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Sports: Football/weightlifting
Dooley recorded 51 tackles (4 TFL) and a sack in the fall before securing back-to-back 1A Unlimited Olympic (605 pounds, 280 snatch, 325 clean) and traditional (765 pounds, 325 clean, 440 bench titles in the spring.
Khylen Eccles, jr., Pensacola
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Sports: Basketball/track and field
Eccles averaged 12.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, helping the Tigers to their best season since 2021, garnering PNJ first-team all-area honors. He then won FHSAA 2A state titles in the high jump (7-0.25) and long jump (22-9) in the spring.
Dane Elliott, jr., West Florida
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Sports: Football/track and field
Elliott caught 32 passes for 537 yards and two touchdowns and was also one of the area’s best sprinters this spring. He finished sixth in the 100 meters (10.82), fifth in the 200 and helped the Jaguars set school records in the 4x100 (41.38) and 4x400 (3:17.38) relays.
Lane Grissett, jr., Pensacola Catholic
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Sports: Football, baseball
Grissett recorded 74 tackles (13 TFL) 6.5 sacks, four pass deflections and an interception as a linebacker for the District 1-2A champion Crusaders, then batted .263 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in the spring.
Donnelle Gulley, jr., Pensacola Catholic
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Sports: Football/basketball
Gulley was one of the Crusaders primary receivers in the fall, catching 21 passes for 331 yards and eight touchdowns. He transitioned seamless onto the hardwood, averaging 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Caden Jasso, sr., Pensacola Catholic
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Sports: Football/lacrosse
Jasso caught 41 passes for 726 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to PNJ first team all-area honors and totaled 53 points (30 goals, 23 assists) to help the Crusaders to a Region 1-1A playoff appearance.
Tanner Mandell, jr., Jay
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Sports: Football/basketball
Mandell recorded 41 tackles, an interception, two pass deflections, recovered a fumble and caught 16 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns and was a scoring machine on the basketball court.
He averaged 25.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.9 steals per game, garnering PNJ second team all-area honors.
Daniel McDaniel, sr., Escambia
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Sports: Football/track and field
McDaniel was solid as a linebacker for the Gators in the fall, totaling 52 tackles (5 TFL), a sack, an interception and a quarterback hurry. He also caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. McDaniel was one of the area’s best high jumpers in the spring too, clearing 6-7.5 at the Eagle Invitational in February before finishing sixth (6-3.5) in the event at the FHSAA 3A state championship.
Bryson Morris, jr., Jay
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Sports: Football/basketball/baseball
A classic small-town athlete for every season, Morris started his junior year catching 14 passes for 456 yards and seven touchdowns on offense while also recording 66 tackles, three interceptions and 16 pass deflections on defense.
He then averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds per game in the winter and batted .333 with eight RBIs and seven stolen bases in the spring.
Aaron Muldowney, so., Pace
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Sports: Football/baseball
Muldowney emerged as a wide receiver in the fall, catching seven passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. He then broke out as the Patriots ace in the spring, going 7-1 with a 2.16 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
Kaden Posta, so., Tate
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Sports: Football/baseball
Posta thrived as a defensive back in the fall, recording 62 tackles, two interceptions, two pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Then in the spring he batted .289 with a home run, nine RBIs and seven stolen bases while playing centerfield.
Kade Rollins, sr., Escambia/Gulf Breeze
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Sports: Football/track and field
Rollins got it done in two sports at two different schools. He recorded 38 tackles (10 TFL) and 3.5 sacks playing for Escambia football in the fall, then finished eighth in the shot put (52-8.25) at the 3A state championship while representing Gulf Breeze. Rollins will play football at Huntingdon College.
Aiden Spratt, sr., Milton
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Sports: Football/weightlifting
Spratt was a force for a resurgent Panthers team, recording 117 tackles (17 TFL), two sacks, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the spring, he finished fourth at 219 pounds in traditional (710 pounds, 320 clean, 390 bench) at the 3A state championship.
Spratt will continue his football career at Faulkner University.
Tagg Strickenburger, sr., Pace
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Sports: Football/wrestling
Strickenburger ran for 581 yards and eight touchdowns on a 10-2 Patriots team in the fall, then helped Pace advance to his first ever state dual semifinals and repeat as IBT District 1-2A champions. Strickenburger went 24-9 and won the 165-pound District 1-2A title.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Top 20 Pensacola area boys multisport athletes of 2025-26
Continue reading...
