Between May 5-6, four athletes from Gulf Breeze made it official and signed with a college to compete in their sport at the next level.
All four signings happened at Gulf Breeze High School. Gulf Breeze boys basketball’s Hutson Rowe, baseball’s Ky Cook, and wrestling’s Gavin Cohen and George Selmeister will all head to the collegiate level.
This now adds to a handful of signings from Gulf Breeze, which includes Brock Stomps, who signed with Division I North Alabama to play football.
Hutson Rowe gets to stay home and play college basketball at UWF
Hutson Rowe had a high school career to be remembered after leading the Dolphins for a trio of seasons. He averaged eight points per game as a sophomore before taking the court by storm with 14.7 points per game his junior (367 points) and 12.9 points (309 points) senior years.
Rowe was also big on the glass, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game over the course of his three years with Gulf Breeze.
Doing it all on one side of the bridge, Rowe will now cross Pensacola Bay and stay home to play college basketball at the University of West Florida. Rowe joins a select group of players in the last several years of hometown kids to play for the Argos.
That includes Pensacola’s Zac Clarke, who just played his freshman season at UWF. Prior to Clarke, the most recent local player to suit up for UWF was Erin Straughn, who went to Pensacola High, and played his graduate student season for the Argos in 2014-15 after a medical redshirt at East Carolina University.
“It’s nice to stay home. It’s a big relief to know where I’m going next year,” Rowe said after he signed on May 5. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather play, and I get to stay home. All my friends and family can come to games. …. UWF was one of my favorite places because it’s home and I’m still close to the beach.”
Rowe was part of a Gulf Breeze squad that claimed the District 1-6A in 2023 that fell to Ponte Vedra in the region semifinals. He was a two-time PNJ First Team All-Area selection his junior and senior seasons.
“From my coaches to my teammates, they made it really easy to strive every day at Gulf Breeze,” Rowe said.
UWF just finished its second season under the guidance of Justin Mann, who is just the fifth coach in program history. The Argos went 8-20 (7-15 Gulf South) during the 2024-25 campaign.
“Coach Mann, he came to a bunch of my games. It seems like a great place to be,” Rowe said. “I definitely am focusing on getting bigger and stronger now, looking to get more physical for college basketball.”
Ky Cook’s ‘going to be ready’ at Southern Union State Community College
Fresh off the 2025 baseball season where Ky Cook was part of a strong pitching core for Gulf Breeze, he’s now signed to pitch at South Union State Community College next season in Wadley, Alabama, east of Birmingham near the Georgia border.
Cook took on a pitcher-only role for his senior season after only a handful of at-bats as a junior. He recorded 40 2/3 innings on the mound this season with 30 strikeouts and a 4.48 ERA in 11 appearances.
The signing became official on May 5, and now he’s a Bison.
“It’s a big relief. I’m excited because now I get high school out of the way. High school was awesome, but my goal has been to play college baseball. I feel like it’s going to be a big step to see where I go for the future,” Cook said. “The main thing is the coaches talked to me about how they could develop me as a player. They were very direct for that. Not only do they want what’s best for the team, but they’re looking out for my individually. … It’s about where I could get to the next level from there.”
Cook joined Gulf Breeze’s varsity squad the same year that Randall Fant took over the Dolphins in 2024. That season, Cook tallied 34 1/3 innings pitched with 24 strikeouts and a 2.45 ERA in nine appearances.
Gulf Breeze had a 14-12 record in 2024 and a 16-12 record in 2025, falling in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals to Chiles during the best-of-three series.
“Gulf Breeze is the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball. I’ve played with these guys my whole life,” Cook said. “Honestly, I’ve never had more fun on a baseball field than this past season and last year, playing with my best friends. It was awesome.”
Southern Union State wrapped up its 2025 season with a 24-28 record, just falling short of a trip to the Alabama Community College Conference Division I tournament.
“They’re definitely team-driven, but they also want what’s best for their players. Of all the coaches I talked to, they seemed the most to care about development of players,” Cook said. “I’m pumped. I wanted to go somewhere where I could play. I had options where I could’ve gone to a four-year school but not played my freshman year. I’m the type of guy that’s always going to want to play. As soon as I get there, I’m going to be ready to pitch.”
Gavin Cohen headed to Division I American University
Gavin Cohen may have only been with Gulf Breeze for one season, but he certainly left his mark with the Dolphins. The 2025 PNJ Boys Wrestler of the Year, Cohen finished his senior season with a 57-6 record.
He also made it the furthest of any area wrestler at the FHSAA state championships with a third-place finish in the Class 2A 150-pound weight class, fighting his way to the bronze medal in the individual tournament. He also earned the District 1-2A crown in the weight class to start the postseason.
“I moved here just nine months ago and being in Gulf Breeze has made me a much better wrestler,” Cohen said.
Now, Cohen is the first wrestler from Gulf Breeze to go to a Division I program. He made it official on May 6 and will head to American University in Washington, D.C.
“It’s exciting. I love the coaching staff and all the wrestlers that I’ve met there,” Cohen said. “I love how the program’s been building up the wrestlers’ mentality to get better, and want to win.”
Now, Cohen, with the honor of being the first program alumnus to go to the NCAA’s top level of wrestling, hopes he can inspire other wrestlers from his team to want to achieve those same goals – including younger wrestlers like his brother, Ryder, who just completed his freshman season at Gulf Breeze.
“All my teammates and my little brother, I want them to accomplish the same goal,” Cohen said.
George Selmeister will wrestle at Minot State
George Selmeister is headed north to compete for Division II Minot State in North Dakota.
“It feels amazing. I’m excited to get going with a great coaching staff and a great team,” Selmeister said. “The way they set everything up, and the facilities are really nice.”
But don’t worry, he’s prepared for the harsh northern winters.
“I know it’s going to be cold. I’ll have a big winter jacket, for sure,” Selmeister said with a grin.
Despite an injury throughout his senior season, Selmeister did achieve his 100th career win during Gulf Breeze’s senior night.
Alongside Cohen, Selmeister made it official on May 6.
During his junior season, Selmeister claimed first in the District 1-2A individual tournament at the 132-pound weight class, also competing in the region tournament.
“It would be awesome to see more Gulf Breeze wrestlers sign and compete at the next level, chasing their dreams,” Selmeister said. “Since I’ve moved to Gulf Breeze, I’ve learned a lot. It’s definitely built a different man out of me, and a better athlete.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
