A significant number of local high school wrestlers secured their spots at the upcoming state championships following successful performances at regional competitions held on February 16, 2024. The top four finishers in each category qualified for the state tournament, showcasing the strength of teams from West Rowan, A.L. Brown, East Rowan, South Rowan, and Carson.
Strong Performances in the 5A West Regional
The Falcons from West Rowan High School emerged victorious in the 5A West Regional team championship, accumulating 151.5 points at North Davidson. Notable individual achievements included James Stephens, who claimed the title in the 132-pound category, and Andrew Taylor, the champion at 144 pounds. Additionally, Xavier Gray finished as the runner-up at 215 pounds, while Harry Hartwell (190) and Bryson Ellis (heavyweight) secured third-place finishes. Chris Gaither rounded out the qualifying wrestlers with a fourth-place finish at 138 pounds.
East Rowan High School also had a commendable showing, finishing third in the 5A West Regional with 109 points. Braylen Yates won the regional championship at 165 pounds, while Christopher McDonald was the runner-up at 113 pounds. Other notable finishes included Jamal Hall (third at 138), Catoe Burd (fourth at 120), and Lucas Restrepo (fourth at 126).
From Carson High School, Joseph Little qualified for the state tournament with a runner-up finish at 120 pounds, while Griffin Barber placed fourth at 157 pounds. The Cougars ended the regional competition in 11th place with a total of 55.5 points.
Results from Other Regionals
In the 4A West Regional held at Maiden, South Rowan finished fifth in team scoring with 119 points. Carson Raper shone brightly, securing the championship with four pins at 106 pounds. Runners-up included Garrison Raper (132) and Emilio Diaz (113), while Aiden Carter took fourth at 175 pounds. Meanwhile, Salisbury managed to score nine points in the same competition.
In the 1A/2A West Regional, hosted by North Rowan, the Cavaliers faced challenges, finishing with a total of 22.5 points.
A.L. Brown High School hosted the 7A West Regional and finished second to Davie with 147 points. The Wonders celebrated three regional champions: Landon Logan (120 pounds), Gavin Yow (190 pounds), and Kaulton Kuddie (215 pounds). Notably, Yow boasts a record of 47-1, Kuddie stands at 46-2, and Logan is 43-5. Additional highlights included Chase Hernandez, who was the runner-up at 150 pounds, and Mason Cook, who finished third at 157 pounds. Everon Riddle (132) and Quentin Whisonafe (heavyweight) also placed fourth.
The individual state championships are set to take place in Greensboro on February 19-21, 2024. Girls wrestling will occur on February 19-20, followed by boys wrestling on February 20-21. Furthermore, A.L. Brown, West Rowan, and East Rowan remain in contention for the dual team state playoffs, with action scheduled to resume on Tuesday.
