Several local high school wrestlers have qualified for the state tournament following a series of successful regional competitions. The individual wrestling regionals took place on February 16, 2024, with the top four finishers from each weight class securing their spots at the state event.
5A West Regional Highlights
In the 5A West Regional championship held at North Davidson, the West Rowan Falcons showcased their strength, winning the team title with a total of 151.5 points. James Stephens (132 pounds) and Andrew Taylor (144 pounds) emerged as regional champions. Additionally, Xavier Gray (215 pounds) claimed second place, while Harry Hartwell (190 pounds) and Bryson Ellis (heavyweight) secured third. Chris Gaither (138 pounds) finished fourth.
The East Rowan Mustangs placed third in the same regional with 109 points. Their standout performer, Braylen Yates, captured the title at 165 pounds, while Christopher McDonald (113 pounds) was the runner-up. Jamal Hall (138 pounds) took third place, and both Catoe Burd (120 pounds) and Lucas Restrepo (126 pounds) finished fourth.
Carson High School had two state qualifiers in the 5A West Regional, with Joseph Little taking second at 120 pounds and Griffin Barber finishing fourth at 157 pounds. The Cougars finished 11th in team scoring with a total of 55.5 points.
Regional Competitions in Other Divisions
At the 4A West Regional held in Maiden, South Rowan finished fifth with 119 points. Notably, Carson Raper won the 106-pound title after achieving four pins. Garrison Raper (132 pounds) and Emilio Diaz (113 pounds) were runners-up, while Aiden Carter (175 pounds) secured fourth place. Meanwhile, Salisbury High School scored nine points in the same competition.
In the 1A/2A West Regional hosted by North Rowan, North Rowan Cavaliers scored 22.5 points but did not advance any wrestlers to the state tournament.
The A.L. Brown Wonders hosted the 7A West Regional and finished second to Davie High School with 147 points. The team celebrated three regional champions: Landon Logan (120 pounds), Gavin Yow (190 pounds), and Kaulton Kuddie (215 pounds). Yow boasts an impressive record of 47-1, Kuddie stands at 46-2, and Logan has a record of 43-5. Chase Hernandez finished as runner-up at 150 pounds, while Mason Cook (157 pounds) placed third, and both Everon Riddle (132 pounds) and Quentin Whisonafe (heavyweight) rounded out the top four.
The individual state championships are scheduled to take place in Greensboro from February 19 to February 21, 2024. Girls wrestling will occur on February 19-20, followed by boys wrestling on February 20-21. A.L. Brown, West Rowan, and East Rowan remain in the dual team state playoffs, with action set to resume on Tuesday.
