Who is on track for 4?
Winning four state titles is very difficult. So difficult in fact, that it has been done only fourteen times in the history of NCHSAA wrestling. You can find those fourteen four-timers in the chart below. This article is looking to see who is on track to accomplish this feat.
The Ladies
Two ladies won four state titles before the sport was officially sanctioned and the women began competing in the coliseum. Those two ladies are Savannah Bramhall, Parkwood and Ella Beam, Burns. These two women's great deserve to be highlighted.
History is upon us.......
Four times in the past the NCHSAA has had two four time champions crowned in the same night. This occured for the first time in 2007 when Chris Bullins and Justin Sparrow accomplished the feat. Then again in 2022 with Kyle Montaperto and Levi Andrews. Most recently it happened with our last four time champions in 2024 with Cam Stinson and Kage Williams. This year there are three wrestlers with the opportunity to win four. Bentley Sly, Cael Dunn and Lorenzo Alston will all look to capture their fourth title in Greensboro. They will look to make history for themselves and the state of North Carolina.
One more........
Bentley Sly, Stuart Cramer
The Cradle King started his run to four with a state title at 3A 120. Then the past two years, he has absolutely torched the field on the way to winning 3A 132 and 3A 144. In fact over the past 3 state tournaments Bentley has 4 tech falls, 6 pins and 1 major. The only non-bonus point win in his state tournament career was his freshman year's state final. He has cemented his legacy as one of the best to ever step on the mat in North Carolina with his national performances as well. He has placed at Super 32 and Ironman. Bentley has also been blood round at Fargo, had a deep Fargo run with multiple nationally ranked wins along with AA status at VA Beach. The Cradle King will look to end his historic career with the 4A 150 title.
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Cael Dunn, South Davidson
New school, Same Cael. The superstar won his first state title at 1A 170 with a third period rideout over a defending state champion. That should tell you all you need to know about Cael Dunn. Since then we have seen Cael go a dominant run over the field and create a considerable gap between himself and the rest of the field around his weight. This is evidence by the fact that in out of 9 matches at the state tournament he has 7 pins., including 3 first period falls from last year. Now as a senior, he has amassed overt 200 wins in his career with only a single loss (his freshman season), he will look to once again dominate 1A/2A 215 and win a legendary fourth title.
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Lorenzo Alston, Uwharrie Charter
He won his first state title at 1A 144 where there was a defending state champ in the weight. Even then there was little doubt he would bring home the state title. Since then he followed that up with a dominant runs to the 1A 150 and 1A 157 titles. Lorenzo has an impressive 100% bonus rate at the state tournament. In his 9 matches at the state tournament he has secured 6 pins and 3 major decisions. He also has enjoyed national level success as a two-time finalist at VA Beach. His career has been a highlight reel and we expect this last title run will be much of the same.
Halfway There
Tye Johnson, Cape Fear
Tye Johnson won a 3A 113 state title as a freshman with an overtime takedown over Elijah Dorsey. Last year he was been tracking down everyone he can and wrestling state champs and placers all over the state. He capped the year with state title number two over Kyle Simpson. Now in year three, he will be facing his toughest field yet that includes state champion Aiden White, state runner-up Aidan Szewczyk and state placer Jake Amiott.
Looking to Repeat
Rylynn Keziah, Parkwood ​
Last year Rylynn became the first freshman lady to win a title in the coliseum. She has been unstoppable all year long and has won all but one match by bonus this year. She obviously enters the weekend as the favorite and will look to dominate to the hallway point to four.
Freshmen with the best shot to start their run
The Boys
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Brandon Lefler, Hough
Lefler will enter the state tournament as the title favorite. He has been a superstar all year long, with huge wins through the year.
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Carson Raper, South Rowan
Carson has been outstanding for a long time and his freshman campaign has been nothing short of phenomenal, he had a huge win over State Champ, Liam Myles earlier this season and will look to have that type of success at the state tournament.
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Braylen Yates, East Rowan
Y'all know I am the condcutor of the Braylen Yates hype train. This kid is ridiculously good. After a great year he will look to capture a title in his first attempt. Standing in his way is defending state champion Imon Freeman.
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Danny McDermott, Union Pines
This kid is tough!!!!!! Danny has been at this level all year and before. He has a chance to capture his first state title this season. His biggest obstacle is returning state placer, Jaxon Thomas.
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Xavier Bernthal, New Bern ​
Bernthal has had an outstanding freshman year. He has beaten state-runner up Sander Tran this year. However, Tran returned the favor at the regional tournament. His weight also includes Xander Moody of Lumberton and a host of title contenders. ​
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Allen Dunn, High Point Central
Dunn was on fire this weekend winning in the finals by tech fall over the former number one wrestler at his weight class. This firmly cements himself as the favorite to win a title in year one.
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The Ladies
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Riley White, Uwharrie Charter
She is undefeated on the year and is fresh off beating a returning state champion in the regional finals. Yeah. I would say she should be on the list. She will head into Greensboro as the favorite.
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Mia Pardo, Jack Britt
As an undersized 100 pounder, she is uber talented and the results have shown that. In the regional finals she avenged her only loss of the year in the regional finals by beating Kisinda Johnson by tech fall. She enters the state tournament as the favorite to win the title.
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Brianna Palmer, Cardinal Gibbons
Wrestling is in her blood. Palmer will enter the tournament as the pick to win a title. She has been the number one ranked wrestler at the weight for the majority of the year and she will look to continue to dominate the competition as she has all year long.
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Shelby Kleinknecht, Hendersonville
Kleinknecht burst onto the scene when she beat Nola Walker and then won the Smokey Mountain Grapple over Eliza Cagle. Since then, she has continued to produce great results. This past week she lost to Nola Walker in the finals of their regional tournament. Walker will be one of the biggest challenges for her to accomplish the feat of winning as a freshman.
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Sydney Baker, St. Stephens
She won the 6A West regional title this past week and has had an outstanding freshman season. Standing in her way of a title is Charlotte Van Pelt and Brittany Hart. Since both Hart and Van Pelt are in the East. She will have to beat both of them to win a title.
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Alexis Long, Central Davidson
She is undefeated on the year entering the state tournament after winning the 1A-4A East title this past week. She enters one of the more loaded weights of the entire Women's division with returning state finalists, Moriah Anits and Lily Flores. The weight also has Destiny Fidel, who beat Flores at the regional tournament.
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Julia McGee, West Henderson
A local kid for us and we are excited for her prospects next week. She enters a weight that is really anyones to take. She captured the 5A West crown in dominant fashion with a fall in the finals.
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Amari Mcleary, Ragsdale
Mcleary won the 6A West title this past week and put herself into position to be one of the title contenders at 6A 126.
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Mary Honeycutt, South Stanley
After beating Mia Parker, Lyla Burns and Jada Parrish, back-to-back-to-back at the regional tournament, Huneycutt squarely cements herself as the title favorite at 1A-4A 114. That run was so impressive and to make it even better she won all three bouts by bonus.
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