State of the Program ... Union Pines (NC)
Union Pines (NC)
Head Coach: Brian Gray II (entering 6th season)
Staff: Joe Van Cleave, Bill Soukup, Nick Moore, Michael Muse
The Vikings finished in the top 10 in 3A in 2022 and despite losing State Champ Aiden McCafferty - should be in the hunt for a top 5 finish in 2023. The key for the Vikings will be the development of their 5 returning State Qualifiers. Keaton Crawford, Finnius McCafferty, Brock Sullivan, Joseph Vrabcak, and Jayden Crawford all qualified a year ago … but only McCafferty was able to get a win at the big dance. If that changes - the Vikings will be tough throughout their lineup and could make some real noise in 2023. State Placer Nicholas Mascolino had a great run at Super 32 a few weeks ago and looks poised to lead the way this season. The Vikings have a legit shot to put six on the podium … if that happens they will be in the thick of things in the end.
Keaton and Jayden Crawford will be the key down low … but look for Aiden Enright, Nathan Maness, Joe Lloyd, and JT Erie to step up and set the tone for the Vikings in each and every dual. The strength of this lineup is through the middle beginning with McCafferty at 138, Vrabcak at 145, Houston Leeah at 152, Brock Sullivan and Dustin Maness at 160/170, and Nicholas Mascolino at 182/195. Look for Dantrell Williams, Colton Collins, and Carter Herring to play an important role up top for the Vikings. This is a solid squad from top to bottom … but it is also still fairly young - so they should continue to get better as the season goes along.
“We should be as good as we’ve ever been, but the problem with that is the best we’ve ever been is a State Runner-up team. The goal is to win a state championship. Hopefully we can instill in the team that we need to improve enough and work hard enough to reach that level. Regardless of the outcome on the mat, we are going to be great in the classroom, upstanding in the community and have fun when we compete.”
NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.