High Point Academy (SC)

Head Coach: George McDaniel (entering 16th season)

Staff: Hector Contreras, Jonny Martinez

High Point finished 4th in the 1A/2A Traditional State Tournament in 2021. They lose two hammers in Chad Rowlette and Zan Van Vleet, but return State Champ Lukas Crosby and State Placer Jay Brower. Jeremiah Jackson just missed on a trip to the state tournament last year and figures to punch his ticket in 2022. Keep an eye on Dakota Covington, Hannah Laws, and Nick Ramirez - each has post-season experience and will look to make an impact in 21-22.

High Point has a nice mix of upperclassmen and new faces and each will play a role in the success this season. Coach McDaniel will look to Kalil Scoggins, Sebastian Trammel, Garret Opperlee, and Brandan Ross to make an impact in 21-22 as well as two freshman in Luke Johannes and Said Gasimov. Does this team have the horses to push Crescent, Liberty, and Bamberg-Ehrhardt for a spot in the top 3?

“We go into this season looking for leaders to step up. We lost two important seniors last year. We have an excellent group of young kids coming up, but we need leaders to step up and show them the importance of always showing up. ”

— Coach McDaniel

Hickory Ridge (NC)

Head Coach: Vinny DiGiovanni (entering 5th year)

Staff: Dave Sloan, Eddie Descalzo, Blake Barber, Manuel Macall

Hickory Ridge was one of the few programs that qualified all 14 wrestlers for the 2021 regional tournament … doing so in the 4A Midwest Region. As a result they finished 5th and qualified five for the 2021 state tournament. Ten of those 14 return and will look to push Hickory Ridge to the top of the Midwest in 2022. Coach DiGiovanni loses State Qualifiers Parker Jones and Kaylin Foust, but return Qualifiers Alex Bentley, Tomas Brooker, and Hunter Jones. Each will be hunting a spot on the podium in 2022.

Wyatt Moss and Logan Lightner each won a match at the “modified” (no consi bracket) 4A Midwest regional in 2021 and both will be looking to punch their ticket to the state tournament in 2022. A few other Bulls to watch for include Zach Costantino, Justin Long, Garrett Jones, and Jaylon Pemberton. One key for Hickory Ridge is the continued development of Ben Sargent, Connor Shulman, and Vincent Simone. Keep an eye on Connor Susa, Colt Campbell, Kyle Perry, and Silas Mills - each will look to make an impact in 2022.

On the girls side … Claire Kothel, Reagan Smit, and Arwen Timler figure to lead the Bulls in 2021-2022. Keep an eye on them as NC works to sanction the girls in the near future.

“As a program we expect to be competitive every year, this one is no different. We have 4 kids coming back that have qualified or placed at the state tournament the past couple of years and with a decent number of young kids coming up we will lean on those upper classmen to lead everyday on the mat, weight room and classroom.”

— Coach DiGiovanni

Cleveland (TN)

Head Coach: Joey Knox (entering 5th season)

Staff: Jacob Murphy, Landon Reed, John Weiss

Cleveland has one of the best teams in Tennessee - regardless of class - as well as in the Southeast. They have few (if any holes) in their lineup and have a group that can compete with anyone. The defending 3A Champs move down to 2A (still the largest class in Tennessee) with the realignment, but remain the favorites to claim another title in 2022. The Blue Raiders lost some hammers in the graduation of State Champs Jackson Bradford and Trae McDaniel as well as State Placer Robert Laxton, but this year’s squad might be as good or better than the 2021 group.

The Blue Raiders are Senior heavy with 7 that made an impact a year ago at the Tennessee State Tournament. But this is also a squad that will feature a ton of new faces - this next wave of freshmen will have a huge impact on this program (in 21-22 and into the future). Add in the top 145 lber in the country in Cody Chittum who is a Junior, State Runner-up Bentley Ellison, and State Champ Logan Fowler and Cleveland might be the most complete team from top to bottom in the SE. Ashton Davis, Tetoe Boyd, Arlo Laxton, and Charles Randall are the Seniors and will lead the way in 2021-22. As if Cleveland needed any help - they added Texas State Placer Jax Ernest to the mix as well as a host of freshman to keep an eye on including Zac Bosken, Chase Walker, Cy Fowler, and Lucas Szymborski.

The Blue Raiders also have a nationally-ranked Piper Fowler ready to make a statement for Cleveland at the Girls State Tournament.