Crescent (SC)

Head Coach: Jordan Hawthorne (1st year)

Staff: Antonio Tillman, Ethan Hannah, Skipper Hewell

Crescent finished 2nd in 1A/2A in 21-22 and will make the move back up to 3A this coming season. The tigers graduated 2022 State Champions Aquan Taylor and Kade Williams, but return State Champs Brady Adams and Elijah Richey as well as State Placer Kamrun Gentle (3rd at 170). Those three will set the tone of Crescent in a very competitive 3A classification.

How high the team climbs may come down to the continued development of Jay Adams, Landon Snelgrove, Jayden Hicks, and JT Burgess … all four will be counted on to step into the Tigers lineup. Keep an eye on newcomer JB Tripp would could make an impact in his freshman campaign.

“We have a talented senior group, who have all tasted success and young guys ready to make a name for themselves. Led by state champs Brady Adams and Elijah Richey, alongside state placer Kamrun Gentle who will be the cornerstones of our team. Our guys are ready for the jump back up to 3A and are hungry to compete with the top teams. We will continue to put in the work through the fall to chase our winter goals!”

— Coach Hawthorne

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.

Foard (NC)

Head Coach: Mike Carey

Staff: Jim Richard, Zeb Elmore, Josh Speagle, Dean Blanton, David Shook, Jarrod Conner

Foard is not just one of the top programs in North Carolina, they are certainly a top 20 team in the Southeast. Foard dominated the duals as they ran to the 3A title and won the traditional title by 51.5 over runner-up CATA. With a ton of returners - Foard will look to do it again in 2022-23. Foard qualified 10 for the traditional state tournament a year ago and return 7 this season including 220 lb. State Champion Dylan Smith and Runners-up Karter Floyd, Brock Carey, and Zane Birtchet.

From top to bottom, Foard is as tough as any team you will see this season. Joining Smith, Floyd, Carey, and Birtchet are State Placers Brayden Mejia (3rd at 120), Hunter Clark (4th at 132), and Colby Mace (4th at 195). Each will look to claim an individual title in 22-23 and push Foard to the top in the team race once again. Keep an eye on a quartet of Seniors - Jon Byrd (160), Evan Hunsinger (160), Sam Drum (182), and Sam Bolch (285) who will look to make their mark as well in their final season at Foard. Don’t be surprised to hear the names … George Coleman (106), Austin Laws (113), Toby Bowman (120), Sebastian Richards (120), Parker Johns (132), and Matthew Whalen (160) as well.

“Foard has now gone 3 years without a dual loss in the state of North Carolina, and return 6 state finalist or champs, and a 7th wrestler is a state placer! Returning State Placers are: Sophomore Karter Floyd 126, Junior Brayden Mejia 132 or 138, senior Brock Carey 145, junior Hunter Clark 138 or 152, senior Zane Birtchet 160 or 170, senior Colby Mace 195 or 220, and senior Dylan Smith 195 or 220. 4 of those seniors are getting the attention of D1 and/or D2 college coaches. Last year FTF won both the state duals and tournament, and look forward to trying to do it again!”

— Coach Carey

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.

Pepperell (GA)

Head Coach: Austin Sanders (2nd year)

Staff: Matthew Sanders, Anthony Dillard, Drew Lawrence, Austin Fednander

Pepperell finished 8th at the 2A traditional state tournament a year ago and move down to 1A in 2022-23. The Dragons are led by returning State Runners-up Matthew Waddell (2nd at 170) and Kolten Edge (2nd at 132) as well as State Placer Cory Moten (6th at 120). The key for the Dragons will be the continued development of rest of the squad including State Qualifiers Eric Jensen (152), Parker Glenn (195), and Jackson Lawrence (145). Don’t be surprised to see Waddell fit into the lineup at either 175 or 190 - wherever the Dragons need him. Edge and Moten should lockdown two of the weights from 126-144 with some potential newcomers filling in the spots around them.

Keep an eye on returners Manolo Delon (165 or 175), Avery Fielder (120), and Cody Blackwell (215) … if they can get those three to produce with Edge, Waddell, Moten, and the other returning State Qualifiers, the Dragons could be in the hunt in 1A. Watch for Aiden Deleon, Hayden Wheat, Keljin Holmes, and Bryan Rodriguez to make an impact this season as well.

“We have very high expectations for the season. Last season was about changing the culture at Pepperell and I think we accomplished that. This year is about getting back to work and reaching our goals through sweat and hard work. We have the fire power in our lineup to compete with anyone, we just have to stay focused and earn it each and every day.”

— Coach Sanders

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.