A week after finishing second in the state dual team wrestling championships, Union Pines brought home the state title in the individual wrestling tournament. The Vikings were dominant as they won the first wrestling title in school history. Union Pines racked up 144.5 points to post a dominant victory in the NCHSAA 3A championships, beating second-place Eastern Guilford by a 44.5-point margin.
The Vikings had two wrestlers win state titles in their respective weight classes and had a total of eight team members place in states.
Junior Brock Sullivan won the state title for Union Pines in the 175-pound division. The junior won a 15-7 decision over Orange’s Andre Hill to take the title, finishing the season at 54-2. Sullivan came in second in the 160-pound weight class last year, coming up just short despite a 45-5 season.
Teammate Nicholas Mascolino, a senior, also made a return trip to the championship match. Mascolino won the 182-pound crown last year and, this year, took the 190-pound title to repeat as state champion.
At 144 pounds, junior Finnius McCafferty also advanced to the state championship match but lost a 12-6 decision to finish in second place. McCafferty ended the year with a 49-7 record.
Sophomore Dominic Blue finished third for Union Pines in the 165-pound division, beating Terry Sanford’s Troy Shannon, 6-0, to get the bronze medal. He finishes the year with a 48-4 mark.
Houston Leeah, a senior for the Vikings, took fourth place at 157 pounds, finishing the season with a 42-11 record.
At 215 pounds, Dantrell Williams, a junior, finished fifth, winning a 5-4 decision over North Gaston’s Dewayne Davis in his final bout to bring his record to 47-8.
The Vikings also had a pair of sixth-place finishers—Senior Logan Mitchell at 132 pounds, who posted a 49-13 record, and freshman Tripp Sullivan, at 150, who finished 40-12.
More wrestling accomplishments
Pinecrest competed in the state’s 4A wrestling tournament and had a number of wrestlers place.
Senior Cooper Ogden pinned South Mecklenburg’s Jeffrey Hoelscher in 1:39 to finish third at 165 pounds and end the year with a 43-2 mark. Justin Travers finished fourth at 126 pounds. The senior ended his year at 28-6. Senior Henry Thompson placed sixth at 120 pounds, bringing his record to 21-13, and senior Dallin Newcomer finished sixth at 157, improving to 36-9.
