N&O All-Metro wrestling team and final top 15 rankings
The 21-wrestler All-Metro team, which selects at least one area wrestler for all 14 weight classes, was larger than previous years as 16 wrestlers were state champs or runners-up. Riverside had the most selections with three.
Cary’s Will Clark, the area’s only undefeated wrestler, is the only three-time All-Metro pick. Apex’s Chance Davis, Cary’s Kollin Wade and Riverside’s Gary Whitaker and Jaquon Sowell made the team for a second straight year.
Riverside’s late-year run to the 4A East final vaulted the Pirates to the top spot in The News & Observer’s final area wrestling rankings. The Pirates upset previous undefeated No. 1 Holly Springs in the third round.
The Golden Hawks, last year’s No. 1, took the second overall spot.
Orange, finished No. 3, went 1-2 on the year against the 3A East finalists.
Southwest Wake Athletic Conference teams Holly Springs, Cary and Athens Drive round out the top five, followed by 1A state runnerup Chatham Central.
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N&O All-Metro wrestling team
106: Nick Daggett, Soph., Chatham Central: The 1A champ ended the year 41-1.
113: Nathean Castillo, Jr., South Granville: Finished third in 2A, going 50-2.
120: Matthew Gibbon, Sr., Cary Academy: Two-time NCISAA 3A champion.
120: Nick Mutio, Jr., Wake Forest: Finished third in 4A, went 41-1 and only loss was an injury forfeit.
126: Austin Palmer, Sr. Corinth Holders: Finished third in 3A and went 37-6.
132: Chance Davis, Sr., Apex: Two-time 4A runner-up went 40-2.
132: Mathews Cruz-Cruz, Jr., Cleveland: Went 42-1, only loss for 3A runner-up was in title match.
138: Will Clark, Sr., Cary: Two-time 4A champ was unbeaten.
138: Cam Devers, Jr., Holly Springs: Runner-up in 4A was 47-3.
138: Samuel Bartram, Sr., Union Pines: The 3A champ was 30-5.
145: Kollin Wade, Jr., Cary: The 4A champ was 40-2.
152: Lamont Burt, Sr., Broughton: Was fifth in 4A, 42-4 on the season.
160: Hunter Queen, Soph., Northwood: Was third in 3A, 50-7 overall.
170: Jaquon Sowell, Sr., Riverside: Two-time 4A champ went 54-1.
182: Atavion Oliver, Sr., Northern Durham: 4A runner-up went 45-1, only loss was in title match.
195: James Taylor III, Sr., Southern Durham: 3A champ was 36-5.
195: Arrad Sarrami, Sr., Riverside: 4A runner-up went 51-6.
195: Garrett Hicks, Sr., Ravenscroft: Two-time NCISAA 3A champion.
220: Vincent Ngwu, Sr., Millbrook: 4A fourth-place finisher was 33-8.
285: Gary Whitaker, Sr., Riverside: 4A state champ went 43-3.
285: Byron Stephenson, Sr., Orange: 3A runner-up went 37-8 on the year.
N&O Wrestling Rankings
Rank, school | Pvs. | Rec. |
1. Riverside | 14 | 24-5 |
2. Holly Springs | 1 | 26-1 |
3. Orange | 4 | 26-2 |
4. Cary | 2 | 31-4 |
5. Athens Drive | 5 | 27-4 |
6. Chatham Central | 8 | 24-7 |
7. Carrboro | 9 | 18-5 |
8. South Granville | 6 | 33-4 |
9. Chapel Hill | 7 | 20-10 |
10. Union Pines | 10 | 14-6 |
11. Leesville Road | 11 | 36-12 |
12. Millbrook | 12 | 19-4 |
13. Sanderson | 13 | 12-5 |
14. Corinth Holders | 3 | 15-1 |
15. Ravenscroft | 15 | 23-6 |
This story was originally published April 11, 2015 at 7:08 PM with the headline "N&O All-Metro wrestling team and final top 15 rankings."