Southwest Wake Athletic all-conference wrestling teams, 2016

Southwest Wake Athletic Conference wrestling champion Holly Springs swept the top SWAC awards as senior Cam Devers won wrestler of the year and coach Nick Nosbisch won coach of the year.

The Golden Hawks (40-5, 8-0) were the state runners-up in the dual-tournament and Devers was an undefeated state champion. Sophomore Josh Lehr was a 4A runner-up only because of a concussion sustained in the semifinal round.

Senior Nick Connochie and Elijah Geniesse almost made first-team all-conference while sophomore Jake Maroney, Nigel Lucas and junior Zion Cooke made the second team.

Cary (22-7, 6-2) lost in the second round of the dual-tournament but finished fourth in the state individual tournament. Seniors Rod Perry and Alex Zuniga won state titles (Zuniga undefeated) while Kollin Wade was runner-up.

Ethen Mendel was the Imps’ only second-team SWAC pick.

Apex (10-8, 5-3), which had its best finish in the SWAC in quite some time, had senior Jovan Jarrett, a second-team all-conference pick, take third in 4A.

Dalton Phillips and junior Joey McMahon were on the first team while Jarrett and sophomore Gabe Baragona were on the second team.

Panther Creek (10-9, 5-3) was led by senior Chad Laska, who was sixth in 4A. Senior Miles Kent and Justin Pattishall were on the second team

Middle Creek (20-15, 4-4) had junior Braxton May and Jason Brewster on the second team.

Athens Drive (18-13, 3-5) landed three wrestlers on the first team – senior Omar Samara, junior Yousef Aitboulahri and sophomore Deshawn Jones. Jacob Moore was on the second team.

Green Hope (23-9, 3-5) had junior Caleb Andreu on the first team and Alex Etgen and Ryan Sollod on the second team

Fuquay-Varina (6-15, 2-6) had two first-team SWAC selections: sophomore Logan Maher and senior John Royal. Junior Josh Arrington made honorable mention all-conference and was fourth in 4A.

First-year Apex Friendship (6-12, 0-8) did not have an all-conference pick.

It was an exceptionally strong year in the SWAC as five teams won 18 matches or more.

This story was originally published March 14, 2016 at 2:23 AM with the headline "Southwest Wake Athletic all-conference wrestling teams, 2016."