NCHSAA wrestling: Hough wins 8A state title, Piedmont wrestler named 6A MVP
Just days after winning the N.C. 8A dual team wrestling championship, Hough High’s wrestling team made it a double at the 2026 NCHSAA individual wrestling championships on Saturday in Greensboro.
The Huskies were the only Charlotte-area team to win a state championship. Hough finished with 128 points, ahead of second place Northwest Guilford (101.5).
Coach Tripp Rogers’ Hough team had two champions, three runners-up, and fourth wrestlers finishing in fourth place. Mallard Creek finished seventh.
Mooresville, with three champions and a third-place finisher, was runner-up to Lumberton in 7A.
Two other area wrestlers had notable achievements Saturday.
Stuart Cramer’s Bentley Sly won the 4A championship at 150 pounds and was among three wrestlers Saturday to win a state title for the fourth straight year.
There have been 17 four-time winners in NCHSAA wrestling history.
And Piedmont’s Elijah Oakley was named 6A most outstanding wrestler. Oakley, a senior who won the West Regional title a week ago, captured the 150-pound championship and had two victories by pin in the competition. In the finals, he beat East champion Hayden Smith of White Oak by a 9-2 score.
Oakley finished the season with a 62-2 record.
Tap here for full team scores.
Team champions
1A/2A champion: Robbinsville (118.5 points)
1A/2A runner-up: Rosewood (113 points)
3A champion: Trinity (156.5 points)
3A runner-up: Mount Airy (104.5 points) ... Lincolnton, with two runners-up, a third-place finisher, and two fourth-place finishers was fourth in the standings.
4A champion: Pisgah (108.5 points)
4A runner-up: R-S Central (86.5 points) ... Mount Pleasant finished fourth
5A champion: Enka (83 points)
5A runner-Up: Seaforth (61 points) ... North Gaston had a champion and two third-place finishers was was third in the team standings.
6A champion: Union Pines (161 points)
6A runner-up: White Oak (86.5 points) ... Ashbrook and Piedmont finished 4-5 in the standings.
7A champion: Lumberton (95 points)
7A runner-Up: Mooresville (73 points)
8A champion: William Amos Hough (128 points)
8A runner-up: Northwest Guilford (101.5 points)
Area state champions
106 pounds: Ryan Johnson (Mountain Island Charter, 1A/2A)
113 pounds: Jaxon Thomas (Piedmont, 6A)
120 pounds: Adrian Feliciano (Hough, 8A); Jackson Ettore (Charlotte Catholic, 6A)
126 pounds: Jace Barrier (Mooresville, 7A); Caleb Edwards (Piedmont, 6A)
132 pounds: Cameron Gue (Mount Pleasant, 4A)
138 pounds: Cameron Massey (North Gaston, 5A)
144 pounds: Austin Green (Mooresville, 7A); Titan Kostoff (Hough, 8A)
150 pounds: Elijah Oakley (Piedmont, 6A); Bentley Sly (Stuart Cramer, 4A)
157 pounds: Michael Mauro (Bradford Prep, 1A/2A)
175 pounds: Drew Teeter (Mooresville, 7A)
190 pounds: Gavin Yow (AL Brown, 7A); Colton Bogan (Providence, 8A)
215 pounds: Keyshon Morrison (Lake Norman, 7A)
285 pounds: Jonathan Moore (Ashbrook, 6A); Nick McClellan (East Gaston, 4A)
This story was originally published February 22, 2026 at 12:18 AM with the headline "NCHSAA wrestling: Hough wins 8A state title, Piedmont wrestler named 6A MVP."
