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Wrestling fans, athletes and coaches: NC United's inaugural College Prospect Rankings showcased North Carolina's top 25 high school wrestlers in the Class of 2025. The list recognized their skills, achievements and collegiate potential while celebrating the strength of the state's high school and club wrestling programs.
Understanding the United Prospect List
The rankings were designed to showcase athletes who demonstrated:
- Exceptional skills on the mat
- Significant achievements in local, regional and national competition
- The potential for collegiate success in wrestling
The rankings aimed to give college coaches a streamlined resource for identifying North Carolina's leading prospects while increasing visibility and recruiting opportunities for the athletes.
Top Five Profiles
1. Nate Askew · 141 lbs
UNCHome School · Tarheel Wrestling Club
World Team member, third at the Cleveland State College Open, Fargo All-American, Super 32 All-American, ranked No. 12 nationally and multiple wins against nationally ranked opponents.
2. Liam Hickey · 133 lbs
UNCCardinal Gibbons · RAW
3–2 against NCAA Division I opponents, fourth at the Patriot College Open, ranked No. 23 nationally, NHSCA All-American, state champion, three-time state placer and second at Southeast Regionals.
3. Colt Campbell · 174 lbs
App StateHickory Ridge · Compound
First at the Pembroke College Open, wins against nationally ranked opponents, 5–2 and Round of 12 at NHSCA, state champion, two-time state placer and freestyle state champion.
4. Brock Sullivan · 184 lbs
RoanokeUnion Pines · The Wrestling Factory
NHSCA All-American, undefeated at Ultimate Club Duals, state champion and two-time state finalist.
5. Cooper Foster · 125 lbs
App StateAvery County · Dogtown
NHSCA All-American, two-time state champion and three-time state placer.
Top 25 North Carolina Wrestling Prospects
| Rank | Wrestler | High School | Club | Weight | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nate Askew | Home School | Tarheel Wrestling Club | 141 | UNC |
| 2 | Liam Hickey | Cardinal Gibbons | RAW | 133 | UNC |
| 3 | Colt Campbell | Hickory Ridge | Compound | 174 | App State |
| 4 | Brock Sullivan | Union Pines | The Wrestling Factory | 184 | Roanoke |
| 5 | Cooper Foster | Avery County | Dogtown | 125 | App State |
| 6 | Xavier Wilson | Eastern Guilford | — | 197 | — |
| 7 | Kevin O’Brien | West Rowan | Combat | 141 | Lander |
| 8 | Kyser Kostoff | Hough | Darkhorse | 165 | — |
| 9 | Luke Osborne | Ashe County | Combat | 157 | — |
| 10 | Jackson Rowling | Hough | Darkhorse | 149 | Roanoke |
| 11 | Boedi Kirkland | Newton-Conover | Darkhorse | 141 | — |
| 12 | Kenneth Pritz | Avery County | Dogtown | 157 | — |
| 13 | Ryan Mann | North East Carolina Prep | Capital City | 141 | Presbyterian |
| 14 | Kayne Bryson | Pisgah | Haywood Elite | 125 | Newberry |
| 15 | Caleb Cox | Rutherfordton-Spindale | Darkhorse | 157 | — |
| 16 | Sebastian Rivera | Panther Creek | RAW | HWT | — |
| 17 | Nathan McCartney | Central Davidson | — | 165 | — |
| 18 | Trevquan Gary | Person | — | HWT | — |
| 19 | Everest Ouellette | First Flight | OBX Wrestling Factory | HWT | Gardner-Webb |
| 20 | Grant McCord | Grimsley | School of Hard Knocks | 125 | — |
| 21 | Hayden Haynes | McDowell | Combat | 197 | App State |
| 22 | Finn McCafferty | Union Pines | The Wrestling Factory | 157 | — |
| 23 | Tyler Watt | Wake Forest | Capital City | 133 | — |
| 24 | Donovan Edwards | Southwest Guilford | School of Hard Knocks | 141 | — |
| 25 | Jaylen Bethea | Hoke County | Forge | 141 | — |
Key Highlights
Common attributes: The leading wrestlers consistently sought the highest levels of competition, including Super 32, Fargo and Journeymen. They also competed in college opens, trained year-round, invested in their clubs and earned wins against nationally ranked opponents.
College commitments: At publication, 44% of the Top 25 were committed to collegiate programs, with representation across NCAA divisions. View the archived college commitment coverage.
App State: The Mountaineers had commitments from Colt Campbell at No. 3, Cooper Foster at No. 5 and Hayden Haynes at No. 21.
UNC: The Tar Heels had commitments from the top two prospects, Nate Askew and Liam Hickey.
Roanoke: Roanoke College continued its focus on North Carolina talent with Brock Sullivan at No. 4 and Jackson Rowling at No. 10.
Diverse representation: Athletes represented schools, clubs and weight classes from across North Carolina.
What's Next?
NC United planned to release rankings by graduating class on a rolling basis, continuing to highlight each athlete's accomplishments and potential for collegiate success.