Final Class of 2026 Rankings: A Senior Sendoff

NC United Wrestling

Final Class of 2026 Rankings: A Senior Sendoff

Celebrating North Carolina's Class of 2026 as they transition to the next level — see every ranked senior on the Class of 2026 prospect rankings.

Open the Class of 2026 rankings →

The Class of 2026 has officially closed the chapter on their high school wrestling careers. Last weekend at NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, seven seniors earned All-American honors in their final national tournament — a fitting end to a class that has made North Carolina proud at every level of competition.

This group leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the mat. Seven NHSCA All-Americans. A Super 32 All-American. An IronMan All-American. Three four-time state champions. College open champions, finalists, and placers who competed against Division I athletes during their pre-season and in-season competition as part of a relatively new movement in high school wrestling. Scholars who balanced excellence in the classroom with dominance on the mat.

A Legacy of Excellence

This class didn't just compete — they dominated at every level.

• Three Four-Time State Champions: Wrestlers who won state titles in four consecutive years, a feat achieved by only a select few in North Carolina history.
• National Tournament Success: Beyond NHSCA, this class earned All-American honors at Super 32 and IronMan, proving themselves against the best in the country.
• College Open Champions, Finalists, and Placers: This class was part of a relatively new movement of high school athletes competing in college opens during pre-season and in-season competition. Multiple wrestlers not only placed at college opens — they won championships and reached finals, competing against Division I athletes and proving they belonged at the next level before even graduating high school.
• Scholars: These athletes didn't sacrifice academics for athletics. Many carry GPAs above 3.5, with several above 4.0, proving that excellence in the classroom and excellence on the mat can coexist.

The Next Level

The Class of 2026 will compete at the next level across NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA programs. Twenty-four male athletes from the Class of 2026 have committed to continue their wrestling careers in college:

• 11 NCAA Division I commits — Taking their talents to the highest level of college wrestling, including programs like NC State, Duke, Appalachian State, Campbell, Davidson, Binghamton, Citadel, Gardner-Webb, and Mercyhurst.
• 4 NCAA Division II commits — Competing in one of the most competitive divisions in college athletics at programs including Ferrum, UNC Pembroke, and Belmont Abbey.
• 7 NCAA Division III commits — Continuing their wrestling careers at some of the nation's top academic institutions including Lynchburg (4), Roanoke, Averett, and Case Western Reserve.
• 1 NAIA commit — Building programs and competing at the national level at Reinhardt.
• 1 club program — Liberty.

These athletes will represent North Carolina in college wrestling rooms across the country, carrying the lessons learned on North Carolina mats to new challenges and new opportunities.

Grateful and Proud

Watching these athletes develop from middle schoolers to state champions, from regional competitors to national All-Americans, has been one of the great privileges of North Carolina wrestling.

None of this happens without the support systems behind these athletes. To the families who drove to countless tournaments, sacrificed weekends, and supported their wrestlers through wins and losses — thank you. To the club coaches who developed these athletes from youth wrestlers into national competitors — thank you. To the high school coaches who pushed them daily, built championship programs, and prepared them for the next level — thank you.

It's always emotional to see a senior class move on. There's pride in what they've accomplished and excitement for what comes next, but also the bittersweet reality that their high school careers are over.

To the Class of 2026: Thank you for making North Carolina proud. Thank you for the early morning practices, the weekend tournaments, the sacrifices you made to be great. Thank you for representing this state with excellence, humility, and toughness.

We're grateful to have been part of your journey. We can't wait to see what you do next.

Class of 2026 rankings — full public board for North Carolina's senior class.