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For the first time, six NC United high school wrestlers entered a college tournament and tested themselves against athletes from NCAA Division I, II and III programs.
The 2024 Southeast Open established a new developmental benchmark for the program and provided the first tournament dataset for NC United's Competitive Advancement Progress scoring system.
Six wrestlers take on college competition
| Athlete | Weight | Record | CAP score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Alston | 157 | 3–2 | 1.1 |
| Nate Askew | 149 | 2–2 | 0.9 |
| Liam Hickey | 133 | 1–2 | 0.7 |
| Jack Harty | 184 | 1–2 | 0.6 |
| Tyler Watt | 133 | 1–2 | 0.6 |
| Sebastian Rivera | HWT | 0–2 | 0.0 |
The CAP scoring system at work
The CAP system evaluated more than win-loss records. It accounted for opponent quality, bracket progression and the level of competition, giving athletes and coaches a clearer view of performance and development.
Alston led the group with a 3–2 record and 1.1 CAP score. Askew made the deepest tournament run, while Hickey recorded the group's highest-quality victory.
Notable wins against elite competition
- Hickey defeated Campbell's Zander Phaturous, who entered with a 13–8 Division I record.
- Alston defeated Virginia's Nathan Rickards, a three-time National Prep All-American and Pennsylvania state champion.
- Askew defeated Chattanooga's Hayden Hughes, an Ohio state champion and runner-up.
Every loss came against a tournament placer, underscoring the strength of the field and the value of the experience.
A foundation for future growth
The debut was about more than the final records. It gave the athletes high-level experience, established a measurable baseline and proved that North Carolina high school wrestlers could earn meaningful wins against college competition.