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Released seeds for the 2025 NHSCA Nationals offered measurable evidence that North Carolina wrestling was gaining national ground. The state increased both the number of seeded high school wrestlers and the number positioned among the top five.
Coming after similar progress at Super 32, the results suggested a broader pattern of development rather than a single-tournament spike.
The numbers tell the story
North Carolina grew from 18 seeded high school wrestlers in 2024 to 29 in 2025—a 61% increase.
| Division | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Boys | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Junior Boys | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| Sophomore Boys | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Freshman Boys | 0 | 4 | +4 |
| Girls | 2 | 8 | +6 |
| Total high school | 18 | 29 | +11 |
More wrestlers positioned to contend
The number of top-five seeds more than doubled, from seven to 15. That measure provided an even stronger signal of elite development because it placed more North Carolina wrestlers in favorable position to pursue All-America honors.
| Division | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Boys | 3 | 4 | +1 |
| Junior Boys | 0 | 2 | +2 |
| Sophomore Boys | 3 | 2 | −1 |
| Freshman Boys | 0 | 3 | +3 |
| Girls | 1 | 4 | +3 |
| Total high school | 7 | 15 | +8 |
Returning All-Americans
Lorenzo Alston returned after placing third and entered as the No. 3 Junior seed at 145. Jack Harty, fourth in 2024, drew the No. 4 Sophomore seed at 182. Faith Bane rose from the No. 7 seed and a fifth-place finish to No. 2 at 145 in the Girls division.
Liam Hickey, Cooper Foster, Keyshon Morrison and Bentley Sly also returned with podium experience, giving North Carolina proven national competitors across multiple divisions.
Girls wrestling led the growth
North Carolina increased from two seeded girls in 2024 to eight in 2025, while its number of top-five seeds rose from one to four. Along with Bane, Moriah Antis, Stephanie Diaz Mendoza and Daniella Jenkins entered with top-five seeds and legitimate podium opportunities.
A stronger pipeline
Ten middle school wrestlers received seeds, including six in the top five. Bowen Lefler held North Carolina's highest overall seed at No. 1 at 80 pounds. Four freshman boys were seeded after none were seeded in 2024, led by Ryan Thompson, Easten Binckley and Mitchell Rowland.
The Senior division also showed depth. Liam Hickey, Cooper Foster, Hayden Haynes and Damien Couture each earned a top-five seed, while Brock Sullivan and Sebastian Rivera entered at No. 6.
Year-over-year progress
Cooper Foster
2024 Junior: No. 8 at 106
2025 Senior: No. 4 at 113
Bentley Sly
2024 Sophomore: No. 13 at 132
2025 Junior: No. 5 at 138
Lorenzo Alston
2024 Sophomore: No. 2 at 145
2025 Junior: No. 3 at 145
Faith Bane
2024 Girls: No. 7 at 145
2025 Girls: No. 2 at 145
Carson Raper
2024 Middle School: No. 7 at 80
2025 Middle School: No. 3 at 100
Mason Brown
2024 Middle School: No. 6 at 90
2025 Middle School: No. 3 at 105
Brady Donovan, Kane Bryson, Brock Sullivan, Hayden Haynes, Damien Couture, Sebastian Rivera and Gabe Rogers also moved from unseeded in 2024 to seeded in 2025, demonstrating greater depth across the state.
From seeds to results
North Carolina produced 17 NHSCA All-Americans in 2024. With 29 seeded high school wrestlers in 2025—including 15 in the top five—the state entered Virginia Beach with an opportunity to improve on that total.
Seeds represented opportunity, not achievement. The next test came March 28–30, when 39 seeded North Carolina wrestlers took the mat and attempted to turn national recognition into podium finishes.