North Carolina’s Elite Set to Meet at Inaugural NC United Tournament of Champions — Invite-only event will unite elite wrestlers and college coaches September 18–19 in Apex.

APEX, N.C., July 24, 2026 — North Carolina wrestling is experiencing unprecedented growth, and its best athletes are proving they can compete with anyone in the country.

Wrestlers from across the state have earned All-American honors and podium finishes at Fargo, NHSCA Nationals, Super 32, Ironman and other premier national competitions. NC United’s national teams have also earned Round of 16 and Round of 32 finishes at the NHSCA National Duals, one of the most competitive high school dual-meet tournaments in the country.

North Carolina’s elite wrestlers have demonstrated that they belong on the national stage. The next step is creating more opportunities for the state’s best athletes to compete head-to-head, gain meaningful college exposure and prepare for the highest levels of the sport.

That need has become more pronounced as wrestling has grown across the state. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, North Carolina has eight high school classifications and seven men’s individual wrestling championship divisions. The expansion reflects the continued growth of the sport while creating more opportunities for athletes to become state champions.

It also means that seven wrestlers can finish a season as state champion in the same weight class without ever facing one another.

The inaugural NC United Tournament of Champions will provide an additional stage for many of those athletes to compete September 18–19, 2026, at Hope Community Church in Apex.

The invite-only event will feature 11 eight-man brackets—the ten NCAA weight classes plus a 117-pound division. It will also feature a College Recruiting Expo, bringing elite wrestlers and college programs together for a high-level weekend of competition, evaluation and exposure.

“This event is not intended to replace or diminish what athletes accomplish during the high school season,” said Matt Hickey, co-founder of NC United. “Winning a state championship is an extraordinary achievement. The Tournament of Champions creates an additional stage where North Carolina’s best can compete head-to-head and show just how strong wrestling in our state has become.”

Building the Support Previous Events Could Not Sustain

North Carolina wrestling has seen previous attempts to create a “Super State” event, but those efforts struggled to gain lasting support from athletes, colleges and the broader wrestling community.

NC United began by building that support before launching the Tournament of Champions.

Of the first 50 wrestlers invited to compete, 48 accepted. The 125-pound and 149-pound brackets are already closed and include nationally ranked wrestlers, Fargo and NHSCA All-Americans, multiple-time state champions and nationally recognized incoming freshmen.

College programs have responded with similar enthusiasm. Fourteen programs spanning NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III have committed to attend, including:

• University of North Carolina
• NC State
• Campbell
• Army West Point
• Roanoke
• University of Mount Olive
• Greensboro
• Lynchburg
• Washington and Lee
• Additional programs to be announced

The early commitments represent the two groups essential to the event’s success: elite athletes willing to face one another and college coaches prepared to evaluate them.

“North Carolina wrestlers have proven that they can compete with the best athletes in the country,” said Michael Macchiavello, NCAA champion, Army West Point wrestling coach and co-founder of NC United. “To continue that progress, our best wrestlers need opportunities to challenge one another in high-level matches. This tournament gives them that experience while preparing them for national events and college competition.”

A New Recruiting Opportunity for North Carolina Wrestlers

North Carolina’s growing number of classifications provides more championship opportunities, but it can also make statewide talent evaluation more complicated for college coaches.

The Tournament of Champions will complement regular-season competition, state tournaments and national events by placing eight elite wrestlers at each weight into one bracket under college weight classifications.

For college coaches, the format provides an opportunity to evaluate accomplished wrestlers in meaningful head-to-head matches. For wrestlers, it creates an opportunity to compete in front of programs from every NCAA division without leaving the state.

The College Recruiting Expo will further connect athletes, families and college programs while helping wrestlers better understand the academic, athletic and recruiting opportunities available to them.

A Championship-Level Experience

NC United has committed to creating one of the premier tournament experiences in North Carolina wrestling and establishing a new standard for events across the state.

Its partnership with Hope Community Church provides an elite venue with professional production capabilities and dedicated spaces for athletes, families, spectators and college coaches.

The event experience will include:

• Custom Resilite Tournament of Champions mats
• Two-mat preliminary competition followed by single-mat championship finals
• Professional event production and athlete introductions
• Dedicated VIP and college-coach lounges
• Champion jackets
• Gold, silver and bronze medals
• A large printed commemorative bracket for every champion
• College recruiting access throughout the weekend

“We want every athlete to feel that they have earned the opportunity to compete in something special,” said Colton Palmer, co-founder of NC United. “From the level of competition and the college coaches in attendance to the venue, mats and championship presentation, every part of the weekend is being designed around the athletes and their families.”

Wrestler Reveals and Ticket Information

NC United will reveal participating wrestlers by weight class over the coming weeks.

Spectator tickets will go on sale Friday, August 28, at 9:00 a.m. ET, when the full field is revealed. Seating is limited, and families of competing athletes will receive early access.

Event announcements, wrestler reveals, college commitments and ticket information will be available at app.ncwrestlingunited.com/tournament-of-champions.

About NC United

NC United is a North Carolina wrestling organization focused on athlete development, national-level competition, college recruiting exposure and building a stronger statewide wrestling ecosystem.

Through NC United Blue, national dual teams, RecruitNC and special events, NC United connects athletes, families, coaches and college programs while helping North Carolina wrestlers pursue their next level.

Media contact: Matt Hickey, Co-Founder, NC United · info@ncwrestlingunited.com