Building on Momentum: NC’s Rising National Wrestling Profile at NHSCA Nationals 2025
Last week, we highlighted the importance of NHSCA Nationals for North Carolina wrestling and previewed the competitors heading to Virginia Beach. Today, we’re excited to share compelling evidence that our wrestlers aren’t just participating – they’re being recognized as legitimate contenders on the national stage.
The recently released NHSCA Nationals seeds for 2025 show remarkable progress compared to 2024, particularly in our high school divisions. This advancement follows the positive trajectory we observed at the Super 32 Tournament last October, suggesting a consistent pattern of growth across multiple national competitions.
The Numbers Tell the Story: NC’s Growing National Presence
When comparing North Carolina’s seeded wrestlers at NHSCA Nationals from 2024 to 2025, the data reveals significant improvement
| 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 HS | 18 | 29 | +11 |
This 61% increase in high school seeded wrestlers represents substantial growth in just one year. Even more significant is the improvement in the seeding quality.
| Division | 2024 Top 5 | 2025 Top 5 | 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 HS | 7 | 15 | +8 |
The significant increase in top 5 seeds is significant, doubling the previous year. This metric is a stronger indicator of elite development than raw participation numbers, as it highlights how many North Carolina wrestlers are positioned as true contenders for All-American honors.
Returning All-Americans Poised for Repeat Success
The increase in high-ranking seeds not only highlights North Carolina’s rising presence but also underscores the strength of returning talent aiming for another successful year.
Lorenzo Alston, who placed 3rd last year and is now seeded #3 at 145 lbs in the Junior division, leads our returning All-Americans. His consistent national-level performance sets a high bar for his teammates.
Jack Harty returns after a 4th place finish last year and enters as the #4 seed at 182 lbs in the Sophomore division.
Faith Bane, who secured a 5th place finish in 2024, has dramatically improved from a #7 seed to #2 at 145 lbs in the Girls division, positioning herself for a potential final’s appearance.
Liam Hickey (#5 at 132 lbs) brings valuable podium experience as he aims to improve on his 8th place finish from last year.
Cooper Foster (#4 at 113 lbs) has made an impressive jump from Junior to Senior division while improving his seed after placing 3rd last year.
Keyshon Morrison (#5 at 220 lbs) and Bentley Sly (#5 at 138 lbs) round out our returning All-Americans, both looking more polished and prepared than ever heading into this year’s tournament.
The experience these wrestlers gained last year provides valuable leadership for first-time national qualifiers and demonstrates the year-over-year growth we strive for in North Carolina wrestling.
Girls Wrestling: Leading the Growth Charge
The most dramatic improvement comes in our girls’ division, where North Carolina has quadrupled its representation from just 2 seeded wrestlers in 2024 to 8 in 2025. This 300% increase, combined with a jump from 1 to 4 top 5 seeds, demonstrates the tremendous progress in what was identified in our previous article as “North Carolina’s Fastest Growing Group.”
Along with Faith Bane, Moriah Antis (#4 at 138 lbs), Stephanie Diaz Mendoza (#5 at 152 lbs), and Daniella Jenkins (#4 at 235 lbs) all enter the tournament with top 5 seeds and legitimate podium aspirations. The rapid growth in both quantity and quality of our girls’ wrestling representation reflects the focused development efforts in this area.
Building the Pipeline: Middle School Strength Shows Future Promise
While our high school divisions demonstrate immediate progress, our Middle School representation hints at North Carolina’s wrestling future. With 10 seeded wrestlers, including 6 in the top-5 seeds, our youngest competitors are already making their mark nationally.
Bowen Lefler’s #1 seed at 80 lbs represents our highest overall seed across all divisions, while multiple top-5 seeds at various weight classes suggest a strong competitive pipeline for years to come. The Middle School division’s success today becomes our high school success tomorrow.
Senior Leadership: Experience Makes the Difference
Our Senior boys enter the tournament with incredible depth – four wrestlers seeded in the top-5 of their respective weight classes. Along with Liam Hickey and Cooper Foster, Hayden Haynes (#4 at 220 lbs) and Damien Couture (#4 at 285 lbs) bring elite positioning to the upper weights.
Haynes has shown remarkable development this season, transitioning from unseeded last year to a top-4 seed this year. Brock Sullivan (#6 at 195 lbs) and Sebastian Rivera (#6 at 285 lbs) round out a senior class ready to make their mark in Virginia Beach.
Emerging Talent: Freshmen Make Their Mark
One of the most promising signs for North Carolina’s wrestling future is the emergence of four seeded freshmen boys, where we had none in 2024. This includes Mitchell Rowland, who has progressed from Middle School competition in 2024 (as a #18 seed at 127 lbs) to earn a #4 seed at 132 lbs in the Freshman division.
Ryan Thompson (#3 at 170 lbs) and Easten Binckley (#4 at 170 lbs) give North Carolina two top-5 seeds in the same weight class, demonstrating our growing depth in the freshman division.
Individual Success Stories: From Unranked to Nationally Seeded
Perhaps the most compelling evidence of our development strategy’s effectiveness can be found in the individual progression stories:
Notable Wrestler Progression 2024 → 2025
- Cooper Foster: 2024 Junior (#8 at 106 lbs) → 2025 Senior (#4 at 113 lbs)
- Bentley Sly: 2024 Sophomore (#13 at 132 lbs) → 2025 Junior (#5 at 138 lbs)
- Lorenzo Alston: 2024 Sophomore (#2 at 145 lbs) → 2025 Junior (#3 at 145 lbs)
- Faith Bane: 2024 Girls (#7 at 145 lbs) → 2025 Girls (#2 at 145 lbs)
- Carson Raper: 2024 Middle School (#7 at 80 lbs) → 2025 Middle School (#3 at 100 lbs)
- Mason Brown: 2024 Middle School (#6 at 90 lbs) → 2025 Middle School (#3 at 105 lbs)
Additionally, several high school wrestlers who were completely unseeded in 2024 have earned seeds in 2025:
- Brady Donovan: 2025 Senior (#12 at 113 lbs)
- Kane Bryson: 2025 Senior (#7 at 120 lbs)
- Brock Sullivan: 2025 Senior (#6 at 195 lbs)
- Hayden Haynes: 2025 Senior (#4 at 220 lbs)
- Damien Couture: 2025 Senior (#4 at 285 lbs)
- Sebastian Rivera: 2025 Senior (#6 at 285 lbs)
- Gabe Rogers: 2025 Junior (#7 at 120 lbs)
The emergence of these previously unseeded wrestlers demonstrates the increasing depth of North Carolina’s program and the effectiveness of our developmental approach.
Connecting the Dots: A Pattern of Progress
This seeding analysis aligns perfectly with what we observed in our October 2024 Super 32 CAP Score analysis, establishing a pattern of improvement across multiple national tournaments. That consistency is critically important – it suggests that our progress isn’t a one-time anomaly but rather the result of systematic development across North Carolina wrestling.
Looking at the wrestlers we identified in our previous article as “North Carolina Wrestlers to Watch,” we’re seeing those athletes earn the national recognition they deserve. Jack Harty, Keyshon Morrison, and Bentley Sly are just a few examples of wrestlers who have converted their potential into elite national seeds.
From Seeds to All-Americans: The Next Step
As we noted in our previous article, North Carolina produced 17 All-Americans at the 2024 NHSCA Nationals. With 29 seeded high school wrestlers in 2025 (including 15 in the top 5), we’re positioned to potentially increase that number significantly.
The improvement in seeding quality sets our wrestlers up for deeper tournament runs, increasing their chances of reaching the podium and achieving All-American status.
The Road Ahead: Turning Seeds into Results
While these seeding improvements are tremendously encouraging, they represent opportunities rather than achievements. The true test will come March 28-30 in Virginia Beach, when our wrestlers take to the mats to convert these seeds into results.
At NC Wrestling United, we’re committed to supporting these athletes as they prepare for this challenge. The increased seeds reflect the hard work of wrestlers, coaches, and programs across the state. Now comes the exciting part – seeing that work translated into competition.
Stay connected with NC Wrestling United as we follow these 39 seeded wrestlers at the NHSCA Nationals beginning March 28. Subscribe to our updates for exclusive insights and match results as the competition unfolds! We’ll provide comprehensive coverage as North Carolina continues its rise in the national wrestling landscape.
