Wrestling fans, athletes, and coaches—NC United’s inaugural College Prospect Rankings showcase North Carolina’s top 25 high school wrestlers in the class of 2025. Our list recognizes their skills, achievements, and collegiate potential. This list is a testament to the dedication and talent of wrestlers across North Carolina, as well as the exceptional strength of our high school and club wrestling programs.
Understanding the Significance of the United Prospect List
The NC United College Prospect Rankings are designed to showcase the best wrestling talent in the state. We’ve identified athletes who demonstrate:
- Exceptional skills on the mat.
- Significant achievements in local, regional, and national competitions.
- The potential for collegiate success in wrestling.
These rankings aim to provide a valuable resource for college coaches, streamlining the recruitment process by highlighting North Carolina’s top wrestling prospects. For more insights, check out our guide on How to Get Recruited for College Wrestling to maximize opportunities for these talented athletes.
Why NC Wrestling Rankings Are Valuable for College Recruitment
College coaches, athletes, and fans can use this list to discover the standout performers shaping the future of wrestling in North Carolina. Our goal is to support these athletes in their journey to the next level by increasing their visibility and connecting them with the right opportunities.
Top 25 2025 College Wrestling Prospects in North Carolina
Without further ado, here are NC United’s Top 25 College Wrestling Prospects by class. To stay updated on rankings and connect with NC United, follow us on social media or reach out for more information about these talented athletes. These athletes are ranked based on their achievements, work ethic, and potential for collegiate success.
Without further ado, here are the Top 25 2025 College Wrestling Prospects in North Carolina:
1. Nate Askew – 141 lbs (Home School, Tarheel Wrestling Club)
- College Commitment: UNC
- Notable Accomplishments: World Team Member, 3rd Cleveland State College Open, Fargo AA, Super 32 AA, Ranked 12th Nationally, many wins against nationally ranked opponents
2. Liam Hickey – 133 lbs (Cardinal Gibbons, RAW)
- College Commitment: UNC
- Notable Accomplishments: 3-2 against NCAA D1 Opponents, 4th Patriot College Open, Ranked 23rd Nationally, NHSCA AA, State Champ, 3x State Placer, 2nd Southeast Regionals.
3. Colt Campbell – 174 lbs (Hickory Ridge, Compound)
- College Commitment: App State
- Notable Accomplishments: First Place at Pembroke College Open, Wins against nationally ranked opponents, 5-2 at NHSCAA (round of 12), State Champion, 2x State Placer, Freestyle State Champ.
4. Brock Sullivan – 184 lbs (Union Pines, The Wrestling Factory)
- College Commitment: Roanoke
- Notable Accomplishments: NHSCAA AA, Undefeated Ultimate Club Duals, State Champ, 2x State Finalist.
5. Cooper Foster – 125 lbs (Avery County, Dogtown)
- College Commitment: App State
- Notable Accomplishments: NHSCAA AA, 2x State Champion, 3x State Placer.
Top 25 North Carolina Wrestling Prospects
| Rank | Top 25 | High School | Club | Weight | College Commitment |
| 1 | Nate Askew | Home School | Tarheel Wrestling Club | 141 | UNC |
| 2 | Liam Hickey | Cardinal Gibbons | RAW | 133 | UNC |
| 3 | Colt Campbell | Hickory Ridge | Compound | 174 | App State |
| 4 | Brock Sullivan | Union Pines | The Wrestling Factory | 184 | Roanoke |
| 5 | Cooper Foster | Avery County | Dogtown | 125 | App State |
| 6 | Xavier Wilson | Eastern Guilford | – | 197 | – |
| 7 | Kevin O’Brien | West Rowan | Combat | 141 | Lander |
| 8 | Kyser Kostoff | Hough | Darkhorse | 165 | – |
| 9 | Luke Osborne | Ashe County | Combat | 157 | – |
| 10 | Jackson Rowling | Hough | Darkhorse | 149 | Roanoke |
| 11 | Boedi Kirkland | Newton-Conover | Darkhorse | 141 | – |
| 12 | Kenneth Prtiz | Avery County | Dogtown | 157 | – |
| 13 | Ryan Mann | North East Carolina Prep | Capital City | 141 | Presbyterian |
| 14 | Kayne Bryson | Pisgah | Haywood Elite | 125 | Newberry |
| 15 | Caleb Cox | Rutherfordton Spindale | Darkhorse | 157 | – |
| 16 | Sebastian Rivera | Panther Creek | RAW | HWT | – |
| 17 | Nathan McCartney | Central Davidson | – | 165 | – |
| 18 | Trevquan Gary | Person | – | HWT | |
| 19 | Everest Ouellette | First Flight | OBX Wrestling Factory | HWT | Gardner Webb |
| 20 | Grant McCord | Grimsley | School of Hard Knocks | 125 | |
| 21 | Hayden Haynes | McDowell | Combat | 197 | App State |
| 22 | Finn McCafferty | Union Pines | The Wrestling Factory | 157 | |
| 23 | Tyler Watt | Wake Forest | Capital City | 133 | – |
| 24 | Donovan Edwards | Southwest Guilford | School of Hard Knocks | 141 | – |
| 25 | Jaylen Bethea | Hoke County | Forge | 141 | – |
Key Highlights
Common Attributes of Top Athletes: Our top-ranked wrestlers consistently seek the highest levels of competition, participating in the largest national tournaments such as Super32, Fargo, and Journeymen. They also compete in College Opens, train year-round, invest in their clubs, and achieve wins against nationally ranked opponents.
College Commitments: 44% of the Top 25 wrestlers are committed to collegiate programs, with strong representation across all NCAA divisions
App State Leads Commitments: App State secures top prospects Colt Campbell (#3), Cooper Foster (#5), and Hayden Haynes (#21), showcasing their long history of recruiting North Carolina’s best and developing them into NCAA Division 1 ranked athletes.
UNC Commitments: UNC secures top prospects Nate Askew (#1) and Liam Hickey (#2), with a clear commitment to recruiting North Carolina’s best wrestlers.
Roanoke All-In on North Carolina: Roanoke College continues to focus on recruiting top talent from North Carolina, landing a Top 5 commitment with Brock Sullivan (#4), further cementing their dedication to recruiting the state’s top tier talent
Diverse Representation: Athletes hail from a variety of schools, clubs, and weight classes with great representation from every area of the state.
What’s Next?
We’ll be releasing rankings by graduating class on a rolling basis! Stay tuned as we break down the top prospects from each class, highlighting their accomplishments and potential for success.
