2013 All-Lake Norman wrestling team

The Lake Norman and Mooresville wrestling teams have dominated the I-Meck conference in recent years.

But this year, the third-year Hough wrestling program (25-3) grew into one of the best in the area, sweeping the I-Meck regular-season and tournament titles before winning the 4A West regional championship.

The Huskies also reached the third round of the 4A dual-team playoffs.

Lake Norman (30-5) also had a strong season but ran into eventual 4A state champion Parkland in the second round of the playoffs to end its season.

The Lake Norman area produced three public-school state champions in Bandys’ Anthony Christopher (195 pounds in 2A), East Lincoln’s Jeremy Tarleton (170, 2A) and Lake Norman’s Cody Karns (120, 4A).

SouthLake Christian also had a good season, finishing third at the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association state meet behind state champions Sam Bryant (162), Hamilton Hewitt (147) and Brian Jones (197).

Lake Norman wrestling coach of the year: Tripp Rogers, Hough

Tripp Rogers came into the 2012-13 wrestling season hoping for a year of firsts for his Hough wrestling team.

That is exactly what happened, as the Huskies beat I-Meck rivals Lake Norman and Mooresville in the regular season for the first time to finish unbeaten in the conference to win the league crown.

After winning their first conference and regional titles, the Huskies finished fourth among 4A teams at the state tournament in Greensboro.

Hough also won the Jim Hayes Invitational and the Mecklenburg County tournament among others.

Lake Norman wrestler of the year: Cody Karns, Lake Norman

Coming into his senior season, Cody Karns had accomplished nearly everything he could on the high school mat except winning a state title.

Karns was perfect in his quest to finish his career on top this season, going 52-0 to claim the 4A 120-pound state championship.

Karns had come close to that elusive state title in each high school season, finishing fourth at states as a freshman, third as a sophomore and state runner-up last year.

Karns, who has signed to wrestle at North Carolina next season, also won the I-Meck and 4A West regional championships this year. He wraps his Wildcat career with 209 wins.

All-Lake Norman wrestling team

• 106: Matthew Insogna, South Iredell, Fr.: Viking impressed as 2A state and regional runner-up after winning CVAC title.

• 113: Conner Kominek, Lake Norman, Jr.: I-Meck and 4A West regional champ was fourth at states.

• 120: Cody Karns, Lake Norman, Sr.: 4A state champion was a perfect 52-0 this season.

• 126: James Daniel, East Lincoln, Sr.: SPC champ was third at regional.

• 132: Jalen Hill, North Mecklenburg, Sr.: I-Meck champion finished third at 4A West regional to reach states.

• 138: Tanner Russ, Hough, Sr.: I-Meck and regional runner-up finished fourth at states.

• 145: Eddie McGrail, Lake Norman, Jr.: I-Meck champion, regional runner-up, was third at states.

• 152: Jacob Efird, Hough, Jr.: 4A West regional champion was I-Meck runner-up and sixth at states.

• 160: Sam Bryant, SouthLake Christian, Sr.: Senior went out on top with second straight NCISAA state title to finish season 34-0.

• 170: Palmer Maples, Hough, Sr. and Jeremy Tarleton, East Lincoln, Sr.: Maples (48-3) was I-Meck and regional champion before being runner-up at states, while Tarleton (32-3) won the SPC and 2A state titles.

• 182: Gore Vaughn, Hopewell, Jr. and Charles Smith, Hough, Sr.: Both wrestlers battled each other all year, with Vaughn as I-Meck and regional runner-up and fourth-place at states, while Smith was 4A West Regional champ and sixth at states.

• 195: Anthony Christopher, Bandys, Sr.: Trojan went out on top with CVAC, regional and state titles to finish year 53-2.

• 220: Zac Whisnant, Bandys, Sr.: Another strong Trojan finish third at 2A West regionals, third at states.

• 285: Brendan Latham, Lake Norman, Sr.: 4A state runner-up was third at regionals and won I-Meck championship.