Meet the All-Observer wrestling team, the top prep athletes in the Charlotte area
Three Charlotte-area wrestlers who have won multiple state championships headline the 2025 All-Observer boys and girls high school all-star teams.
The All-Observer team was selected by the media company’s high school sports staff and includes wrestlers from Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties who participate for NCHSAA or NCISAA schools.
▪ Hickory Ridge senior Colt Campbell and Stuart Cramer junior Bentley Sly share the boys wrestler of the year honors. Both teens were 55-0 this season.
Campbell, an Appalachian State University signee, is 113-0 in the last two years with back-to-back state titles, winning the 175-pound 4A state title this season, while taking the 165-pound state crown in 2024.
Sly won his third straight 3A state title, at 144-pounds, after claiming the 120-pound and 132-pound championships in his first two years.
Sly is 161-4 in his high school wrestling career.
▪ Weddington senior Brianna DeLeon is the Charlotte Observer girls wrestler of the year after winning her fourth straight NCHSAA state championship. DeLeon, who finished 21-2 this season, won the title at 145 pounds and was named NCHSAA most outstanding wrestler at the state finals.
DeLeon won the 132-pound state title as a freshman, before taking the 138-pound championships the last two seasons.
DeLeon will not wrestle in college, but will continue her academic career at the University of North Carolina, beginning this summer.
▪ Metrolina Christian’s Brad Aceta is the coach of the year, after guiding the Warriors to their first NCISAA state title in school history. The Warriors beat state power Charlotte Latin by two points.
Metrolina Christian, which finished undefeated at 15-0 this season, was led by five individual state champions: juniors Gavin Ulrich (140) and Graham Furtick (159); seniors Ngus Ward (152) and Jason Hubbard (217); and sophomore Jaxon Williams (177).
All-Observer boys’ wrestling
FIRST TEAM
106: Dino Lambos, Charlotte Latin: The Hawks’ freshman was an NCISAA state champion, going 27-4 this season.
113: Dru Kerley, South Iredell: The Vikings’ junior went 47-3 on his way to the 4A state title this season.
120: Jace Barrier, Mooresville: The Blue Devils’ junior went 53-1 this season and won the 4A state championship.
126: Aiden White, Weddington: The Warriors’ sophomore capped a 42-2 season with a 4A state title.
132: Till Helms, North Lincoln and Cameron Gue, Mount Pleasant: Helms, a senior, was the 3A state runner-up with a 50-3 record; Gue, a junior, was the 2A state runner-up, going 48-6.
138: Austin Green, Mooresville and Gavin Ulrich, Metrolina Christian: Green, a junior, went 29-1 on his way to the 4A state title. Ulrich won his fourth straight NCISAA state championship, going 40-3 this season.
144: Bentley Sly, Stuart Cramer: The Storm junior went 55-0 this season on his way to a third straight N.C. 3A state championship.
150: Jackson Rowling, Hough: The Huskies’ senior, a Roanoke College (VA) commit, was the 4A state champion going 47-1 this season.
157: Graham Furtick, Metrolina Christian, Jr. and Santiago Ruiz Diaz, Providence, Sr.: Furtick, a junior, won the NCISAA state title for the second straight season, going 39-2; Ruiz Diaz finished off his Providence wrestling career with a 4A state title, going 35-3.
165: Kyser Kostoff, Hough: The Huskies’ senior was the 4A state champion, finishing 42-1 this season.
175: Colt Campbell, Hickory Ridge: The Ragin’ Bulls’ senior, an Appalachian State signee, capped his high school career with a 4A state title, going 55-0.
190: Jesus Jarquin-Ambrosio, Monroe: The Redhawks’ senior was the 2A state champion and went 26-1 overall this season.
215: Jason Hubbard, Metrolina Christian: The Warriors’ senior won his second straight state NCISAA state title, going 28-2 this season.
285: Banks Cutter, Charlotte Latin: The Hawks’ junior won the NCISAA heavyweight state title, going 15-3 this season.
SECOND TEAM
106: Jackson D’Ettore, Charlotte Catholic, Fr.
113: Liam McConaughy, Charlotte Latin, Jr.
120: Aidan Schirra, Providence Day, Jr.
126: Davis Jones, Charlotte Latin, So.
132: Tyton Kostoff, Hough, So.
138: Gage Helms, North Lincoln, Sr.
144: Nicholas Arado, Charlotte Country Day, So.
150: Ngus Ward, Metrolina Christian, Sr.
157: Brayden Smith, East Gaston, Jr.
165: Brock Alexander, Metrolina Christian, Jr./Krizangel Flores, Porter Ridge, Sr.
175: Jaxon Williams, Metrolina Christian, So.
190: Jackson Laws, Cannon School, So.
215: Sam Harper, South Iredell, Jr.
285: Damien Culture, Hickory Ridge, Sr.
All-Observer girls’ wrestling
120: Kahlen Kuddie, A.L. Brown: The Wonders’ senior finished fifth at the state championships, going 45-3 overall this season.
132: Jasmine Laing, Providence: The Panthers’ junior finished fifth at state championships, going 23-8 this season.
138: Moriah Artis, Jay M. Robinson: The Bulldogs’ junior was 39-4 this season and finished third at the state meet.
145: Brianna DeLeon, Weddington: The Warriors’ senior won her fourth straight state title, going 21-2 this season. She wrestled in her third different weight class during her high school career.
185: Rylynn Keziah, Parkwood: Keziah, a freshman won the 4A state title going 52-2.
235: Daniella Jenkins, Jay M. Robinson: Jenkins, a senior, finished third at the state championships and went 38-4 this season.
