All-Observer wrestling: Meet the top high school wrestlers in the region
Three Charlotte-area stars share Charlotte Observer wrestlers of the year honors.
Parkwood sophomore Rylynn Keziah is the All-Observer girls’ wrestler of the year. Hough junior Tyton Kostoff and Stuart Cramer senior Bentley Sly share the boys’ wrestlers of the year honor.
Keziah finished the season 52-0, winning the NCHSAA girls’ 5A state title at 185 pounds. She also won a state title as a freshman, when she finished 52-2.
Led by Keziah, Parkwood won the team title, beating the field by 62.5 points. Parkwood coach Amber Parker is All-Observer girls’ coach of the year.
On the boys’ side, Kostoff was 48-0 at Hough and ended his season by winning the 8A state championship at 144 pounds. He was also named the 8A dual-team state championship MVP after he pinned his opponent in 51 seconds during Hough’s 51-20 win over Raleigh’s Millbrook High in the state dual team finals.
At Stuart Cramer, Sly became the 17th wrestler in N.C. history to win four NCHSAA state championships.
This season, Sly finished 51-2, winning the 6A title at 150 pounds. The Appalachian State recruit won three NCHSAA 3A state titles as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He finished his career with an overall record of 212-6.
Finally, Hough’s Tripp Rogers is the boys’ wrestling coach of the year after leading Hough to the 8A dual team state title and a 31-5 record. It was Hough’s second state title in six years. Hough also won the team title at the NCHSAA individual state championships.
All-Observer boys’ wrestling team
FIRST TEAM
106 — Michael Santoro, Hough: The Huskies’ junior went 37-4 and won the 8A state title.
113 — Jaxon Thomas, Piedmont: The Panthers’ junior was the 6A state champion, going 58-2 this season.
120 — Jackson D’Ettore, Charlotte Catholic: The Cougars’ sophomore went 48-5 this season, capping it with a 6A state title.
126 — Jace Barrier, Mooresville and Caleb Edwards, Piedmont: Barrier, a senior, won the 7A state title going 22-3. Edwards, a sophomore, was the 6A state champion with a 53-5 record.
132 — Cameron Gue, Mount Pleasant: The Tigers’ senior, a Lynchburg College commit, won the 4A state title and finished with a 60-1 record.
138 — Cameron Massey, North Gaston and Gavin Ulrich, Metrolina Christian: Massey, a senior, went 43-1 to finish his career with a 5A state title. Ulrich, also a senior, won his fifth straight NCISAA state title this season. He had a 19-3 record this season and was 171-24 in a high school career that began in eighth-grade.
144 — Tyton Kostoff, Hough: The Huskies’ junior was 48-0 and won the 8A state championship.
150 — Bentley Sly, Stuart Cramer: The Storm senior, an Appalachian State University signee, won his fourth state title in four years. He finished 51-2 and won the 4A state title.
157 — Michael Mauro, Bradford Prep: The Bears’ junior went 42-1 en route to winning the 1A/2A state title.
165 — John Zarbatany, Providence Day: The Chargers’ senior won the NCISAA state title, going 30-5.
175 — Drew Teeter, Mooresville: The Blue Devils’ sophomore won the 7A state championship with a 41-4 record.
190 — Colton Bogan, Providence and Gavin Yow, A.L. Brown: Bogan, a senior, won the 8A state title with 41-4 record. Yow, also a senior, went 50-1 on his way to a 7A state championship.
215 — Keyshon Morrison, Lake Norman: The Wildcats’ junior went 45-4 this season, finishing with a 7A state championship.
285 — Nick McClellan, East Gaston: The Warriors’ senior finished 52-1 with a 4A state title.
SECOND TEAM
106 — Ethan Cole, Charlotte Country Day, Fr./Ryan Johnson, Mountain Island Charter, Jr.
113 — Brandon Lefler, Hough, Fr.
120 — Aidan Schirra, Providence Day, Sr.
126 — Liam McConaughy, Charlotte Latin, Sr.
132 — Davis Jones, Charlotte Latin, Jr.
138 — Dylan Belmont, Monroe, Jr.
144 — Nicholas Arado, Charlotte Country Day, Jr. and Austin Green, Mooresville, Sr.
150 — Spear Gorelick, Charlotte Latin, Sr.
157 — Zachary Cotter, East Lincoln, Sr.
165 — Caleb Henson, Charlotte Christian, Sr.
175 — Max McNeer, Charlotte Christian, Jr.
190 — Jackson Laws, Cannon School, Jr.
215 — Banks Cutter, Charlotte Latin, Sr.
285 — Preston Broadway, Metrolina Christian, Sr. and Jonathan Moore, Ashbrook, Sr.
All-Observer girls’ wrestling team
120 — Veronika Wilson, Parkwood: The Wolfpack junior went 43-4 this season plus the 5A state title.
138 — Maddie Korvink, Parkwood and Jasmine Laing, Providence: Korvink, a senior, went 48-5 on her way to the 5A state title. She was also named the 5A state championship’s most outstanding wrestler. Laing, also a senior, went 27-1 on her way to the 8A state title.
145 — Riley Johnson, Parkwood and Riley Paden, South Mecklenburg: Johnson, a sophomore, was 53-1 on her way to the 5A state championship. Paden, also a sophomore, won the 8A state title, finishing 34-3 overall.
152 — Aaliyah Paige, East Mecklenburg: The Eagles’ senior was 17-2 and won the 8A state championship.
165 — Michaila Johnson, Cox Mill: The Chargers’ sophomore won the 7A state title going 24-3.
185 — Rylynn Keziah, Parkwood and Clear Wesley, A.L. Brown: Keziah, a sophomore, won the 5A state title going 52-0. Wesley, a senior, was 28-3 on her way to the 7A state championship.
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 5:30 AM.
