14 Champions Crowned at 3A East Regional Trinity Tops Team Standings

AYDEN, NC The NCHSAA 3A East Individual Regional Tournament was held this weekend at Ayden-Grifton High School, where champions were crowned and the eastern half of the 3A state championship field was finalized. Trinity secured its third consecutive regional championship overall, marking the program’s first regional title since moving up to the 3A classification this season. Wheatmore finished second in the team standings with multiple champions and strong placement finishes throughout its lineup.

The top four finishers in each weight class advanced from the 3A East Regional to the NCHSAA Individual State Wrestling Championships. The 3A West Regional was contested separately, completing the western half of the bracket and finalizing the full 3A state field.

Below is the complete weight-by-weight breakdown from the 3A East Regional.

106

Jeven Palmeri of Trinity High School captured the regional championship with a dominant 17–2 technical fall over Colton McBride of McMichael, last year’s 2A 106-pound fourth-place finisher. Corey Anstead of Louisburg Magnet High School placed third, while Dylan Harris of Wheatmore High School finished fourth.

113

Defending state champion Aiden Burkholder of Trinity secured the regional title with a pin over Ronnie Frizzelle of Spring Creek.

Terry Gillespie of Wheatmore High School earned third place with a pin over Easton Harris of McMichael.

120

Returning state placer Stephen Cross of Trinity claimed the regional championship with a 19–3 technical fall over Lucas Kennedy of Eastern Randolph High School.

Jeremiah Payne of Providence Grove High School secured third with a 5–3 decision over Gavin Lynn of McMichael.

126

In one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, defending state champion Ayden Sumners of Wheatmore High School defeated defending state champion David Lambright of Eastern Randolph High School for the second time this season to capture the regional title. Elijah Sylvester of Pasquotank County High School placed third, while Edgar Vasquez of Trinity High School finished fourth.

132

Returning state placer Omega Edge of Trinity High School earned the regional championship with a pin over Ayden Terwilliger of Providence Grove High School.

Yurem Torres of Bartlett Yancey High School secured third with a pin over Aron Ascencio of Ayden-Grifton High School.

138

Hezekyah Matson of Trinity High School claimed the regional title with a 15–0 technical fall over Nolan Hammonds of Wheatmore High School. Chayton Oxendine of Ayden-Grifton High School placed third, while Dante Smith of Thomasville High School finished fourth.

144

Simeon Hammett of Trinity High School captured the regional championship with a pin over Colby Smith of McMichael.Jamie Crabtree of Eastern Randolph High School placed third with a 15–0 technical fall over Alejandro Flores of Spring Creek.

150

Spencer Moore of Wheatmore High School earned the regional title with a pin over Jeremy Barcliff of Northeastern. Hunter Lewis of McMichael placed third, while Cody Roper of Heide Trask Senior High School finished fourth.

157

Jonathan Nguyen of Northeastern captured the regional championship with a 6–5 decision over Addam Bernal of Trinity High School. Abimael Valle Ramirez of Louisburg Magnet High School secured third with a pin over Kamarion Simmons of Pasquotank County High School.

165

Haris Idrees of Trinity High School earned the regional championship with a 4–2 decision over Conrad Neal of McMichael. Stryker Murray of North Moore High School placed third with a 7–5 decision over Brodie Bates of Wheatmore High School.

175

Anees Khan of Trinity High School captured the regional championship with a 16–6 major decision over Malachi Combo of Providence Grove High School. Pedro Sandoval Perez of Heide Trask Senior High School secured third with a pin over Cody Baggett of South Lenoir High School.

190

Defending state champion Dominic Hittepole of Wheatmore High School earned the regional title with a pin over Clark Kellar of Pasquotank County High School. Grayson Carroll of Trinity High School placed third with a 9–0 major decision over Kolten Bradford of McMichael.

215

Andrew Robinson of Pender High School claimed the regional championship with a pin over Jesse Compton of McMichael. Dashawn Folks of Ayden-Grifton High School secured third with a pin over James Combs of Eastern Randolph High School.

285

Joseph Trahan of Trinity High School secured the regional championship with a 4–0 decision over defending state champion Maddox Carson of Eastern Randolph High School. Jorge Medina of Ayden-Grifton High School placed third with a pin over Peyton Russo of Wheatmore High School.

What’s Next

Four programs from the 3A East Regional now turn their focus to Tuesday’s NCHSAA 3A State Duals Elite 8. Eastern Randolph will face Wheatmore, while Trinity will take on Ayden-Grifton on the eastern side of the bracket.

Action begins at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday as teams on both the East and West sides of the 3A bracket compete in the quarterfinals and semifinals. The winners from each side will advance to their respective regional finals to determine an Eastern Regional Champion and a Western Regional Champion. Those two regional champions will then meet later that night to compete for the 3A State Dual Team Championship.

Following the dual championships, attention shifts to the NCHSAA Individual State Wrestling Championships next Friday and Saturday at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.

With dual team titles and individual championships both on the line, North Carolina postseason wrestling has officially reached its peak.

Congratulations to all wrestlers who punched their ticket to the state championship