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Inside One of the Area’s Fastest Rising Clubs. The Story of Coach Anders and Trinity Top Team
- Levi Dennis
- Nov 19, 2025
- 6 min read
Trinity NC, For Coach Joseph Anders, the path to coaching didn’t start with championships or perfect endings. It started with moments that stayed with him long after his own wrestling career ended. As a two-time state finalist for Trinity High School, Anders didn’t get the finish many athletes hoped for but instead of closing a chapter, those moments opened a new one. “I actually believe losing those two state championship matches is what pushed me into coaching,” Anders said. “I didn’t want my career to end on that feeling, and I knew I still had more to give to the sport. Coaching became the way for me to stay connected and help the next generation push past those same doubts I once felt.”
But the foundation for Trinity Top Team came from someone who had shaped him long before he ever thought about coaching. “This inspiration was really drawn from Coach Joe Vetell,” Anders said. “He ran Trinity Mat Dawgs and took me under his wing. He showed me how powerful club wrestling can be the brotherhood, the bond, the way it shapes young athletes. That stuck with me.” With those lessons in mind, Anders set out to build a room that could give today’s wrestlers the same support, belief, and sense of purpose he once received. “My only vision starting this club was to help kids get better, reach their goals, and experience that same brotherhood that meant so much to me.”
From a Youth Club to a Full Program
Trinity Top Team didn’t begin as a large operation. In the early days, Anders focused on elementary-age wrestlers, teaching the fundamentals and giving kids a place to start their journey. The shift came when two names Aiden Burkholder and JoJo Trahan walked through the door in middle school. "We started out as a strictly youth club,” Anders said. “Then we added Aiden and JoJo in middle school, and it was off to the races." As the club grew, the space simply couldn’t hold the energy and numbers anymore. What started inside the Trinity High School wrestling room soon required a home of its own. Within two years, Trinity Top Team moved into its dedicated facility, something Anders still sees as a major turning point. “Getting into our own facility was huge for me,” he said. “Having a place built for these kids, where we could run things the right way, that meant a lot" By 2025, the results spoke for themselves: the club produced its first NCHSAA state champion, first freshman state placer, and first Fargo national team member. The room wasn’t just growing it was producing real, measurable success.
A Facility Designed for Growth
The T3 facility in Trinity, NC spans nearly 4,000 square feet. It features two full-size mats, weight equipment, a lobby, and seating for parents giving wrestlers the space and structure needed to train the right way. “We can run advanced wrestlers through circuit training while the beginners are on the mat learning,” Anders said. “It gives every kid what they need.”
A Coaching Staff That Makes the Room Work
Anders leads the club, but he makes it clear the success of Trinity Top Team is a shared effort. "The biggest difference maker for me has been the help from assistant coaches over the years,” he said. “Guys like Juan Ruiz, Adam Walker, Tyler Rickert, and AJ Palmer have all given their time to come in and help the kids.” The added eyes, experience, and instruction have elevated the entire room and helped shape standout athletes and individuals who now set the standard. “With the success of guys like Aiden Burkholder, Stephen Cross, and JoJo Trahan, we’ve elevated the room,” Anders said. “The younger guys feel that every night.”
Talent at Every Level
One of the club’s strengths is its depth across all ages. Trinity Top Team isn’t built on one generation, it's a pipeline. “In our elementary group, we’ve got kids like Noah Ruiz, Easton Love, Levi Miller, and Liam Ruiz,” Anders said. “In middle school we’ve got Aiden Kdam and Joseph Miller.” At the high school level, the room has quickly become home to some of the state’s top-ranked wrestlers. “Jeven Palmeri, Aiden Burkholder, Stephen Cross, JoJo Trahan, and Bri Joyce are all ranked number one in the state right now,” Anders said. “And we’ve got a lot of other guys ranked in the top five and top ten.”
Breakouts and Rising Names
Some wrestlers came into the year overlooked and Anders believes those days are over.
“Some guys were flying under the radar until week one of the season ended,” he said. “Jeven Palmieri was a JV wrestler last year, and now he’s ranked number one.” He points to sophomore standout Stephen Cross as another wrestler ready to take an even bigger leap. “Stephen Cross shocked people last year as a freshman placing at states,” Anders said. “This year I have no doubt he can be a state champion.” And he expects two more names to rise quickly. “I believe people will truly know the names Simeon Hammett and Grayson Carroll after this season.”
A Coaching Journey Shared with His Brother
Another meaningful part of Anders’ journey has been sharing it with his brother John, who coaches at Trinity High School. “It’s been really special,” Anders said. “We grew up playing sports together, but as you get older and have kids, that relationship can become more distant.” Wrestling brought them closer than ever. “Our dedication and love for wrestling in our community has created an even tighter bond between us,” he said. “We see each other multiple days a week, we’re on the phone nightly, and we trust each other.” One moment stands alone for him. “It was a great experience to sit in the corner with my brother and coach kids in the state championship.”
A Club for More Than Just Trinity Kids
From the beginning, a misconception has followed Trinity Top Team: that it only serves Trinity wrestlers. Anders wants that idea gone for good. “We’ve been dealing with that since the beginning,” he said. “If people walked in and gave us a try, they’d see we’re truly for everyone.” His goal has always been simple. “I want every kid who walks into our room to get better, no matter what school they attend". This year, wrestlers like Omar De Los Rios, Brandon Hulin, Kambrin Dawson, and Jeremiah Payne prove exactly that and attend club regularly.
Staying Grounded in the Process
Even with the club’s growth, Anders keeps the focus on daily improvement rather than the noise outside the room. "I try not to get caught up in anything,” he said. “If we get a little better and have some fun every day, good things will happen.” He spends hours breaking down film, identifying areas that need attention, and building practices around those needs. Progress not pressure sets the tone for the room and program.
Core Values and What He Hopes to Leave Behind
Two core values instilled in Trinity Top Team athletes' consistency and trust.
“Not overtraining, but staying consistent,” Anders said. “Showing up, getting a little better, and trusting our coaches and our system like we believe in our athletes.”
And if his athletes take one thing from him into the rest of their lives, he hopes it’s loyalty. “I hope my kids grow into loyal, trustworthy people, athletes, students, husbands, fathers,” he said. “I hope the goals they chase on the mat help them when it’s their time to step off it.”
A Look Ahead at the Future
“My goal for Trinity Top Team is to keep doing what we’re doing but on a larger scale,” Anders said. “I want to help kids of all ages and skill levels reach their dreams. I want parents to feel confident bringing their kids to our club. And I want to produce high school athletes who can use wrestling to help get their education paid for.”
The Impact of last Season
This past season marked another major step forward for Trinity Top Team. The club finished with four state placers, two state finalists, one state champion, and a total of five state qualifiers. The momentum carried into the offseason as well, with Trinity Top Team capturing the Body Armor State Games team title in the folkstyle division.
For More Information
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