NC Native Oakley Discusses Last Season of College Wrestling and Home-State Pride

CHAPEL HILL, NC For North Carolina native Ethan Oakley, this final season of college wrestling comes with a different kind of appreciation. After years of competing in two conferences, grinding through long seasons, and earning his way onto the national stage. Oakley is taking in each moment with a calmness that only experience can create. Against Davidson, that steady approach was on full display. He wrestled patiently, stayed composed, and finished the bout with a clean second period pin the type of performance that shows just how comfortable he’s become in these moments.

“For me it’s just about being consistent,” Oakley said. “We train tournament-style days all the time, so my routine never changes. Same mindset, stay steady, stay locked in.”

Oakley didn’t force anything. He let the match come to him, and when the window opened, he closed it. “Looking for turns and pins is something I’ve struggled with,” he admitted. “So, getting one here is really big. It gives me confidence knowing I can finish those positions against the best guys.”

A College Career Built on Hard Work and Dedication

Oakley is entering this last run with a résumé that speaks for itself.

PHOTO BY UNC WRESTLING

• SoCon Champion (Appalachian State)

• ACC Bronze Medalist (North Carolina)

• Three-Time NCAA Qualifier

• 2023 SOCON PINNACLE AWARD HIGHEST GPA OF CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM

He closed last season with 89 career wins, a number that shows how dependable he’s been year after year. And while he won’t make the season about chasing totals, he does have a chance to reach the 100-win mark, a quiet but meaningful milestone that reflects the kind of career most college wrestlers strive for. But for Oakley, the goal remains simple: wrestle his best when it matters most.

Representing North Carolina From High School Gyms to the ACC

Part of what makes this last season special for Oakley is how closely his journey is tied to his home state. Before the conference medals and NCAA trips, he built his foundation right here in North Carolina, becoming a three-time NCHSAA state champion for Wheatmore and Providence Grove.

Oakley after securing the third state championship of his high school career.

That background isn’t something he leaves behind he carries it with him every time he competes. "Representing the state and showing kids from North Carolina what’s possible means a lot to me,” Oakley said. His career path from high school gyms to wrestling on national stages has become a genuine example for young North Carolina wrestlers dreaming of competing at the next level.

Eyes on the Finish

With the final stretch of his college career in front of him, Oakley knows exactly what he’s chasing. “I want to be an All-American. I want to get on top of the podium, hopefully the very top,” he said. “This is my last ride, and I’m giving everything I have to make it special.”

Steady, experienced, and grounded in where he comes from, Ethan Oakley enters the final months of his college career the same way he’s approached every season before this one with quiet confidence, consistency, and pride in representing the place that raised him. Oakley returns to competition on Friday, Dec. 12, when North Carolina hosts West Virginia at 7 p.m.