UP captures back-to-back state dual-team wrestling championships

February 19, 2026

The Union Pines Vikings won the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 6A dual-team state championship, according to a NCHSAA press release.

After winning its first title last year, the team won again on Tuesday at home against St. Stephens, 37-21.

NCHSAA announced Dominic Blue as the Most Valuable Player and Wesley Sykes as the Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award recipient.

“Thank you to our coaches, parents, administrators, clinicians, and clubs for helping make this Dual State Championship dream a reality for the second year in a row — we’re grateful, but not celebrating for long… we’ve got work to do in Greensboro this weekend!” said the wrestling team on its Facebook page.

The school district congratulated the team on Facebook.

“Union Pines High School Wrestling has claimed the NCHSAA 6A Dual Team State Championship for the second consecutive year — an extraordinary accomplishment that speaks to the culture of excellence within the program,” wrote the district. “Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaching staff on this historic achievement.”

Championship Match Scores

150	Jacob De La Torre	UPHS	Jeremiah Coleman	SSHS	Fall	3:39
157	Evan Thompson	UPHS	Jacob Morgan	SSHS	Major Decision	12–1
165	Tripp Sullivan	UPHS	Jake Hoke	SSHS	Technical Fall	16–1 (3:17)
175	Wesley Sykes	UPHS	Davis Kerns	SSHS	Major Decision	16–4
190	Dominic Blue	UPHS	Micah Geoghegan	SSHS	Technical Fall	18–3 (4:28)
215	Avery Rhymer	SSHS	Sam Fairel	UPHS	Fall	0:21
285	Davante Johnson	SSHS	Max Latyshenko	UPHS	Decision	12–5
106	Tommy Kishpaugh	SSHS	Liam Myles	UPHS	Decision	8–7
113	Daniel McDermott	UPHS	Henry Franklin	SSHS	Major Decision	11–1
120	Zane Taylor	SSHS	Marcus Soukup	UPHS	Decision	7–5
126	Malachai Esclamado	SSHS	Drew Lawrence	UPHS	Decision	9–3
132	Koen Killian	SSHS	Caiden Root	UPHS	Decision	3–0
138	Joseph Shook	UPHS	Atticus Lail	SSHS	Fall	0:49
144	Jose Salinas	UPHS	Carson Powell	SSHS	Decision	7–1