Wrestling 49: North Carolina

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From early August until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. Did you a miss a Wrestling 49 feature? Visit Wrestling 49 archives.

These wrestlers come from the western mountains of Madison County to the Atlantic Ocean in Wilmington. They range from 285 pounds to 112 pounds with both of these wrestlers having won folkstyle All-American honors this past spring. The top two wrestlers have each won multiple All-American honors at the Junior & Cadet Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota. Many of these wrestlers have won All-American honors during the past couple of years and most have proven themselves by defeating state champions from other states.

North Carolina wrestling powerhouse Winston-Salem Parkland High School is the home to two wrestlers listed in the Wrestling 49 Top 10 (one also in honorable mention), while its rival Davie County has one in the Top 10 and one in honorable mention. Six wrestlers listed in the Wrestling 49 article are proud members of the acclaimed Arrichion Wrestling Club. These club members travel all along the east coast to major tournaments and team events. All of these wrestlers are looking to either enhance or make a name for themselves on the national level during the 2010-11 wrestling season. Below are the Top 10 senior wrestlers from North Carolina.

1. Harrison Honeycutt
High School: Lake Norman
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215
Projected College Weight Class: 197

Harrison Honeycutt

Analysis: Honeycutt is North Carolina's top wrestler and highest-ranked recruit for the upcoming season. He is a three-time All-American in Fargo and has a 3.5 GPA. As a rising freshman, Honeycutt prepared himself for high school by competing at Cadet Nationals Nationals (freestyle and Greco-Roman) in Fargo. He won just one match in these two events. Nonetheless, this helped the tall, gangling freshman get ready for high school competition. Honeycutt placed fifth at the North Carolina high school 3A state tournament his freshman season competing at 189 pounds. The summer of 2008 he returned to Fargo determined to make his mark. Honeycutt placed sixth in Greco and fifth in freestyle, becoming a Cadet double All-American for Team North Carolina. During his sophomore season Honeycutt won his first high school state championship at 189 pounds and finished the season undefeated with a 53-0 record. The summer of 2009 Honeycutt returned to Fargo for the third time. In Greco he defeated highly-rated Kyle Caylor (KS) and Matt Loew (NY) and eventually placing fifth earning him Junior All-American honors at 215 pounds. Last fall, Honeycutt was the runner-up at 215 pounds in the Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C. His junior season Lake Norman High School had moved up to the 4A state classification and Honeycutt moved up a weight class to 215 pounds. This did not matter as Honeycutt finished the season again undefeated winning his second state championship.

He took a break from the spring and summer tournaments in 2010, but now is gearing back up and hopes to win his third straight state championship. Honeycutt enters his senior season at Lake Norman High School with a 105-match winning streak and has not given up a takedown in the last two seasons while wrestling for the Wildcats. He will compete again in the 215-pound weight class and will wrestle in college in the 197-pound weight class. Honeycutt is getting a lot of notice from college recruiters, but as of now is still open on where to further his wrestling and academic career. High on his list are: Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Arizona State, NC State, and Kent State.

2. Collin Campbell
High School: Person
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 285
Projected College Weight Class: 285

Colin Campbell

Analysis: Campbell started the sport of wrestling when he joined the Arrichion wrestling club in the ninth grade. During his sophomore season he placed sixth in the 4A 285-pound classification. In the offseason Campbell competed extensively with his wrestling club, traveling around the country in folkstyle and freestyle events. The summer of 2009 Campbell traveled to the Cadet Nationals in Fargo. There he decided to try his skills in Greco. Even though Campbell had never wrestled in a Greco match before, he finished eighth and earned All-American honors. In freestyle he finished 3-2, losing close decisions to fourth-place winner Doug Vollaro (Florida) and champion Donny Longendyke (Minnesota). He competed in several college open tournaments during the fall of 2009, placing and winning matches. All of this hard work paid off for Campbell. He finished his high school junior season undefeated, winning his first state championship and not giving up any points in the state tournament.

Last July Campbell went 2-2 in the Junior Greco division at Fargo. He went 7-2 in freestyle, earning him Junior All-American honors by placing fifth. To date, Campbell has earned multiple All-American honors. Along with his Fargo accomplishments, he has placed twice at FILA Cadet Nationals. Last fall he placed fifth in the Super 32 and placed fourth at Flo Nationals last spring. This summer he won a silver medal in the District All-Star division of the Disney Duals finishing with an 8-1 record. Campbell is an athletic heavyweight with a good shot. He is currently being recruited by Penn State, Michigan, and Rutgers.

3. Adonis Wright
High School: Parkland
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125/130
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Analysis: Adonis Wright didn't start wrestling until his freshman season in high school. For an inexperienced wrestler being on a perennial wrestling powerhouse team like Parkland High School, starting time is hard to come by. Nonetheless, Wright stayed on course, taking his lumps in the practice room and honing his skills. This all paid off when he won the 4A 125-pound high school state championship the very first season he qualified for the North Carolina state tournament. Wright finished the season with a 57-2 record. He may be the best true athlete among North Carolina's top wrestlers this season. With cat-like quickness and agility added to a strong stocky frame, this could be the formula for another state championship for Adonis Wright. This season Wright is being looked upon to lead Parkland High School in its quest for a fifth consecutive state individual tournament and dual team state championship. Wright looks to continue his education and wrestling career next year. He has Appalachian State, UNC Pembroke, Pratt Community College, and Ellsworth Community College recruiting him.

4. Stout Watson
High School: Forsyth Country Day
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 174

Analysis: Watson, like many top wrestlers, has a steep family tradition in the sport of wrestling. His brother, Johnny, won four state championships, twice placed at Prep Nationals and is currently in the Naval Academy. Stout Watson won his first state championship as a seventh-grader and the won again his eighth-grade season. Seventh and eighth-grade wrestlers are allowed to compete in the North Carolina Independent High School State Championships. His next two seasons, though, were cut short by injuries. As a junior, Watson won his third state championship and went on to place fourth at Prep Nationals. At Prep Nationals he lost a 3-0 decision to champion Chris Moon in the quarterfinals. He then defeated two-time New England runner-up Johann Roebelene, Blair Academy's New Jersey state champion Brad Bishop and Maryland state champion Ethan Keiser. In the consolation finals he lost in overtime to Virginia state runner-up Sam Law.

For the 2010-11 season Stout Watson is looking for his fourth state championship and a National Preps title. Watson is a very skilled and technical wrestler. With an injury-free season, he should make his mark again in North Carolina and at Prep Nationals. Watson is a good student and is still open as to where to go and wrestle for in college. The Naval Academy, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech are high on his list.

5. Tom Puckett
High School: Butler
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 140
Projected College Weight Class: 141/149

Tom Puckett

Analysis: Puckett, another Arrichion wrestler, has yet to win a high school state championship, even though he is still one of North Carolina's best wrestlers. As a freshman Puckett was the 4A state runner-up at 112 pounds. As a sophomore Puckett was injured in the regional tournament, but still fought back the next week with a fourth-place finish in the state tournament at 119 pounds. Last year Puckett decisioned two-time state champion Ben Creed in the semifinals, advancing to the state tournament finals for the second time in three years. In the finals he lost a hard-fought 5-4 decision to Adonis Wright. Although Puckett has yet to win the big prize in North Carolina, he has proven himself against state champions from other states in big offseason tournaments. Last spring at the USA Wrestling Northeast Regional he defeated Ohio state runner-up and Central Michigan commit Ty Davis. Puckett also defeated two-time Idaho state champion and Cadet Nationals Greco runner-up Casey George. Puckett has three older cousins that were North Carolina 4A state champions and all three went on to compete in college. So far Puckett is keeping an open mind for his college choice. Bloomsburg, Purdue, Boise State, and Arizona State are schools that have been recruiting him.

6. Scott Hardiman
High School: Hibriten
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Scott Hardiman

Analysis: Scott Hardiman is a Pennsylvania native that moved to North Carolina before his freshman year in high school. He is a two-time Team North Carolina Fargo National Team member. Hardiman placed fifth as a freshman in the 2A state tournament. He was beaten by Cardinal Gibbons' Matt Johnson in overtime in the semifinals his sophomore season and went on to finish third. Last year his high school team moved up to the 3A classification and so did last season's champion, Johnson. They met again in the state tournament semifinals, but this time Hardiman won a 6-2 decision. Hardiman went on to win his first state championship. His record the last two seasons is 95-3. He wrestled all last season with an injured shoulder. His spring surgery went well. He is now fully recovered and ready to defend his state championship. Hardiman is a very technical and slick wrestler who keeps a wrestling mat in his basement for year-round workouts when he is not practicing with his Arrichion club members. He is currently interested in Virginia Tech, Maryland, Appalachian State, and UNC Greensboro.

7. Dylan Cala
High School: South Point
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 157

Dylan Cala

Analysis:Cala first burst on the North Carolina wrestling scene by going undefeated at the USA Wrestling Schoolboy Nationals as an eighth-grader. He used this momentum and won the 3A 125-pound championship, where he slipped by two-time state champion and current UNC Greensboro wrestler Daniel Ownbey with a 5-4 decision. Cala found himself in the state finals again his sophomore season, but he dropped a 4-2 decision to Parkland senior and current Princeton wrestler Luis Ramos. After just 10 matches, Cala saw his junior season disappear due to a knee injury. The knee is heeled and he is now ready to compete for another North Carolina state championship. Cala has a great shot along with a lot of quickness and agility. His overall high school record is 109-3. He wants to go to college to continue his education and wrestling career.

8. Ray Farnsworth
High School: St Stephens
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 119
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Analysis:Farnsworth is a very agile and skilled wrestler. He has beaten multiple high school state champions the last two years at various tournaments along the East Coast. Farnsworth was a state qualifier at 2A Bandys his freshman year. The next year he transferred to 3A St. Stephens and went undefeated winning his first state championship at 103 pounds. The spring of 2009 Farnsworth finished third in the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals at 103 pounds. Last season he made the 3A 112-pound state finals, but lost his only match of the season to sophomore sensation Garrison White. This set his record the last two years at 98-1. This season Farnsworth will be in search of his second state championship and another rematch with White should be on the horizon. Farnsworth says he would love to be a Tar Heel wrestler at North Carolina next year, but is still open for recruitment.

9. Michael Waters
High School: Davie
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 119
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Analysis:Waters' only loss last season was a November matchup with Farnsworth. After that he compiled a 50-1 record and won the 4A 112-pound state championship. Waters was a state sixth-place winner as a freshman and a state runner-up his sophomore season. He has put a lot of work into the offseason and is getting noticed for it. In June he went undefeated wrestling for the Arrichion club team, compiling an 8-0 record in the District All-Star Division of the Disney Duals. At this tournament he defeated several state champions and placewinners from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Waters is interested in possibly attending a service academy. He has been contacted by Oregon State and Penn State about his wrestling future. Look for Waters to move up a weight class for his senior season. Another great matchup with Farnsworth could be in store at the annual St. Stephens dual tournament just before Thanksgiving!

10. Jovontae Coleman
High School: Parkland
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130/135
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Analysis: Coleman came up short at the state tournament last season, but when you wrestle a senior three-time state champion and North Carolina's No. 2 senior recruit to a close decision in the state finals that gets people to notice you. Coleman, like Wright, is a Parkland wrestler that only started the sport his freshman season. He learned the trade in the highly competitive Mustangs wrestling room. As a sophomore Coleman wrestled where Parkland needed him and was a state qualifier. At last years state tournament he defeated highly-regarded Joe Morrison by a major decision in the semifinals and lost to Tyrone Eatman by a decision in the state finals. Coleman has a very similar body frame and style as teammate Adonis Wright. They are also very similar in athletic ability, quickness, and agility. Coleman is hungry for his first state championship and it will be hard for anyone to deny him this coming February. Appalachian State and UNC Pembroke have been recruiting Coleman.

Honorable Mention:
Ben Creed (Cary)
Matt Cusack (Davie)
Joe Morrison (Panther Creek)
Dale "Boomer" Boyd (Laney)
Antwan Davis (Parkland)
Cody Roberts (Madison)
Sheldon Sales (Chatham Central)
Zach Jarmillo (Havelock)
Jake Nelson (Bandys)
Josh Smith (Ashbrook)

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