After qualifying for the 3A State Wrestling championships for a third consecutive year, Orange senior Brendon Worsham will end his career as the Central Carolina Conference 151-285 lbs. Wrestler of the Year.
Worsham earned the honor after a 29-8 season where he won his opening round match at 182-pounds in the 3A State Championships at the Greensboro Coliseum. Worsham ended his Orange career with a 76-27 record.
Orange coach Spenser Poteat was named the Central Carolina Conference Coach of the Year. It’s the second straight year that Poteat has been named Coach of the Year. Poteat, in his fifth season as Orange’s head coach, won his fourth conference championship since replacing his mentor, Bobby Shriner. In the 3A State Dual Team Tournament, the Panthers had its deepest run since 2017, defeating Northwood, Wilson Fike and Croatan en route to the Eastern Regional Championship match against Union Pines. Orange finished the regular season 19-4 with a perfect 6-0 record in the Central Carolina Conference. It was Orange’s 18th conference championship in the last 19 years.
Throughout the season, Orange excelled in bigger weight classes, which was mirrored by the All-Central Carolina Conference team. Of the seven weight classes between 152-and-285 pounds, five Panthers made the All-Conference squad.
Also earning All-Conference honors was Cedar Ridge’s Kaden Tatro. As a sophomore, Tatro qualified for the state championships at 170 pounds. He finished the season with a 36-12 record. Tatro won two consolation matches in the state championships, pinning Blake McCabe of Croatan in 2:20. He scored a major decision over Nathan Williams of Triton 13-1. Tatro would have been the favorite to win the 170-pound championship in the Central Carolina Conference Tournament, which was scheduled in late January at Eastern Alamance High School, but was canceled due to the threat of winter weather. He finished fourth at the Mideast Regional Championships at Union Pines High School in Cameron on February 12.
Orange senior Nate Hecht also made All-Conference at 170 pounds. Hecht, who started as a freshman at 160 pounds, was also a starting defensive end in football. On January 25, Hecht pinned Eastern Alamance’s Wyatt Faucette in 38 seconds, which led to the Panthers defeating the Eagles 64-18 to officially sew up the Central Carolina Conference championships. He had 22 wins this season.
In his first year at varsity, Acoya Isley made All-Conference at 195 pounds. Isley won two individual championships this season. He claimed the 195-pound championship at the Jim King/Orange Invitational on December 4 in Hillsborough, pinning Dylan Wall of Bartlett Yancey in 4:36 for the title. On January 8, Isley captured the 195-pound title in the Quentin Crosby Invitational in Grensboro at Dudley High School. Isley pinned R.J. Reynolds Thomas Tippeconne in the final. Isley qualified for the state championships after finishing 3rd in the Mideast Regionals.
Orange’s Elijah Acosta was named All-Conference at 220 pounds. The son of former Orange wrestler Mike Acosta, Elijah went 30-5 in his junior season. Acosta won three individual tournaments, starting with the JKO. Acosta defeated Northwood’s Jake Dunning 12-5 in the championship match, which was the first of four matches between Acosta and Dunning this season. On December 18, Acosta won the Eastern Alamance Invitational in Mebane, pinning Trinity’s Joey Smith for the championship. Acosta also captured the Quentin Crosby Invitational championship at 220 pounds, beating Dudley Jaquaid Owens 5-2 in the final. Acosta finished 3rd in the Mideast Regionals.
At heavyweight, Orange’s Hugo Vazquez also made All-Conference. After finishing 2nd in the Mideast Regionals, Vazquez finished the season with a 23-9 record. Vazquez won the heavyweight championship at the JKO. He captured the Eastern Alamance Invitational, going to a sudden victory round against Bartlett Yancey’s Devon Thompson. Vazquez scored the takedown to take the championship 8-6. In the state dual team playoffs, Vazquez won all four of his matches, including pins against Wilson Fike and Croatan, as well as a decision victory over Union Pines.