There’s reason for optimism as the 2022-23 wrestling season begins in Chatham County.
The two top programs in Chatham County are Northwood and Seaforth, which both brought a handful of athletes to last year’s state championships in Greensboro. The Hawks are in their second season as a program, while the Chargers are in their second year competing for head coach Joe Harris.
Northwood had three individuals compete at last year’s state tournament — Andrew Kimbrel, Ethan Kuball and Jake Dunning. Kimbrel and Kuball both lost their first bouts, while Dunning won his first match at 220 pounds before falling in the quarterfinals to Eastern Guilford’s Karin Sein.
“I think that these guys have a chance to be a very strong team,” Harris said. “They have to come in and put in the work. We can give them the tools they need, but they have to be the ones to work at it and apply it.”
Seaforth, meanwhile, had four wrestlers compete at last season’s state tournament — Layne Armstrong, Chance Cody, Lockard Bowen and Judge Lloyd.
Armstrong, the son of Seaforth head coach Ryan Armstrong, was the only Hawk wrestler to win a bout at the 2A state championships, taking his first match in the 113-pound weight class before falling to R-S Central’s Sumter Horton.
All four wrestlers will be back for the Hawks this winter.
Sports Editor Jeremy Vernon can be reached at jeremy@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @jbo_vernon.