Cardinal Gibbons has claimed a dual-team wrestling state title for the first time in school history.

The Crusaders defeated Hickory Ridge 41-22 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state championship at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Liam Hickey started the day for Cardinal Gibbons with a pin of Carter Bowman in the 144-pound weight class. The fall came at the 51-second mark. Beckham Enoch followed it up with a 23-7 technical fall win over Asher Watson in the 150-pound weight class.

Hickey was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the state championship match.

Luke Richards and Alexander Rodriguez also reorded falls for the Crusaders. Richards pinned Jay English at the 54-second mark in the 106-pound weight class. Rodriguez ended the match with a pin of Andrew Alexander at the 56-second mark of the 138-pound weight class.

Ryan Thompson added a technical fall in the 165-pound weight class for Cardinal Gibbons, claiming a 19-4 victory over Noah Sapp.

Going into the 120-pound weight class, Hickory Ridge trailed 32-15. Jacob Dusche kept Hickory Ridge in the hunt with a 20-10 major decision over Jonathan Binanay. Then Aaron Lumpkin won a 7-3 decision over John Henry Ehrenberger in the 126-pound weight class to pull the Raging Bulls within 32-22 with two weight classes remaining.

Derek Mason ended hopes of a comeback for Hickory Ridge though. Mason won a 6-2 decision over Connor Susa in the 132-pound weight class to give the Crusaders a 35-22 lead with just one weight class remaining. The win sealed the championship for Cardinal Gibbons.

Cardinal Gibbons had only appaered in one other dual-team state championship. The Crusaders lost a heartbreaker to Hough in the 2020 dual-team championship, 33-31.

Saturday was the first ever appearance in a dual-team wrestling state championship for Hickory Ridge.

Full Results

144 – Liam Hickey (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Carter Bowman (Hickory Ridge High School) Fall 0:51

150 – Beckham Enoch (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Asher Watson (Hickory Ridge High School) TF 23-7

157 – Craig Rito (Hickory Ridge High School) over Lincoln Petee (Cardinal Gibbons High School) Dec 10-9

165 – Ryan Thompson (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Noah Sapp (Hickory Ridge High School) TF 19-4

175 – Braylon Peebles (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Jacob Hall (Hickory Ridge High School) Dec 13-8

190 – Colton Campbell (Hickory Ridge High School) over William Ditillo (Cardinal Gibbons High School) Fall 1:19

215 – Jeremiah Glass (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Matthew Gonzalez-Varela (Hickory Ridge High School) Maj 12-3

285 – Damien Couture (Hickory Ridge High School) over Wyatt Johnson (Cardinal Gibbons High School) Fall 2:24

106 – Luke Richards (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Jay English (Hickory Ridge High School) Fall 0:54

113 – Spencer Sterling (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Brady Donovan (Hickory Ridge High School) Dec 9-4

120 – Jacob Dusche (Hickory Ridge High School) over Jonathan Binanay (Cardinal Gibbons High School) Maj 20-10

126 – Aaron Lumpkin (Hickory Ridge High School) over John Henry Ehrenberger (Cardinal Gibbons High School) Dec 7-3

132 – Derek Mason (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Connor Susa (Hickory Ridge High School) Dec 6-2

138 – Alexander Rodriguez (Cardinal Gibbons High School) over Andrew Alexander (Hickory Ridge High School) Fall 0:56