The N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team wrestling playoffs begin Saturday.

Before we get into our preview and predictions, let me address an elephant or two in the room.

One, next year the eight-class model might hurt parity nowhere else worse than dual-team wrestling. Not enough programs across the state invest in wrestling. The ones that do are often crowded together (looking at you guys in Lincoln and Catawba County). Individual wrestling will also be hampered, because it’ll be easier than ever to win multiple state titles.

Secondly, and related to the points above, here’s a wild idea that a former coach once threw my way that has been turning over in my head ever since: do we really need 14 weight classes? Nationally, states can have as few as 12. I think in a state like ours, cutting down on weight classes would allow programs to invest more in their JV programs, fewer forfeits by dual-team contests, and make the pathway to winning individual titles a little more rigorous with eight classes on the way.

Whew, do I feel better getting all that off my chest.

Now back to the preview.

In this article we hand out bracket superlatives, give four favorites and one dark horse for each classification, and even make championship predictions (that we’re sure nobody will have any problem with and will be shocked if any of them don’t pan out, right?).

Full brackets are at this link here:

Enjoy the rest below:

Bracket superlatives

4A
Best four-team pod — Give me the 4-5-12-13 seeds in the East (Lumberton, Corinth Holders, Panther Creek, Athens Drive). All four have outside shots at getting to the third round if Lumberton is banged up.
Lowest seed with the best chance to advance — (11) South Iredell in the West should be favored in the first round and has a good shot at working its way to the third round against Northwest Guilford.
3A
Best four-team pod — It’s a tough call with two pods in the West, but I’m going with (3) Piedmont going up against (14) South Rowan and (6) Central Davidson against (11) Fred T. Foard. It’s a little more balanced than the one below it where (2) St. Stepehns is favored.
Lowest seed with the best chance to advance — I’d like to take (10) Western Harnett in the East, but I’m going with (11) Foard in the West instead.
2A
Best four-team pod — I don’t anticipate too much parity in 2A, but the exception might be in the East where (5) Southwest Onslow, (12) Southeast Alamance, (13) Northwood, and (4) Louisburg all collide.
Lowest seed with the best chance to advance — I will split my vote with (12) Lincolnton and (11) Bandys in the West.
1A
Best four-team pod — Going to go to the West and tab (3) Avery County hosting (14) Swain County, (6) Polk County, and (11) Hayesville.
Lowest seed with the best chance to advance — It’s pretty unheard of for a double-digit seed to advance to the third round in 1A, so let’s go with (6) Polk County instead.

Four favorites and a dark horse

4A

• Favorite #1 — Hough
• Favorite #2 — Hickory Ridge
• Favorite #3 — Cardinal Gibbons
• Favorite #4 — Davie County
• Dark Horse — Lumberton

3A

• Favorite #1 — Pisgah
• Favorite #2 — Union Pines
• Favorite #3 — St. Stephens
• Favorite #4 — Eastern Guilford
• Dark Horse — Fred T. Foard

2A

• Favorite #1 — Trinity
• Favorite #2 — Newton-Conover
• Favorite #3 — R-S Central
• Favorite #4 — Seaforth
• Dark Horse — Bandys

1A

• Favorite #1 — Uwharrie Charter
• Favorite #2 — Mount Airy
• Favorite #3 — Robbinsville
• Favorite #4 — Avery County
• Dark Horse — Rosewood

Championship predictions

4A East: (1) Cardinal Gibbons over (2) Hoke County
4A West: (1) Hough over (2) Hickory Ridge
4A championship: Hough over Cardinal Gibbons

3A East: (1) Union Pines over (3) Jacksonville
3A West: (1) Pisgah over (2) St. Stephens
3A championship: Pisgah over Union Pines

2A East: (1) Seaforth over (3) Bunn
2A West: (1) Trinity over (2) Newton-Conover
2A championship: Trinity over Seaforth

1A East: (1) Uwharrie Charter over (2) North East Carolina Prep
1A West: (1) Mount Airy over (2) Robbinsville
1A championship: Uwharrie Charter over Mount Airy