Hunt High’s Harris on the Brink of Championship History
GREENSBORO — Hunt High’s Judah Harris is poised to become the fourth state championship wrestler in school history this Saturday, February 20th, as he steps onto the mat at First Horizon Coliseum for the NCHSAA 5-A 215-pound championship match. The Warriors junior earned his place after a dominant performance on Friday, navigating the tournament that brings together all eight NCHSAA classifications (1-A/2-A combined).
Currently boasting a record of 39-1 for the season, Harris will face Franklin High sophomore Garrett Young in the highly anticipated championship bout. Reflecting on his Friday performance, Harris stated, “I feel like I did amazing. A couple of mistakes I can work on, but looking at my matches tonight, I could have done better and just move forward from there.”
Dominant Wins Lead to the Final
As the top seed in the eight-wrestler bracket, Harris quickly dispatched Will Weatherspoon of Gastonia Hunter Huss with a pin in just 1 minute and 12 seconds, after building a commanding 10-1 lead. He continued his impressive run with a 20-4 technical fall victory over Croatan’s Porter Ingles (the No. 5 seed) in 4 minutes and 19 seconds. Harris’s regional championship win in 2012 marked Hunt’s first since Noel Carrillo.
A Formidable Opponent Awaits
Harris will face a tough challenge in Young, the West Region’s top wrestler, who holds a 45-2 record. Young also cruised through his matches on Friday, pinning Havelock’s Zy’aire Pridgen in 1:16 and securing a fall over South Point’s Aiden Sullivan in 1:22 in the semifinals.
“When I first got there, he was asking about me,” Harris revealed. “He was asking all the other wrestlers from the East about me, so he seemed pretty worried about who I was and what I’m capable of. But you know, there’s no easy task. Winning the state championship is probably the hardest thing, and then getting there is the second-hardest thing. So I’m not too worried, but I’m not just gonna take him lightly.”
A Journey Marked by Resilience
Harris has never faced Young in competition, even at the club level. He will rely on his experience and unwavering determination. Harris qualified for the state tournament as a freshman, but a broken leg sustained during a football game as a sophomore sidelined him for the entire wrestling season.
Beyond wrestling, Harris is an accomplished judo competitor, earning a gold medal at the USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships last July, securing a spot on Team USA for the International Judo Federation’s World Cadet Championships in Bulgaria. He also contributed to Hunt’s run to the NCHSAA 5-A football championship game in December.
Now, Harris aims to join Johnnie Coleman (1982), Sheldon Vick (1993), and Jamel Daniels (1994) as Warriors wrestling state champions. “I think I’m gonna feel amazing,” Harris said, anticipating Saturday night’s match. “I’m gonna feel proud of myself and all the things I’ve accomplished. Not many people can say they went to a world cadet championship in judo, went to a state championship in football, and are now competing for a state championship in wrestling.”
Other Local Results
Southern Nash sophomore Lennon Ogden remains in contention at 113 pounds, going 1-1 on Friday and advancing to the consolation semifinals. C.B. Aycock’s Zymir Best, the East champion at 138 pounds, suffered an upset loss to West Rowan’s Chris Gaither. Southern Nash freshman Lyrical Doughty was eliminated in the 5-A girls tournament.
For more information on high school wrestling, visit the National Federation of State High School Associations.
