Daily Roundup: February 20, 2026

February 21, 2026, 2:24 am | by Tim Hower

Cover photo of Mia Kiser courtesy of Steve Hopper

GIRLS WRESTLING

NCHSAA State Championship

It was a historic day for the area as five state champions were crowned.

Laney’s Mia Kiser became the first New Hanover County girls wrestler to claim a title by holding on for a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mikaylah Potter of Corinth Holders at 126 pounds in the 8A classification.

Kiser (36-4) recorded a takedown early in the first period for the only points she would need.

Later in the night, a pair of teammates joined her atop the podium – LaNesha Gause (185) and Leslie Barden (235).

Gause (35-4) avenged a 10-5 loss to Wakefield’s Bella Abba in the East Regional final by building a commanding 9-1 lead thanks to three takedowns and ultimately recording a pin in 4:51.

Barden (37-4) also had a rematch of the East Regional final against Isla Daniels of Millbrook. The result was the same as Barden was able to turn her opponent and get a pin in 5:15.

The Buccaneers finished second out of 23 scoring teams with 111.5 points. Hoke County had a score of 140 to win the team title.

For the first time in school history, South Brunswick had a pair of wrestlers win state titles.

Trinity Wiley (32-6) added to her family legacy by rolling to an 11-1 major decision over Southeast Alamance’s Katie Lloyd in 5A at 126 pounds. Her older brother, John, also won a state title at 152 in 2012.

Emma Yopp capped a perfect 26-0 season at 165 in style by pinning Sophia Dowling of Atkins in 3:23. Yopp was in complete control of the bout, leading 8-1 after the first period and 11-2 at the time of the fall.

Laney’s Yesan Huang (39-6) and Sydney Simmons (34-8) finished as the runner-up at 100 and 145, respectively.

Topsail’s first-ever girls state finalist was Italia Squicciarini, who finished with a 23-8 record at 132.

Lauren Hall (40-4) of Trask was trying to become the area’s first two-time state champion, but she suffered a 6-3 loss to Uwharrie Charter’s Riley White in the 1A-4A final at 132 pounds.

The other area placewinners were Hoggard’s Hallie Mittelbuscher (fourth place in 8A at 185) and South Brunswick’s Bella Lanni (fourth place in 5A at 114).

Area results

Final

100 pounds: Layan Zaltawl (West Forsyth) pin Yesan Huang (Laney), 2:17

126 pounds: Mia Kiser (Laney) dec. Mikaylah Potter (Corinth Holders), 3-2

145 pounds: Riley Paden (South Mecklenburg) pin Sydney Simmons (Laney), 1:13

185 pounds: LaNesha Gause (Laney) pin Bella Abba (Wakefield), 4:51

235 pounds: Leslie Barden (Laney) pin Isla Daniels (Millbrook), 5:15

Consolation Semifinal

138 pounds: Ella Friedman (Millbrook) dec. Marla Revilla Hernandez (Laney), 9-5

152 pounds: Devin Bull (West Forsyth) pin Genesis Escobar (Laney), 3:19

185 pounds: Hallie Mittelbuscher (Hoggard) pin Camille Rhodes (Mallard Creek), 1:41

Third-place bout

185 pounds: Khalayha Patterson (Corinth Holders) dec. Hallie Mittelbuscher (Hoggard), 13-8

Final

132 pounds: Isabella Hernandez (Jack Britt) pin Italia Squicciarini (Topsail), 2:37

Final

126 pounds: Trinity Wiley (South Brunswick) major dec. Katie Lloyd (Southeast Alamance), 11-1

165 pounds: Emma Yopp (South Brunswick) pin Sophia Dowling (Atkins), 3:23

Consolation semifinal

114 pounds: Bella Lanni (South Brunswick) pin Peyton Painter (Parkwood), 3:00

138 pounds: Madalynn Banks (North Henderson), pin Maliyah Jackson (South Brunswick), 2:31

Third-place bout

114 pounds: Mackynzie Bilbrey (Northside-Jacksonville) dec. Bella Lanni (South Brunswick), 14-10

1A-4A

Final

132 pounds: Riley White (Uwharrie Charter) dec. Lauren Hall (Trask), 6-3

BOYS WRESTLING

NCHSAA State Championship

For just the second time in program history, a pair of Hoggard wrestlers reached the final.

Reigning Coastal Preps Wrestler of the Year Jude Moulton will compete for the 8A 175-pound title after picking up a pair of dominant victories.

He opened with a pin in 1:27 against Northwest Guilford’s Ryder Sigmon. In the semifinals, Moulton rolled to a 15-5 major decision over Milbrook’s Ephrem Rodts.

Teammate Mason Hocker reached the final at 285 with a 19-2 tech fall and a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Finn Morgan of Pincecrest.

The Vikings have never had multiple state champions. In 2001, Ralph Hunter won and John Whitehead finished second.

Laney also has two finalists in Sam McQueen (138) and Vincent Valentino (144).

McQueen pinned his first opponent in 2:42 and then used three takedowns to earn a 13-6 decision over Green Level’s Josh Brezac.

Valentino rallied from a 7-2 deficit for an 11-7 decision over Weston Norton of East Mecklenburg in the opening round. He had no trouble in the semifinals, defeating Millbrook’s William Murray by a score of 11-4.

The only other area finalist is Ashley’s Lucas Angstadt, who secured a thrilling 12-9 overtime win over Lake Norman’s Cooper Mathon in the 7A semifinals at 120. Angstadt had a 16-0 tech fall in his first bout.

Area results

First round

106 pounds: Mason Schoen (Hoggard) major dec. Elias Marquez Flores (West Forsyth), 10-2

120 pounds: Jimmy Araujo (Pinecrest) major dec. Rory Gallagher (Hoggard), 17-9

138 pounds: Sam McQueen (Laney) pin Ethan Collier (Providence), 2:42

144 pounds: Vincent Valentino (Laney) dec. Weston Norton (East Mecklenburg), 11-7

165 pounds: Mac Kopelman (Laney) tech fall DamiAngel Rolon (Mallard Creek), 18-1

175 pounds: Jude Moulton (Hoggard) pin Ryder Sigmon (Northwest Guilford), 1:27

190 pounds: Joey Wicci (Hough) pin Thomas Gillespie (Laney), 2:52

215 pounds: Cole Harrison (Pinecrest) pin Darrell McIntyre (Laney), 4:09

285 pounds: Mason Hocker (Hoggard) tech fall Spencer Stanislawscyk (Northwest Guilford), 19-2

Semifinals

106 pounds: Michael Santoro (Hough) pin Mason Schoen (Hoggard), 2:24

138 pounds: Sam McQueen (Laney) dec. Josh Brezac (Green Level), 13-6

144 pounds: Vincent Valentino (Laney) dec. William Murray (Millbrook), 11-4

165 pounds: Tobin McNair (Wakefield) major dec. Mac Kopelman (Laney), 10-1

175 pounds: Jude Moulton (Hoggard) major dec. Ephrem Rodts (Millbrook), 15-5

285 pounds: Mason Hocker (Hoggard) dec. Finn Morgan (Pinecrest), 4-3

First round

113 pounds: Abdel Adams (Southwest Guilford) pin Matthew Carter (New Hanover, 2:57

120 pounds: Lucas Angstadt (Ashley) tech fall Anirudh Baddi (Marvin Ridge), 16-0

120 pounds: Cooper Mathon (Lake Nortman) pin Jacob Pope (Topsail), 4:43

126 pounds: Chris Braxton (New Hanover) dec. Andrew Runion (RJ Reynolds), 7-0

126 pounds: Elgla Helmstetter (Chapel Hill) tech fall Max Fleckinger (North Brunswick), 17-2

132 pounds: Kenneth Braxton (New Hanover) pin Gage Klee (Weddington), 3:02

138 pounds: Jake Amiott (Topsail) major dec. Maddox Cheek (Porter Ridge), 22-13

138 pounds: Aiden White (Weddington) tech fall Elijah Allinen (Ashley), 17-2

144 pounds: Caleb Zelaya (Cuthbertson) dec. Donovan Gunn (Topsail), 9-4

165 pounds: Carson Worrick (Davie County) dec. Kirick Gurkin (North Brunswick), 8-5

175 pounds: Ben McCaleb (Topsail) pin James Sanders (Lake Norman), 4:41

175 pounds: Hayden Rogers (Grimsley) major dec. Sebastian Hernandez (North Brunswick), 11-0

Semifinals

120 pounds: Lucas Angstadt (Ashley) dec. Cooper Mathon (Lake Norman), 12-9 (OT)

126 pounds: Jace Barrier (Mooresville) dec. Chris Braxton (New Hanover), 8-2

132 pounds: Mac Johnson (Cape Fear) tec fall Kenneth Braxton (New Hanover), 18-3

138 pounds: Aidan Szewczyk (Davie County) dec. Jake Amiott (Topsail), 6-3

175 pounds: Hayden Rogers (Grimsley) dec. Ben McCaleb (Topsail), 10-3

First round

106 pounds: Tommy Kishpaugh (St. Stephens) tech fall Ayden Hewett (West Brunswick), 17-2

120 pounds: Zane Taylor (St. Stephens) dec. Tristan Winburn (West Brunswick), 11-4

150 pounds: Josh Connick (West Brunswick) dec. Andrew Voigt (Southeast Guilford), 8-5

175 pounds: Jordan Warren (Southeast Guilford) pin Bryson Mabe (West Brunswick), 5:47

215 pounds: Avery Rhymer (St. Stephens) pin Liam Keane (West Brunswick), 1:02

Semifinals

150 pounds: Elijah Oakley (Piedmont) tech fall Josh Connick (West Brunswick), 19-2

First round

132 pounds: Takota Tala (Parkwood) pin Elijah Watts (South Brunswick), 5:23

165 pounds: Gabriel Arce (South Brunswick) pin Eduardo Rodriguez (North Henderson), 2:54

Semifinals

165 pounds: Braylen Yates (East Rowan) dec. Gabriel Arce (South Brunswick), 11-8

First round

150 pounds: Alexander May (Hendersonville) pin Cody Roper (Trask), 1:08

175 pounds: Gavin Gholami (Lincolnton) pin Pedro Sandoval Perez (Trask), 4:29

215 pounds: Jeremiah Haggins (Lincolnton) pin Andrew Robinson (Pender), 2:44

BOYS BASKETBALL

No. 3 Laney 50, No. 1 Hoggard 46

Carolina Coast Conference Tournament final

***Click here to view a gallery of 30 photos from the action***

Kareem Anderson scored seven of his game-high 24 points in the final two minutes of the game to help seal a victory that gave the Buccaneers their first conference tournament championship since 2019.

Laney’s (18-9) path to the title was far from easy.

The Buccaneers ended New Hanover’s run of five straight titles with a 53-39 win on Wednesday in the semifinals and then kept Hoggard (20-6) from lifting the trophy for the first time since 2016.

“I love this group of players,” coach BJ Donnell said. “I’ve had more talented teams, but this team just gets it. They have great buy-in, and they love hanging out and playing with each other. There is such a good vibe around the program right now.”

Anderson made a 3-pointer from the left corner midway through the first quarter to cap a 9-0 run to start the game. The advantage grew to 23-7 following a jumper from Logan Schumacher before the Vikings ended the first half on a 10-1 run.

Hoggard cut the deficit to three points on a three-point play from Will Seward early in the third quarter, but Laney answered with a 9-0 run that featured 3-pointers from Schumacher and Colin Lamb.

Schumacher joined Anderson in double figures with 11 points. He also grabbed five rebounds and came up with two steals.

The Vikings continued to fight and eventually took their first lead at 41-40 on a steal and layup from Hunter McGrath with 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Anderson was fouled while driving to the basket on the other end of the court, and he calmly sank a pair of free throws.

A layup from McGrath once again gave Hoggard a one-point advantage, but it was short-lived. On the ensuing possession, Anderson made a tough shot while being fouled. He finished off the three-point play to give the Buccaneers the lead for good.

“My teammates and coaches have great trust in me,” Anderson said. “They expect me to take over when the game gets tight. I take that responsibility and relish it.”

Back-to-back empty possessions for the Vikings proved to be too costly. Laney made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.

Seward finished with a team-best 14 points, while McGrath scored 13.

Wilmington Christian Academy 55, Union Grove Christian 38

NCCSA 2A semifinals

The Patriots will play for a state title for the first time since 2015.

Three players reached double figures, led by sophomore guard Trent Davies with 15 points. He went 6 of 11 from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Davies also chipped in eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

WCA (22-5) shot 48 percent from the field (24 of 50). Parker Brown added 12 points, while Kingston Rupert finished with 10 points and four rebounds.

The Patriots trailed 27-26 at halftime before dominating the final 16 minutes.

Saturday’s championship game against Alamance Christian will be played at Calvary Christian School at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

No. 1 Hoggard 68, Topsail 36

Carolina Coast Conference Tournament final

***Click here to view a gallery of 30 photos from the action***

The dynasty continues.

Seniors AK Chance, Avery Fitzgerald, and Tristan Shivers combined for 46 points to lead the Vikings to their fifth consecutive conference tournament title.

Hoggard’s (25-1) senior class finished their careers 65-0 against conference opponents in regular season and tournament games.

It was another dominant championship game performance for the Vikings, who have won all five by at least 27 points.

“Creating great chemistry as a team has played a big role in helping us win a lot of games,” said Shivers, who finished with 23 points, seven assists, and four steals. “We’ve created a lot of great memories by being together on and off the court.”

Topsail (17-9) only trailed 19-13 early in the second quarter before Hoggard went on a 29-10 run spanning into the third quarter to put the game out of reach.

The Vikings went 7 of 17 from 3-point range. Chance hit three of them en route to her double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Fitzgerald and Shivers both made a pair of shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore Airlie Altman had an outstanding performance with 17 points, six steals, five rebounds, and five assists.

Leading the way for the Pirates was sophomore Ava Kita, who scored 13 points.