Staff report

GREENSBORO — West Rowan senior Kevin O’Brien and South Rowan senior Mateo Diaz finished their high school careers with perfect seasons and state titles on Monday.

O’Brien won a thriller, scoring late to take a 9-8 decision from Dudley’s Shawn Bass in the final.

O’Brien (45-0) is the all-time wins leader for Rowan County. He powered his way to the final with 19-4 and 18-2 technical falls and a pin. Bass finished 50-2.

O’Brien was state runner-up at 138 last season, third at 132 in 2023 and placed sixth at 120 pounds in 2022.

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Diaz won the 3A championship at 113 pounds. He dominated the weight class with 14-2 and 16-2 major decisions and a pin to reach the final. He won a 10-3 decision in the final, beating Hickory’s Brayden Reid (45-8).

Diaz placed third at 106 in 2023 and fourth at 106 in 2022.

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East Rowan senior Leah Edwards led Rowan girls with a second-place finish.

Edwards (43-1) was trying to defend the 114 title that she won last season.

She made the final with a pin, a 15-0 tech fall and a 6-0 decision, but lost by pin in the championship match to Addison Gore, a Garner wrestler who is 51-0.

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Three West Rowan girls placed, with Waylan Collins third at 126, Olyvia Brown fourth at 107 and Hadley Perry fifth at 100 pounds. Collins lost in the second round but won four straight matches for third. Brown won a sudden victory match in the wrestle-backs.

A.L. Brown’s Kahlen Kuddie won four matches and was fifth at 120. Kate Vasquez (145) and Clear Wesley (185) had sixth-place finishes.

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South Rowan’s Emilio Diaz won four matches and placed fifth at 106.

West Rowan’s Steton Collins (132) and Dakota Athey (215) placed sixth.

A.L. Brown’s Gavin Yow went 4-1 and placed third at 157 pounds. Drake Watts (215) was fourth, and Landon Logan was sixth.