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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

The Davie wrestling team is coming off the best season in program history, which is saying something when you look at Davie’s extraordinary history.
The War Eagles of Josh Stanley hope the encore is just as good.
Last year the War Eagles woke up the echoes of 1994, 1995 and 2006, winning their first state duals championship in 18 years and their first state individual tournament title in 29 years. When Davie outlasted Lumberton 100-96 in the state tournament, it had an unprecedented two state titles in the same year. It finished 23-1 in Stanley’s first year as coach at his alma mater.
Can the War Eagles re-create that same magic in 2024-25? Yes, they have everything to make another strong state-title run. Remember: When Davie defeated unbeaten Laney in the state dual final, the starting lineup included seven freshmen/sophomores.
“We definitely have the potential (to be as good or better than last year),” Stanley said.
Davie graduated Hunter Testa, who went 44-0 and won the state at 175, but five state qualifiers are back: Cayden Glass, Tiaj Thao, Aidan Szewczyk, Andy Davis and Elliott Gould. When Stanley looks at the young guys in the room, he’s convinced the future is gorgeous. And Davie will carry a 14-match winning streak into the season opener.
“The exciting part is the depth in the young guys,” he said. “We have 60 kids on the roster right now. We have a mob of freshmen and sophomores.”
There is some bad news: Davis is out with an elbow injury and may not hit the mat until January. That is a big blow. As a sophomore, Davis finished 41-6 at 138 and went 4-2 in the state tournament.
“Andy’s a big piece of what we’re going to do,” Stanley said. “He’s a leader. It hurts having him out, but he’s still in the room every day and almost acts as a coach. He has two and a half more weeks in his brace, and he starts physical therapy after that. I’m hoping to get him back mid-December, but we’re definitely not going to push anything with him. So if we’ve got to wait til the first of (January), we will. But I’m thinking we will get him back mid-December.”
Freshmen Dominic Ishuin and Graylan Anderson are competing for the starting job at 106.
“It’s up in the air,” Stanley said. “Dominic is light and that works against him. Graylan is tough, but he is light, too. They are both chippy, they are both ready for it, but they are little guys and they have to pay their dues.”
Sophomores Stephen Jacobs (21-10 at 106/113 last year) and Jack Bost (7-1 at 106) are working at 113. The starter at 120 will likely be sophomore Leighton Reavis (6-2 at 113), but freshman Garrett Whitaker “is pushing (Reavis),” Stanley said.
Szewczyk, who went 29-6 and placed fifth in the state at 113 as a freshman, and Glass, who went 39-3 and finished second in the state at 120, are locked in at 126 and 132, respectively.
“Aidan is going to be really, really tough this year,” Stanley said.
Thao, who went 41-5 and took the state bronze at 126 as a sophomore, is the man at 138. Glass and Thao have sterling resumes, boasting 102-31 and 77-19 career records, respectively.
“T (Thao) is kind of taking one for the team,” Stanley said. “He could be a 126 or 132, so we are stretching him up to 138. He can compete there, he is durable and I think he can handle the load. We had three guys (Szewczyk, Glass and Thao) at one weight and all three were state placers. They all could be 126.”
When Davis gets healthy, he’ll check in at 144. Until then, Stanley is looking at sophomore Hank Blankenship and freshman Carter Hoots.
“Hank is really tough,” he said. “Carter is a freshman that we are really excited about. I’m pretty sure he will be at 144 until Andy gets back.”
Gould, who went 30-11 at 152/157, will be a stalwart at 152.
“Elliott is coming off the football field, but he’s been on the mat the whole time,” Stanley said. “He’s a captain because he does both (football and wrestling) and he’s committed to both. He is looking like a tank. He’s just a freak. He’s at a point where he could place in the state.”
Davie has two freshmen battling at 157 – Isaac O’Toole and Jaden Dillard.
“Jaden is really good, really tough,” he said. “I don’t know if he’ll break in this year, but I know he is going to be a big part of what we do.”
Junior Jamarius Pelote (18-12 at 150/157) will land at 157 or 165, but there’s a question mark at 175.
“We joke that Testa retired the weight class when he left,” Stanley said. “He kind of ran everybody out of that spot.”
Stanley has few concerns at 190, where Maddox Creason (23-9 at 165/175) is knocking people around.
“Maddox is a tank right now,” he said. “He’s really strong with a lot of confidence. He stays close to wrestling year-round. He’s going to have an impact.”
Davie will be young at 215. Walker Matthews saw three varsity matches at 215/285 as a freshman.
“It’s looking like Walker,” he said. “He is light for the 215; he could be at 190. But he’s an exciting kid and he has paid his dues.”
Davie is in terrific shape at heavyweight. Ryder Strickland went 34-8 at 285 as a junior and brings an 82-37 career record into his final campaign. He is backed up by junior Ajius Patterson.
“Ryder’s only had a few days in the room, but he hasn’t missed a beat,” Stanley said. “It’s just about getting his lungs back.
“Ajius weighs about 260. He’s a tough kid. He’s not ready for Ryder yet, but he’s a good partner for Ryder. I think he will make Ryder level up.”