ALBEMARLE — A group of Stanly County student-athletes were recognized at April’s Stanly County Board of Education meeting for state championship achievements from the winter sports season.
Superintendent Jarrod Dennis opened the recognition by highlighting wrestlers who captured individual and team titles at the N.C. High School Athletic Association state championships, held in February at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
North Stanly’s Nash Mullis claimed the 215-pound title in the 3A classification, while South Stanly’s I’Key Holt won at 132 pounds and Noah Sapp captured the 165-pound championship in the 1A/2A division.
West Stanly’s girls’ wrestling standouts — Cheyenne Bramhall, Felicity Hereim and Katelyn Kiker — were also recognized for their roles in the Colts’ 1A-4A individual team state championship. West Stanly rallied from third place entering the final day to finish with 48 points, edging Rosewood by two to secure the program’s first girls’ wrestling state title.
“As we do with academics, we also have excellent athletics here in Stanly County,” Dennis said. “We have some teams and individuals that really showed up for state competitions, winning first place. We’re very impressed and proud of you. Thank you for all your accomplishments.”
Board Chair Glenda Gibson echoed that praise, commending the athletes’ work ethic and achievements.
“For all of our athletes, keep up the good work,” Gibson said. “I know you work hard, so thank you. For everyone that we recognized tonight, you make Stanly County Schools proud.”
The board also honored state champions from the indoor track and field season, which concluded in February at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem.
North Stanly’s 4×200-meter relay team — Jamar Crute, Nathan Helms, Re’Cere Bruton and Kylan Dockery — captured the 3A state title with a time of 1:30.03. Teammate Justice Gramling added an individual championship in the 55-meter dash, winning in 6.45 seconds.
“I want to shout out to our athletes who are state champions,” Board Member Bill Sorenson said. “That’s something special. It’s really a hard world for most people. We take it for granted because we don’t struggle, but you talk about building kids that can really sustain and overcome any kind of challenges or obstacles. Those state champions — especially when it’s wrestling and track — I’m just in awe of them.”