Takedown Report

Roy Heverly Awards 2026

                State champions Tobin McNair of Wakefield, Luke Padgett of Croatan, and Ashton Tennessee of West Johnston have earned the ‘Roy Heverly Award’ as top Underclassmen Wrestlers in Eastern North Carolina in 2026.  McNair repeated as an award winner and as an undefeated state champion.  McNair became the first 165 State Champion in the newly created 8A division.
                Luke Padgett won the first 190 State Championship in the new 5A division by a 1-0 decision over Harrison Compton of Seaforth H.S.  Padgett’s only loss in over 50 matches was in overtime a week earlier in the regional finals.  Tennessee also won the first 132 State Championship in the new 6A division.  Tennessee’s only loss of the year was in mid-season to 1A/2A State Champion Holton Quincy of North East Carolina Prep in Tarboro.

(West Johnston coach John Fox and State Champion Ashton Tennessee)

Previous ‘Roy Heverly Award’ winners    
2025  Tobin McNair of Wakefield
2024   Ian Fritz of Topsail and Ryan Mann of N.E. Carolina Prep
2023   Ian Fritz of Topsail
2022   Alex Hopper of Wilm. Laney
2021   Caleb Beaty of Wake Forest and Mark Samuel of Wilm. Laney
2020   River Carroll of Swansboro and Mark Samuel of Wilm. Laney
2019   Christian Decatur of Rosewood
2018   Alec Sampson of Hoggard                 
2017    Beau Studebaker of East Carteret
2016    Harrison Campbell of West Brunswick         
2015    Blaine Mainz of Jacksonville
2014    Joe Sculthorpe of Topsail       
2013    Matteson Correll of Topsail
2012    Nick Quillen of Rosewood and Tyler Ross of Jacksonville
2011    Jake Smith of Havelock         
2010   Marquin Hill of Washington
2009    Ryan Blackwell of Croatan     
2008   Charlie Millea of Havelock
2007    Frank Hickman of Wilm. Laney        
2006    Sean O’Laker of Croatan
2005    Eddie Sawyer of Currituck Co.         
2004    Brian Lashomb of Currituck Co.
2003    Raymond Jordan of New Bern,

The award is named in honor of former state champion Roy Heverly, a 4 time state medalist at West Carteret and three time All-American at The University of North Carolina-Pembroke.  The TakeDown Report, an on-line publication promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina, sponsors these Awards.  “These awards recognize the most successful wrestlers in the area each year.” Fleming noted, “It encourages the young men from the teams in the eastern part of the state with another opportunity for others to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top wrestler,” he added.  The TDR also ranks wrestlers in a TDR Top 12 List that is displayed on the TDR Blog page. The TDR has been involved in the publicity of amateur wrestling in North Carolina for over 20 years.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com, (252) 883-3311 & https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/

May 25, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized