Takedown Report

Holton Quincy presented the 2026 Lee Carroll Award

(above Martini Fleming, Holton Quincy & Lee Carroll)
Holton Quincy presented the 2026 Lee Carroll Award

       State Champion Holton Quincy of North East Carolina Prep High School is the 28th Lee Carroll Award winner for excellence in athletics, academics and sportsmanship by an underclassman in eastern North Carolina in 2026.  The TakeDown Report Editor, Martin Fleming and Lee Carroll presented the award at his school’s athletic awards night at Edgcombe Community College.

            In his three years of high school, Holton has earned two state titles and a runner-up place in his sophomore season.  He has won three Regional titles and over 160 matches.  This is his second Lee Carroll Award as Holton was named in  2024.  He went on to place in the state championships each year.  Holton will seek his third state title in his Senior year at North East Carolina Prep.  Houlton has also expressed some interest in competing at the college level. 

            Lee Carroll started wrestling his sophomore year when Tarboro High School restarted the sport in 1992 with Butch Sadler as his coach.  Lee won 112 matches in just 3 years with the Vikings.  Lee was state runner-up his junior year before becoming a record-setting undefeated state champion in 1995 with a (50-0) record.  Lee went on to start four years at North Carolina State, qualifying for the Nationals 3 times.  Lee has taught engineering graphics at N.C. State as an adjunct professor and has his own interactive design agency, Forged Media, in Raleigh.  He has been recognized and inducted in the Tarboro High Athletic Hall of Fame.

            In 2025 Stephen Rubistello of Tarboro High won this award.  Other previous award winners include Ryan Mann of NECP in 2023, Caleb Beatty of Corinth-Holders (2022), Logan Tortual of Rosewood (2021), Javon Armstrong of Pamlico County (2020), Aaron Bancroft of Fike (2019), Christian and Timothy Decatur of Rosewood in 2018,  Jaqwuez Norman of Farmville Central (2017), Kaleb Taylor of Rosewood (2016), Wilson Smith of Rocky Mount (2015 & 2014), Angel Najar of North Pitt (2013), Alexander Knight and Jacineto Williamson of Rocky Mount in 2012, Chris Fess of Beddingfield and Tamaris Lane of Nash Central in 2011, Chandler Phillips of Rocky Mount (2010), Landon Lucas of SW Edgecombe (2009), Corey Smith (2008) and Eric Sutton (2007) of Tarboro, Zach Shearin and Paul Horner (2006) and Pat Anstead (2004) of Southern Nash, Jimmy McNamara (2005) of Wilson Hunt and Sammi Hadi (2003) of SW Edgecombe.

            The TakeDown Report has promoted amateur wrestling for over 25 years in North Carolina reporting results and encouraging media coverage of the sport.  Fleming noted, “We desire to encourage wrestlers and teams in this area to realize hard work, determination and discipline can reward a top-notch wrestler,” he added.   The TakeDown Report sponsors the Award. Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com  or call (252) 883-3311.   Fans are invited to check our blog at https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/The-TakeDown-Report-235098404048/.  

June 1, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized