NCHSAA Foundation honors standout coaches, athletic directors

Weddington takes No. 1 in final softball rankings for 2026

For the first time, Weddington is the No. 1 team in the HighSchoolOT softball statewide rankings. The statewide top 25, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union, has been around for six years. This year the Warriros went 27-0 and won the 7A title — the only undefeated team in any classification. Right behind Weddington were 8A champ Providence, 6A champ South Caldwe...

Mallard Creek takes No. 1 in final boys outdoor track & field rankings for 2026

For the second time in the last three seasons, Mallard Creek is the No. 1 team in the HighSchoolOT outdoor boys track & field rankings, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union. Mallard Creek, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/story/viral-mallard-creek-track-dq-overturned-by-appeals-board-mavericks-named-co-champs/22364027/" style="text-decoration:no...

Cummings takes No. 1 in final girls outdoor track & field rankings for 2026

For the first time, Cummings is the No. 1 team in the final HighSchoolOT outdoor girls track & field rankings, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union. The Cavaliers were No. 1 in the indoor season as well. Cummings, the 4A champ, was followed by 8A champ Mallard Creek, 7A champ Marvin Ridge, Clayton, and 6A champ Ragsdale. Scores are calculated as if there was...

Pinecrest takes No. 1 in final girls lacrosse rankings for 2026

For the first time, Pinecrest is the No. 1 team in the final HighSchoolOT girls lacrosse statewide rankings. The statewide top 25, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union, has been around for six years and Pinecrest had never finished higher than 14th. This year, the Patriots went 22-0 en route to the 8A championship. Right behind Pinecrest is 8A runner-up Apex, 7A...

Charlotte Catholic takes No. 1 in final boys lacrosse rankings for 2026

For the first time, Charlotte Catholic is the No. 1 team in the final HighSchoolOT boys lacrosse statewide rankings. The statewide top 25, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union, has been around for six years and Catholic had never finished higher than fourth. This year, the Cougars went 21-3 and won the 1A-6A state championship. Right behind Catholic is 7A champ ...

Terry Sanford takes No. 1 in final boys golf rankings for 2026

For the second time in the last four years, Terry Sanford is the No. 1 team in the HighSchoolOT boys golf statewide rankings. The statewide top 25, presented by the State Employees' Credit Union, has been around for six years. This season, Terry Sanford broke the N.C. High School Athletic Association championship record for the fewest strokes as a team. Right behind the B...

West Forsyth takes No. 1 in final boys volleyball rankings for 2026

The inaugural HighSchoolOT boys volleyball rankings saw West Forsyth go wire-to-wire. The HighSchoolOT statewide top 25 is presented by State Employees' Credit Union. It is the state's top set of rankings, featuring teams from all classifications across the four major associations. The statewide top 25 has been around for six years, but this was the first in which boys vo...

Wakefield takes No. 1 in final girls flag football rankings for 2025-26 year

The inaugural HighSchoolOT statewide girls flag football rankings saw Wakefield hold off teams from other seasons to finish in the top spot. The HighSchoolOT statewide top 25 is presented by State Employees' Credit Union. It is the state's top set of rankings, featuring teams from all classifications across the four major associations. The statewide top 25 has been around...

Non-traditional schools hit record share of NCHSAA titles

The share of N.C. High School Athletic Association state championships won by non-traditional public schools slightly increased with the expansion to eight classifications. Combining all state championships, 29.4% were won by non-traditional schools, including charters, parochials, and UNC system schools. The percentage broke last year’s record of 27.6%. 2025-26 was the f...

Viral Mallard Creek track DQ overturned by appeals board; Mavericks named co-champs

The viral disqualification of Mallard Creek High School track athlete Nyan Brown in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 8A track state championship has been overturned. Mallard Creek is now the co-8A state champion with Jordan High School. The NCHSAA’s Board of Directors convened for an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning to confirm the decision, which was passed down fro...

NCHSAA Board of Directors held a surprise emergency meeting on Tuesday

The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s Board of Directors has convened for an emergency meeting. The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Most of the 19 total members appeared on a Zoom call. The meeting went into a closed session at 9:11 a.m. At 9:54 a.m., the meeting was pulled out of closed session, and a motion to adjourn was made and successfully voted ...

The 2025-26 NCISAA team state champions in every sport

As the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association athletic season rolls on, here are the titles won by each school in each classification. Note that in some sports, the NCISAA breaks up its teams into DI and DII and sometimes DIII because too few schools participate. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/story/the-2024-25-ncisaa-team-state-champion...

The 2025-26 NCHSAA state champions in every sport

With the end of the N.C. High School Athletic Association athletic season, here are the titles won by each school in each classification. Note that in some sports, the NCHSAA combines classifications for some championships if too few schools participate. The 1A and 2A classes are combined in indoor track, girls golf, and boys individual wrestling, and tennis. The 3A class is com...

3A Softball: Monster 7th inning sends West Wilkes past McMichael for repeat title

GREENSBORO, N.C. — It was the Blackhawks - not the Phoenix - who rose from the ashes and caught a moment of history. McMichael looked positioned to clinch its first softball state championship in school history, but West Wilkes came back to beat the Phoenix, 12-7, in game three of the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state championship series. <...

In title rematch, Cardinal Gibbons defeats Lake Norman for 7A boys lacrosse championship

HICKORY, N.C. — Cardinal Gibbons successfully defended its state championship Saturday, defeating Lake Norman 10-7 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A boys lacrosse title game at Moretz Stadium. The victory came in a rematch of last year's state championship game, which was also won by the Crusaders. After Lake Norman erased a three-goal defic...

South Caldwell repeats softball title, wins 6A championship over Union Pines in G3

DURHAM, N.C. — Maddy Moore threw 14 innings for South Caldwell on Saturday. She gave up five runs in the first two. In the final 12, she gave up zero. That's a big reason why South Caldwell is now a back-to-back state softball champion. Moore, a sophomore, threw a complete game, four-hit shutout as the Spartans defeated Union Pines 8-0 to win the t...

Providence baseball claims 4th title, downs Corinth Holders in G3 of 8A championship series

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — After mustering just one hit in the first four innings, Providence’s offense came alive in the fifth, scoring three times and hanging on to beat Corinth Holders 3-2 in the third and deciding game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 8A title series at North Main Athletic Complex on Saturday. “It’s about our kids,” Providence coach D...

Robbinsville's first softball championship comes with sweep of Bear Grass Charter in 1A series

DURHAM, N.C. — A first-ever appearance in a softball state championship proved rewarding to Robbinsville as the team claimed the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A state championship on Saturday. The Black Knights took an 8-3 win over the Bear Grass Charter Bears at Smith Family Stadium held at Duke University. “First, the crowd was amazing, it was ...

Southern Lee baseball makes history with school's first state title

BURLINGTON, N.C. — General rule tells you doing something for the first time is not only difficult, but improbable. But being a Cavalier sometimes means dismissing the general rules. After all, there’s a first time for everything. This Saturday, the Cavaliers of the Southern Lee baseball team captured the school’s first N.C. High School Athletic Associati...

Marvin Ridge returns to the pinnacle, bests Holly Springs in 7A baseball

BURLINGTON, N.C. — A decade-long wait has ended. Marvin Ridge baseball is a champion once again. For the first time since going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, the Mavericks have climbed the ladder of North Carolina baseball. On Saturday, Marvin Ridge (24-11) defeated Holly Springs (26-7), 6-2, in Game 3 to complete the series comeback at Burlington Athlet...

Carrboro controls 4A girls soccer championship in win over Hibriten

DURHAM, N.C. — Carrboro coach Jared Drexler said the season's opening game, a loss, was a wake-up call for his team. It apparently woke up a monster. Carrboro didn't lose again the entire 2026 season, culminating with a 1-0 win over Hibriten in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A girls soccer championship at Durham County Memorial Stadium. <p...

Holly Springs breaks through for first girls soccer title, beats Weddington in 7A championship

DURHAM, N.C. — Two wonder goals, one wonderful moment. Holly Springs has its first girls soccer championship after defeating Weddington 2-1 in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A girls soccer championship at Durham County Memorial Stadium. And they pulled it off with two dazzling shots. <div class="dembed" style="display:flex;align-i...

Southwestern Randolph sweeps West Stanly in 4A series for 6th softball title

GREENSBORO, N.C. — State championship number six for Southwestern Randolph softball. The Cougars finished off a sweep over West Stanly in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state championship series with a 11-5 win in game two on Saturday afternoon on the campus of UNC-Greensboro. Southwestern Randolph had a 1-0 series lead after its 8-3 win on ...

Chapel Hill ends Cardinal Gibbons' girls lacrosse title streak, wins 7A championship

HICKORY, N.C. — There's a new team at the top. Behind six goals from game MVP Scarlett Gilner, Chapel Hill captured the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A girls lacrosse state championship with a 12-8 victory over Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday at Moretz Stadium. Gibbons had won four consecutive state titles and nine of the last 10. This is Cha...

Corinth Holders baseball wins thrilling G1 over Providence in the 8A championship series

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — Cash turned out to be money for Corinth Holders with the game on the line. It ended the Providence Panthers' 29-game winning streak. Down to its final strike, Corinth Holders got a two-out, two-run single from Eli Cash to score Tripp Johnson and Alex Houseman in the top of the seventh inning to square game one of the 8A N.C. High Sch...

Southwestern Randolph rallies to down West Stanly in Game 1 of 4A softball series

GREENSBORO, N.C. — For all of Game 1 of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A softball state championship series, Southwestern Randolph held the lead. But in a way, it won the game with its back on the wall. Facing two outs in the bottom fourth inning with a 2-1 advantage, the Cougars scored four runs to blow the game open and held on to win 8-3.</...

Leonard's goal gives Charlotte Catholic a 1A-6A boys lacrosse title over Middle Creek

HICKORY, N.C. — New classifications, new opportunities. Middle Creek High School and Charlotte Catholic High School’s boys lacrosse programs have been two of North Carolina’s best, but entering Friday’s 1A-6A state championship game, neither had won the big one since 2022. With the NCHSAA’s expansion to eight classifications from four, and thus three sepa...

West Wilkes softball secures G1 of the 3A softball championship series over McMichael

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Last year, defending champion West Wilkes had to outlast McMichael in 12 innings to reach the 2A West regional final. They met again in Game 1 of the NCHSAA 3A softball state championship Friday, making for another dramatic finish in a smaller package. West Wilkes came from behind to defeat McMichael 9-7 and take a 1-0 series advantage....

Late hitting delivers G1 win for Southern Lee baseball in 6A finals

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Southern Lee junior Drew Patton broke the game wide open when he smacked a hard-hit groundball past the infield in the bottom of the sixth. The two RBI single ended a long silence in Friday's Game 1 matchup with South Caldwell in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 6A baseball state championship series. Patton's rallying hit was followed...

Hickory wins first girls soccer title, downs Dixon in 5A championship game

DURHAM, N.C. — Hickory was not going to be denied this time. The Red Tornadoes battled their way with two second-half goals to defeat Dixon 2-0 in Friday's N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A girls soccer championship game at Durham County Memorial Stadium. Hickory is no stranger to long postseason runs, but there had always been a stumbling block ke...

Charlotte Catholic completes unbeaten year, blanks Jacksonville for 6A girls soccer championship

DURHAM, N.C. — It was hard to figure out who Charlotte Catholic's MVP was after Friday's N.C. High School Athletic Association 6A girls soccer championship game. That's part of what made the Cougars unbeatable this year. Catholic defeated Jacksonville 1-0 at Durham County Memorial Stadium by dominating the run of play from one end to another and ended the...

NC Leadership baseball takes G1 of the 1A championship series over Bear Grass Charter

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — It’s now 20 straight wins for the North Carolina Leadership Academy. They need just one more for their first baseball state championship. Junior James Reynolds threw a three-hitter as the Falcons defeated Bear Grass Charter 7-2 in the opening game of the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 1A State Championship Series at the Nort...

South Caldwell takes Game 1 of 6A softball series

DURHAM, N.C. — New classification, same results. Well, at least one step closer to the same result. South Caldwell is on a quest for back-to-back state championships. After winning the 4A title a year ago, the Spartans are one win away from a NCHSAA 6A championship. South Caldwell, the champions out of the west, defeated east champion Union Pines, 5-2, Friday ni...

Tan's OT goal lifts Charlotte Catholic 1A-6A title over East Chapel Hill

HICKORY, N.C. — Charlotte Catholic girls lacrosse is a state champion again. The Cougars needed an overtime goal from Sophie Tan to defeat East Chapel Hill 9-8 in the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A-6A state championship game. The championship win broke Catholic’s twelve-year drought. Tan, the game MVP, scored six of Catholic’s nine goals.</...

Renn's 12 strikeouts secure Game 1 win for Holly Springs in 7A baseball final

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Caleb Renn’s performance in Game 1 of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 7A baseball state championship was a glimpse at what he did all season for Holly Springs. The junior threw 12 strikeouts while allowing just three hits and zero earned runs. He entered the game with a team-best 1.06 ERA, and on Friday, he certainly looked the part ...

Robbinsville softball blanks Bear Grass Charter in G1

DURHAM, N.C. — Robbinsville is one win away from its first-ever state championship. The Knights established their dominance early and let the crowd at Smith Family Stadium in Durham know they were on a mission. Robbinsville defeated Bear Grass Charter 10-0 (five innings) in game one of the 1A NCHSAA softball three-game series. In their first appearance in...

Stankavage wills Ardrey Kell past Hoggard for 8A boys lacrosse title

HICKORY, N.C. — Someone in the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association 8A boys lacrosse state championship was going to emerge as a first-time state champion. Ardrey Kell received the honors over Hoggard, winning 12-11 in overtime. The program’s first state championship required a heroic performance from game MVP Cole Stankavage. The junior scored the ...

Christ the King wins fourth title in five years, stops Franklin Academy in 2A girls soccer championship

DURHAM, N.C. — Addison Peirce has this whole championship thing down pat. The Christ the King junior scored three times in Friday's N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A girls soccer championship game at Durham County Memorial Stadium, giving her team a 3-0 victory over Franklin Academy. Her hat trick was nothing new for her or the Crusaders. Pe...

8A Girls Lacrosse Championship: Pinecrest tops Apex in battle of unbeatens

HICKORY, N.C. — Two undefeated teams, with two of the state’s best defenses, met in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 8A girls lacrosse classification met for the state title at Lenoir-Rhyne University on Friday. Despite falling in an early hole, Pinecrest rallied to take down Apex, 9-7. After scoring at will all season, the Pinecrest and Apex offenses h...

Myers Park downs Hoggard on PKs for the 8A girls soccer championship

DURHAM, N.C. — Underneath the bright lights of Durham County Memorial Stadium, Hoggard and Myers Park had tangled at midfield, in the box, and everywhere else on the pitch. Their last stop was at the spot. And that was where the final moment belonged to the Mustangs. The Myers Park defeated Hoggard on PKs 1-1 (5-4) to win the N.C. High School Athletic Ass...

Enka sweeps West Carteret to win 5A softball championship

DURHAM, N.C. — Silence was broken by an unmistakable ring as Enka softball’s Baylee Edney connected with the ball in the fifth inning for a hit that forged champions. Edney’s RBI double opened the gates after four scoreless innings to begin Game 2 of the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A softball state championship. Later in the fifth, she scored on ...

Roxboro Community captures long-awaited state championship in 2A softball final

DURHAM, N.C. — This is a day 20 years in the making. Since its founding in 2006, Roxboro Community School had never produced a state championship team in any sport — not until today at least. The Bulldog softball team (25-4) grew with each game of the 2A state championship series after losing a close, 4-3, Game 1 to North Duplin (19-4) on Wednesday. They ...

Whiteville beats East Rutherford for baseball state championship No. 9

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — In a battle between two state powerhouse programs, Whiteville outlasted East Rutherford, 3-2, to win the 2026 NCHSAA 3A title. The Wolfpack took game one, almost stole game two, but used a big third inning and solid defense to win its ninth state championship. “We knew after game one it wasn’t going to be easy,” Whiteville head coach...

RCS softball's Katie Mann talks about school's first title after winning 2A MVP

Roxboro Community softball wins 2A state championship...

Rosewood baseball rallies to take 2A championship from Cherryville

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Rosewood, all in the matter of a day and some change, went from being no-hit to open the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A baseball state championship series in Burlington, to by the end of game three Thursday leaving no doubt on the field. “Coach told us we had to flush it after the no-hit,” Rosewood senior Jacob Bond said. “Coach said...

Providence becomes first Mecklenburg softball champ in 18 years, beats Corinth

GREENSBORO, N.C. — We before me. That is the mantra that’s carried the Providence Panthers to a historic softball season. After being shut out in game two, the Panthers stormed back from an early deficit in game three to prevail, 6-2, and claim the 8A state championship on Thursday. It’s Providence softball’s first state title in school history, an...

Woods Charter wins first girls soccer title, downs Summit Charter in 1A championship

DURHAM, N.C. — It was a long time coming, but the day is finally here. Woods Charter is a N.C. High School Athletic Association girls soccer champion. The Wolves won the 1A state championship on Thursday at Durham County Stadium with a 3-0 victory over Summit Charter. Woods Charter was denied in its previous three chances in the state final, but fo...

5A Baseball: North Lincoln sweeps Seaforth to repeat as state champions

BURLINGTON, N.C. — Channeling some of last year’s state championship closing energy, North Lincoln found a way to be persistent and find their opportunity to strike. Unlike the run-rule win over Seaforth in game one of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 5A baseball state championship series, the title-securing win Thursday in Burlington came a little more...

East Rutherford bests Whiteville, forces G3 in 3A baseball

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. — East Rutherford held off a furious rally from Whiteville to force a game three in the best-of-three series in the 3A baseball championship, with a 5-4 win in 10 innings. The Cavaliers and Wolfpack will play a winner take all game three in Holly Springs. East Rutherford led 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, only to allow the W...

5A softball MVP Savannah Frisbee talks about Enka's state championship win

Enka softball won the 2026 NCHSAA 5A softball state championship over West Carteret....