The 20-time state champion Cary wrestling program plans to turn over the reigns to Taylor Cummings, who was an ACC champion his redshirt freshman year at N.C. State University.

This story was first reported by Tim Stevens of the N&O:

Jerry Winterton, one of the most successful high school coaches in the country, will not return to the Cary High wrestling program that has dominated the state for almost 30 years.

"It's time," Winterton said. "I think a younger guy might be able to do a better job."

A better job seems impossible given the numbers:

State tournament titles: 11

State tournament runner-ups: 6

State dual team titles: 8

State dual team runner-ups: 7

Overall record: 642-34

Overall record at Cary: 620-16

Overall winning percentage: .949

Overall winning percentage at Cary: .974

Consecutive conference titles: 28

Consecutive home regular-season wins: 266

Tournaments won: 166

All-Americans: 32

State champions: 44

Jerry Winterton built a 620-16 record in 29 seasons as the Cary head coach.

Wrestler of the Year    
Ben Creed    Cary (pictured left)

Coach of the Year    
Jerry Winterton    Cary

Wt.    Name    School
103    Justin Leroux    Cary
103    Matt Hannah    Holly Springs

112    Adam Elliman    Cary
112    Jon Sparks    Green Hope
112    Robert Fernandez    Fuquay-Varina
112    Tyler Forsythe    Apex

119    Ben Elliott    Panther Creek
119    Zach Branas    Middle Creek

125    Ben Creed    Cary
125    Jake Reinmund    Holly Springs
125    Ryan Goodchild    Athens Drive

130    Joe Morrison    Panther Creek
130    Dan Mitchell    Apex

135    Patrick Santoro    Panther Creek
135    Jeff Dion     Athens Drive

140    Joey Baird    Green Hope
140    Dan Martin    Athens Drive
140    Dan Kavulich    Panther Creek

145    Roger Terry    Cary
145    Jeremy Overton    Apex

152    Matt Colvard    Cary
152    Ashton Rodgers    Athens Drive
152    Jahel Carter    Fuquay-Varina

160    Xaiver Bailey    Holly Springs
160    Keith Nelson    Panther Creek

171    Jamey Drennen    Panther Creek
171    Josh Boozer    Cary
171    Matthew Johnson-Grant    Lee County

189    Sheridan Rucker    Panther Creek
189    Soren Ferrell    Fuquay-Varina

215    Kevin Puente    Cary
215    Nate Reynolds    Green Hope

285    Juan Macias    Cary
285    Devante Ragland    Lee County

Winterton wins national coach of the year honors

Multiple Milestones 

How unreal was it that you have not one, not two, but three landmark milestones reached in the same wrestling match?

Coach Jerry Winterton entered the day with 597 wins. He picked up No. 600 against Chapel Hill in the day's third match. Eloheim Palma, now ranked as the No. 1 heavyweight in the nation, entered the day with 197 wins, which allowed him to reach his landmark win against Chapel Hill as well. Gabe Brotzman, the No. 1 wrestler in the state at 152 pounds, entered the day with 198, but lost in the day's second match, so he too reached No. 200 against Chapel Hill.

Needless to say, it was a special day in the storied history of Cary wrestling.

Getting ahead of one's self 

Weirdly enough, the PA announcer at the event got some bad info and prematurely announced Palma's 200th win after a pin in :27 against J.H. Rose. Although he got a nice ovation, Palma actually got No. 200 in an anti-climatic forfeit against Chapel Hill.

N.C. history made

Never before in North Carolina wrestling history had two three-time state champions faced off against each other, and it's easy to understand why. A) it has to be two guys in different classifications, B) it's awfully hard to win three straight years C) it requires two guys who have won state championships in their freshman years, and D) a combination of all of the above doesn't happen often, period. 

But at the Bob Mauldin Classic at East Wake High School, the day's first match pitted three-time 4-A champion at 135 Corey Mock of Chapel Hill and three-time 3-A champ Jacob Creed of Jamestown Ragsdale.

According to some in the crowd, the two have had a rivalry over the years with Mock having the upper hand, and this was the first time they had faced each other this season.

The rest of the teams looked on at the only match as Mock defeated Creed 9-5. Creed was obviously frustrated with having lost to Mock again and jilted Mock's attempt to embrace after the match — not a smart or classy move when literally everybody is watching you.

After the match, all other teams began their duals matches.