East Lincoln High School made history on November 22 as it hosted the Lady Mustang Invitational, welcoming an impressive 196 female wrestlers from across the region. The tournament—now featuring both Varsity and JV divisions for the first time in North Carolina girls wrestling history—marks a major milestone for the sport and reflects the rapid growth of East Lincoln’s own girls wrestling program.
This year’s event represented a 57-athlete increase from last year’s field, demonstrating the expanding enthusiasm for girls wrestling statewide and within the Mustang community. Coaches, athletes, volunteers, and families helped create a supportive atmosphere, and East Lincoln’s parents earned high praise for organizing an outstanding hospitality room and ensuring the event ran smoothly.
Head Coach Derek Ashley expressed tremendous pride in his athletes and in the progress of the program, noting, “We hosted 196 girls this year, and our wrestlers truly did the school proud. The growth of this tournament and our program shows just how strong the future is for girls wrestling at East Lincoln.”
East Lincoln’s Nicole Davidson delivered a standout performance in one of the event’s largest and most competitive brackets, earning 3rd place. Her only loss came to former state champion Yaleena Khang of Maiden, who went on to win both the weight class and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Davidson held her own throughout the match, lasting longer against Khang than any other competitor.
With increased participation, a newly added JV division, and enthusiastic support from the Mustang community, this year’s Lady Mustang Invitational set a new standard for the future of girls wrestling at East Lincoln and beyond. Organizers are already looking ahead, aiming to make next year’s tournament even bigger.
