Nick Aime CFNN Reporter

This upcoming wrestling season is the 2nd chance 2-time state champion wrestler Dallas Wilson gets to defend his state title. It’s clear that winning a first title was essential for Wilson, but only a long road can lead back to that destination.

“The most significant experience of my life was winning my first state title as a sophomore in high school,” said Dallas Wilson. 

Wilson before his state finals match last season.

Wilson’s blazing passion for wrestling came from spending time with his dad, Heath Wilson, who was also once a state champion and has been the Cape Fear Wrestling Coach since Dallas was a toddler. 

“He used to bring me down there and always roll with the guys,” said Wilson.

Since he was four, Dallas has had many fun experiences on the mat with his family and friends. Not all of those experiences were fun, though. 

“It’s a funny story, he (Wilson’s Dad) had to pull me off the mat when I was five years old because I tried to fight a kid,” said Wilson.

Intensity is one of WIlson’s trademarks.

The competitive spirit that courses through Dallas’s veins is one of several things that aided Dallas on his road to victory.

There is nothing that comes easy with being crowned the best wrestler in the state. Once you record a 49-3 winning season, certain expectations start to be placed upon you. It’s clear that Dallas has not only met those expectations, he has surpassed them.

Wilson racks up another win.

One of the most notable aspects of titles and trophies is winning them with special people by your side. Other than Wilson’s dad being by his side, Dallas had a best friend, who would also be a state champion, by his side. 

“170-pounder, Mikey Vernagallo, he won it 5 matches or so after me so that was cool to win it beside him, especially because he was someone I looked up to,” said Wilson.

It’s a huge achievement for a young man, but it’s only the start for Dallas Wilson. Going into his senior year, Wilson’s overall record is 138-13. 10 of those loses came during his Freshmen season.

“I was a freshman. I hadn’t spent much time in the weight room yet,” WIlson says of those ten losses. “I lost to five seniors that season-twice to each one. I just made up my mind that I was going to outwork everybody from that point forward. Off-season, weights, mat-time, everything. It meant something to me.”

Dallas executes a “Navy Ride” against an opponent.

Building on his last two winning seasons, he seems determined to finish his high school career with three state championships, and almost certainly, his dad will have to pull him off the mat before he loses his title.