Coming off an injury-marred junior season, Luke Hudson was primed to chase a state title in 2007-08. He was well on his way when another injury sidelined him just short of that goal. Still, Hudson proved match after match that he was the best wrestler in the area.

"(My goals for the season) were to win conference, hopefully win at regions and place at states," Hudson said. "The conference thing, that worked out. I thought at regionals I had a pretty good chance at winning that and placing at states."

File photo by Brett A. Clark (ENLARGE)

Northeastern's Luke Hudson (top) puts Manteo's Chad Parks in a hold during their match won by Hudson on Nov. 28 at Currituck High School.

Hudson, the 2007 Daily Advance Boys' Soccer Player of the Year, breezed through the season undefeated and won the Northeastern Coastal Conference championship at 152 pounds. But early in his regional semifinal match, Hudson (31-1) dislocated his elbow and had to retire, suffering his only loss of the season.

"I really thought he had a chance at being a state champion," Northeastern's first-year coach David Todd said. "He had a couple of matches in tournaments (this season) with last year's state place winners, and he beat them all handily. I think he had an excellent shot at placing high in the state."

While the Eagles had an up-and-down season as a team, Todd credits Hudson with being integral in keeping the unit together through some difficult times.

"(After the injury last year) I really wasn't sure what to expect out of him this year, but let me tell you, he was joy to coach," Todd said. "He was one of the few guys we could really depend on to be there all the time and put 100 percent effort into everything he did. We really needed someone like that this year, because it's a tough rebuilding year."

Hudson, who has not received any athletic scholarship offers, will try to walk-on at college. He has not chosen a school and is unsure whether he will pursue soccer or wrestling in college.

David Cirino

Currituck

40-4; won NCC championship at 215 pounds

Quincy Culler

Currituck

35-10; won 135 title at NCC tournament

Aaron Griswell

Pasquotank

15-5; won NCC crown at 112 pounds

Seth Brinkley

Currituck

27-9; missed NCC tourney with flu

Alex Brown

Currituck

41-3; won NCC heavyweight championship

Kevin Pham

Edenton

Won NCC championship at 160 pounds

Ryan Pippen

Pasquotank

41-3; regional champ at 140; sixth at state

Jared Quevedo

Currituck

35-10; second in NCC at 119 pounds

Jonathan Langlois

Pasquotank

30-10; NCC champion at 130 pounds

Colton Lumpkin

Currituck

25-9; second in NCC tourney at 160 pounds

Brian Wilson

Pasquotank

35-9; second in NCC, third at regional at 171

Josh Wilson

Pasquotank

30-9; NCC champ at 145, tourney MOW

Josh Wisener

Currituck

21-17; second in NCC at 103 pounds

Jeff Ross

Currituck

21-2; NCC, regional champ at 140

Alex Smith

Pasquotank

19-12; NCC champion at 125 pounds

Honorable Mention

J.R. Felton, Edenton

John Fitchett, Currituck

Evan Histed, Northeastern

Scott Histed, Northeastern

Anthony James, Edenton

Kaleb Quinn, Pasquotank

Johnny Reinhold, Edenton

Jesse Sutherland, Edenton