This Friday night, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) will host the 2023 Regional Championships, a tradition that has declared state champions in every classification since 1972. From 2001-2021, each classification had two champions. This year’s regional final games promise to be as thrilling as ever, with teams boasting impressive records and histories of regional appearances.
Teams to Watch
Shelby is making its 24th appearance, with a
record of 16-7. They have been a regular participant since 1986, with their
most recent appearances in 2019, 2021, and now 2023.
Robbinsville is making its 20th
appearance, with a record of 13-6. They have been a strong contender since
1973, with their latest appearances in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
Clinton and Tarboro are both making
their 17th appearances, with records of 10-6 and 13-3 respectively. Clinton has
been a regular participant since 1974, while Tarboro started in 1984.
Reidsville is making its 16th
appearance with a record of 10-5, and Dudley is making its 12th
appearance with a record of 7-4. Independence, Mount Airy, Seventy-First,
Hoggard, Northeastern, and Weddington are also teams to
watch, each making multiple appearances in the regional finals.
Cardinal Gibbons, Northern Nash, Hickory,
and West Columbus are the newcomers, with West Columbus making its first
appearance this year.
Regional Rematches
There are several rematches to look forward to. Northern
Nash and Seventy-First have met twice before in the East Regional Championship,
with both games being closely contested. Shelby and Reidsville have only met
once before in the Regional Final, with Shelby emerging victorious. Mount Airy
and Robbinsville, and Northeastern and Clinton have also met once before in the
Regional final.
Low Seeds and High Seeds
All eight No. 1 seeds reached the regional semifinals, but
only five advanced to the regional finals. Both of the No. 1 seeds in the 3A
bracket fell in the fourth round. A pair of double-digit seeds, Northern Nash
and Independence, will compete for the regional title this week.
The stage is set for an exciting night of high school
football. Best of luck to all the teams participating in the 2023 NCHSAA
Regional Championships!
This week’s regional final games
4A West:
#1 Weddington vs. #23 Independence
4A East:
#3 Hoggard vs. #5 Cardinal Gibbons
3A West:
#2 Hickory vs. #4 Dudley
3A East:
#2 Seventy-First vs. #13 Northern Nash
2A West:
#1 Reidsville vs. #7 Shelby
2A East:
#1 Clinton vs. #2 Northeastern
1A West:
#1 Robbinsville vs. #2 Mount Airy
1A East:
#1 Tarboro vs. #2 West Columbus
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