Angel Lee Brings Spotlight to North Lenoir at Historic All-Girls Wrestling Match
Angel Lee Brings Spotlight to North Lenoir at Historic All-Girls Wrestling Match
WHEAT SWAMP— On a night that marked a first in school history, North Lenoir hosted its inaugural all-girls wrestling match Wednesday, welcoming programs from Havelock, J.H. Rose, North Pitt and Farmville Central. Eight duals unfolded in front of an energized crowd, a showcase of rapidly growing girls wrestling in Eastern North Carolina — and one junior carried the banner for the Hawks.
Her name: Angel Lee, North Lenoir’s lone female wrestler. Her impact: undeniable.
Lee went a perfect 3-0 on the night, pinning all three opponents in just :21, :30 and :50, a dominant run that drew loud reactions from the home stands and respect from every coach in the gym. According to FloWrestling, she now sits at 13-3 on the season, competing against both girls and boys.
A Showcase of Programs on the Rise
The dual scores reflected the strength of the visiting programs:
Farmville over North Lenoir 66–6
Rose over North Lenoir 36–6
North Pitt over North Lenoir 54–6
Farmville over Havelock 54–18
North Pitt over Havelock 54–12
Havelock over Rose 31–30
North Pitt over Farmville 53–18
Farmville over Rose 36–30
While North Lenoir fielded just one girls wrestler, the event itself was a major step. With powerhouse programs like North Pitt, Havelock and Farmville Central in the building, the Hawks’ girls saw firsthand what a full roster can look like.
“We get to bring that here and let our girls see that to bring incentive to bring more girls in,” North Lenoir coach Jeff Yourdon said. “But also just seeing the sport itself for girls wrestling growing is extremely important.”
The Evolution of a Leader
Yourdon has watched Lee grow from a quiet newcomer into one of the heartbeat leaders of his program.
“She is one of my captains,” he said. “She has turned from being that quiet little girl to a leader. She’s a junior right now, but she is a leader right now and she’s great.”
Lee’s transformation hasn’t come easy. She wrestles girls and boys — a challenge she embraces.
“She is the only one on our team going against both,” Yourdon said. “She has beaten three guys this year and she has lost to two, but she knows she learns from those losses and that’s key.”
Lee agrees that those tough matchups have shaped her.
“It’s rough, but I still do it,” she said. “I’m trying to talk the other girls to do it just for the experience — to go against someone stronger than you and you still win.”
A Wrestler Who Gives Back
Lee’s journey began at the middle school level, where she first stepped onto the mat and fell in love with the sport.
“I started in middle school,” she said. “I have got so much better from when I started.”
Asked how she climbed to this level, her answer came without hesitation.
“I have worked. I have worked really hard.”
This year, North Lenoir welcomed more girls into the program, and Lee naturally stepped into a mentorship role.
“I am very excited this season — we got so many more girls this year,” she said. “And I have been coaching them up so far.”
Coaching, she says, has become a fulfilling extension of her own development.
“It makes me feel good. I get to see them improve, and it makes me feel like I’m doing something good here.”
A Historic Night and What Comes Next
For Lee, the meaning of North Lenoir’s first-ever all-girls match wasn’t lost in her individual success.
“It is exciting,” she said. “This is our first one, and it’s really big. I love it.”
The Hawks don’t have long to reflect. Up next is a massive challenge: North Lenoir travels Saturday to West Craven, where nearly 21 teams from across the state will compete. As the Hawks continue building their girls program, Lee remains the foundation — and the example — for what it can become.
Her pins stood out on the scoreboard. Her growth stood out to her coaches. Her leadership stood out to her teammates. And on a historic night for North Lenoir girls wrestling, Angel Lee showed exactly why she’s becoming one of the most compelling young athletes in the area.
