In the last regular-season wrestling match of the season, undefeated Cary and undefeated Panther Creek will square off in a battle for the Tri-Nine dual-team conference championship. Cary hasn't lost a conference championship in 27 years or a dual-meet in four years.

Cary coach Jerry Winterton has led his Imps to 19 of the school's 20 state championships. His regular season dual-meet record is an astounding 543-3.

"It's a major match," he said.

Panther Creek is in its fourth year of existence, but the program has quickly jumped to the forefront of the North Carolina wrestling scene.

After making it to the playoffs last year and winning twice to advance to regionals, the Catamounts, ranked No. 4 in the state 4-A, have stormed out to a 24-0 record this year.

"I had some question marks going into the season with this team compared to last season, because we were so strong last season," P.C. coach Jon Armfield said. "I think all in all, we're a stronger team, especially with our juniors and seniors stepping it up."

Cary lost two 200-win state champions from last year's team that won both the team and tournament state titles, but returned starters almost everywhere else. The result has been much of the same as in recent years as the Imps, ranked No. 2 in the state 4-A, are 29-0 and have pinned 288 opponents while allowing just 24.

"We have three to five stars like we had last year, but it's more of [having] a solid guy at every weight," Winterton said. "And some of these guys that are solid, by the end of the season, when it's all over and said and done, you might say 'Well those guys were stars too.'"

The Imps boast a lineup of five wrestlers with 35 wins or more this year. Defending state champion 160-pounder Matt Colvard is 40-1 this season.

Ben Creed, a junior who's won the last two state championships at 103 pounds, hit a growth spurt and is wrestling at 125 this year. It hasn't slowed Creed down too much, however, as he's 33-2 this year.

"He's wrestled the best competition of anybody on the team. He always seems to have somebody tough and if not, I bump him up a weight to wrestle somebody else," Winterton said. "He's taken on the toughest guys in the state and done real well."

Also showing well for Cary this year are 103-pound Justin Leroux (39-6), 112-pound Adam Elliman (42-3), 145-pound Roger Terry (41-5), 215-pound Kevin Puente (33-5) and heavyweight Juan Macias (36-4).

Cary will also get a boost when senior 140-pounder Ronnie Winterton becomes available. Cary should be full strength for its match now that Ronnie - limited by a back injury in his senior year - is back.

The Catamounts have eight wrestlers with 24 or more wins this year, including 130-pounder Joe Morrison at 24-1.

Ben Elliott, a 119-pounder, leads P.C. with 38 wins to just three losses. Other key wrestlers include 103-pound Saugat Neupane (24-10), 135-pound Patrick Santoro (35-3), 140-pound Dan Kavulich (25-2), 171-pound Jamey Drennan (32-3) and 189-pound Sheridan Rucker (32-3).

Armfield was cautious earlier this year when he said liked his team's chances against Cary. But it's still not something that's heard too often in the Old North State.

"We match up against them well," Armfield said. "I think we have a team that could win against Cary, but I'm not making any predictions."

Winterton's team has been looking forward to the match for quite some time now. Last year's match was 33-27, the closest win for Cary on the year.

"We've been working hard, we had a great week of practice last week preparing for it," Winterton said.