Charles Easterling entered the 12th annual Arkansas high school state wrestling tournament as the top seed in the deepest weight class (113 pounds) in Class 6A, where five medalists from last year returned.

Easterling won the state championship in 2019, which placed an even brighter spotlight on the junior from Bentonville West. But Easterling topped them all again and earned a second consecutive state championship after pinning Zander Payne of Bentonville in 37 seconds in the finals.

Easterling finished the season 46-5 with 33 pins this season for Bentonville West, which placed second in Class 6A to Bentonville in the tournament last weekend in Little Rock. It's also the third consecutive year the Wolverines have finished second. In addition to winning his second straight state title, Easterling was selected Most Outstanding Wrestler for the lighter weights (106-132).

For his effort, Easterling is this week's Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette boys Athlete of the Week. Kelsee Barnett of Ozark is the girls Athlete of the Week.

"(Easterling) is physically strong for how big he is, and he puts in the work," Bentonville West coach Aaron Wise said. "There were five returning medalists at 113, and he put on a pretty dominant performance in the deepest bracket and won by pinning his opponent in 37 seconds. He's tough, and he loves the sport."

Wrestling is also a team sport, which Easterling exemplified early in the season when he voluntarily dropped down to 113 pounds when he should've been wrestling at 120 pounds.

"We had three returners all about the same size," Wise said. "Charles was up to 124 or 125 pounds, but he lost the weight to help out our team and a teammate. That's the kind of kid he is, and Tyler Holmes was able to finish second in the state for us at 120 pounds."
