Devin Hord Brings National Momentum Back to Kings Mountain

Kings Mountain, NC- Devin Hord’s summer on the wrestling mat gave Kings Mountain a reason to take notice. The rising freshman at Kings Mountain High School traveled to Fargo, North Dakota—the sport’s largest national stage for age-group freestyle wrestling—and returned as a 16U All-American after placing fifth at 120 pounds. Hord’s finish made him one of North Carolina’s top performers at the event and added another national accomplishment to a growing group of wrestlers from the state.

For Hord, the result was significant, but he did not describe it as a final destination. Instead, Fargo became evidence that his daily work can translate against the best wrestlers in the country. “I learned that I can hang with anybody in the country,” Hord said. “If I wrestle my best, I can beat anybody.”

Hord’s tournament included an 8–5 quarterfinal victory that secured All-American status and advanced him into the semifinals. He recalled being behind late in that match with little time left and knowing exactly what he had to do. “I remember being down with maybe 20 or 30 seconds left,” Hord said. “I knew I had to get a takedown, so that’s what I did.” He ultimately finished fifth at 120 pounds, an achievement that put him among the nation’s top 16U wrestlers at the weight.

That ability to respond under pressure is part of what Hord believes makes him difficult to wrestle. He said he is especially confident in scrambling when opponents reach his legs, explaining that he is “pretty good at scrambling and getting out of it and scoring.” But the larger lesson from Fargo was mental. The national tournament was deeper and more demanding than most events he has wrestled in around North Carolina, but Hord did not feel the need to change how he approached competition. “My mindset’s the same as any other match,” he said. “I’ve got to wrestle hard.”

Hord’s path into wrestling did not begin with a long-planned childhood dream. He played soccer when he was younger, but pain from heel injuries made running difficult. His uncles encouraged him to give wrestling a try at Mat Masters, and he started attending around the fifth grade. From there, he wrestled through middle school before continuing his development when the Kings Mountain Club opened.

The early influence of Ronny Hewitt and Steele Barber remains important to him. Their impact went beyond teaching fundamentals or preparing him for the next tournament. “I don’t think that I would still be wrestling if it wasn’t for them,” Hord said. “They made me fall in love with the sport.”

That passion is reflected in the way Hord trains. During the buildup to Fargo, he said he woke up at 5:30 each morning to work out, then practiced daily. Much of his summer preparation centered on training with Jon Jon Milner, including morning sessions and private work later in the day. “It was really just me practicing with Jon Jon all the time,” Hord said. “I probably couldn’t have done it without him.”

Hord also credits the Darkhorse wrestling room for creating an environment that prepares athletes for major events. The club has developed a reputation around North Carolina for demanding practices and strong training partners, and Hord said those factors have shaped his rise. “There are a lot of high-level wrestlers there,” he said. “They push everybody there really hard, and the coaches are just amazing.”

He pointed to Ezra Barber, Ethan Halstead, Mason Brown, Carson Raper, Emmett Williams, and Abram Whitaker as teammates and training partners who have helped him improve. Those relationships matter because wrestling, despite being an individual sport on competition day, depends heavily on the people in the room every day. Hord said his coaches and Darkhorse partners help prepare him for the pace, physicality, and confidence required against elite competition.

While he takes pride in earning national recognition for North Carolina, Hord said representing the state is about more than individual achievement. “It means a lot,” he said. “I always want to represent my state well.” His Fargo placement came during a productive event for Team North Carolina and showed the depth of young wrestling talent being developed across the state.

Hord’s confidence is clear when he discusses opponents. Asked whether there was anyone he was surprised to defeat, he did not hesitate. “No, I wouldn’t say I’d be shocked,” he said. “I always go into my matches thinking I’m going to win.” That expectation is rooted in the importance he places on mindset. “I think the mindset is one of the most important things,” Hord said. “If you have a bad mindset, then you won’t wrestle as good as if you had a good one. Maybe you’ll hesitate too much.”

He knows hesitation is one area he still needs to address. Hord said getting consistently to his offense and committing when opportunities open up are parts of his game he wants to improve. When he underperforms, he does not simply move on without reflection. He studies film with Jon Jon and returns to the room with a renewed focus. “I’ll study film with Jon Jon,” Hord said. “Then I’ll start working harder.”

The work is supported at home as well. Hord said his father pushes him and has played a major role in his progress, while his mother makes sure he gets to practices and provides consistent support. “I don’t think I’d be even near as good as I am right now if it wasn’t for him,” Hord said of his father. “I couldn’t do without my mom either. She drives me to all my practices.”

His Christian faith also helps him navigate the difficult parts of a sport built around wins, losses, rankings, and constant evaluation. When a tournament does not go as planned, Hord said he prays, speaks with his dad and coaches, and maintains perspective. “I pray about it,” he said. “I talk to my dad and my coaches, and then I just know that it’ll all be all right.”

Off the mat, Hord is still a teenager who enjoys the competition and friendships around him. He said he likes playing pickleball, spending time with friends, and playing Fortnite. He also enjoys joking around with his training partners, including a friendly rivalry with Ezra Barber on the pickleball court. Those interests provide a break from early workouts, private lessons, travel, weigh-ins, and the daily demands that come with pursuing national wrestling goals.

One of the lighter moments of the interview came when Hord was asked the curveball question: if he could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would he choose? His immediate answer was rapper Drake. Hord said he would choose Drake simply because he enjoys his music and listens to it often. Drake was the only person Hord could think of in the moment, but the answer offered a glimpse of the person outside the singlet—a young athlete still enjoying music, games, friends, and the ordinary interests of high school life.

Hord’s goals are anything but ordinary. As he enters his freshman high school season, he said winning a North Carolina state title is important, but he is setting his sights higher than one in-state championship. He wants to become a top-10 ranked wrestler in the country, win Fargo, place in the top three at Super 32, win the Walsh Ironman, and win the other national-level tournaments he enters. “I want to be ranked top 10 in the country, win Fargo, place top three at Super 32,” Hord said. “I want to win Ironman.”

Those are ambitious goals for a freshman, but Hord’s Fargo performance has given him a tangible foundation. He already knows what it feels like to be down late in a match on the national stage and respond with the takedown he needs. He already knows he can survive the pace of a demanding national bracket. And he already has the people around him—his family, coaches, Darkhorse teammates, and training partners—to keep pushing him forward.

For Hord, the fifth-place Fargo finish was a major summer accomplishment. But if his words and work ethic are any indication, it may eventually be remembered as the first major chapter in a much longer Kings Mountain wrestling story.