Lake Norman High seniors Sammy Wooten and Mason Hefner have been named to the 2026 North Carolina Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas roster.

The selections, announced Sunday, Sept. 27 by NC Football News, place two Wildcats on the 44-player squad that will face South Carolina's top seniors in the 90th annual all-star game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 at Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, S.C.

Wooten, an offensive lineman who wears No. 77, is committed to Appalachian State, according to the Statesville Record & Landmark. Hefner, listed as a defensive back on the Shrine Bowl roster, is committed to East Carolina. He has recorded three interceptions through the first five weeks of the season, the Record & Landmark reported.

Two Wildcats on one roster is a notable haul for the program.

The Shrine Bowl dates to 1937 and was created to promote awareness for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Each December it pits a roster of North Carolina high school seniors against their South Carolina counterparts. This year's edition is the 90th.

The Lake Norman area will be well represented on the North Carolina sideline. Hough quarterback Ethan Royal, a Marshall commit, and Hough defensive back Jackson Heath, committed to Army, also earned roster spots, according to NC Football News.

Lake Norman head coach Jonathan Oliphant's squad enters the postseason spotlight riding a 5-0 start. The Wildcats are ranked No. 6 in North Carolina, according to MaxPreps.

The early-season résumé includes shutouts of Sun Valley (47-0) and West Cabarrus (49-0). Lake Norman also beat Mount Tabor 35-7, Independence 48-7 and Reagan 31-24.

The Wildcats open North Piedmont 6A/7A conference play Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. at home against Statesville.