The NC State wrestling has started the 2019-20 season going 7-0 in duals and performing really well in its most recent invitational. However, it’s going to have a chance to show how good it is with a very difficult ACC schedule.
NC State was one of 32 teams to make the trip to Las Vegas in one of the most talented invitationals of the season. Overall, the Pack underperformed at the tournament, finishing eighth despite being the fourth-highest ranked team.
The Wolfpack’s highest-ranked wrestlers, redshirt junior Hayden Hidlay and redshirt freshman Trent Hidlay, both finished second at their respective weight classes. Redshirt juniors Thomas Bullard and Tariq Wilson had good performances, but a couple off days from others dragged down the overall team standings. However, NC State did outwrestle a couple ranked teams including ACC foe Virginia Tech.
The dual at App State went as planned for the NC State wrestling team, winning comfortably 24-12. The Pack won 7 of 10 bouts, including a big win from redshirt junior Nick Reenan, who has recently returned from injury and provided a huge spark and depth to the lineup for head coach Pat Popolizio. Reenan’s third-period two-point takedown with less than 10 seconds secured a 4-3 win in his season debut.
In yet another huge invitational, NC State came to play and showed why it’s one of the best programs in the country, finishing second of 28 teams. Only No. 9 Oklahoma State outperformed the Pack. As he has basically all season, Hayden Hidlay dominated his weight class, outscoring his opponents 58-7. The other top performers were Trent Hidlay and Thomas Bullard. Many of the other wrestlers made it deep into their respective consolation brackets to help NC State outperform a number of ranked teams.
Future Duals
Now heading into the thick of the season, NC State has a lot of tough matchups, many of which are at home. On Saturday, No. 12 Princeton (2-2) comes to Raleigh for a huge nonconference dual before ACC play starts. Princeton’s losses came at the hands of No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 1 Iowa.
Then, after duals against Drexel and Hofstra, the Pack hosts No. 23 Virginia in the ACC opener. The schedule gets no easier as NC State hosts No. 17 North Carolina and No. 5 Virginia Tech, then travels to Duke and No. 10 Pittsburgh. What is sure to be a very entertaining ACC Championship will take place on March 8 in Pittsburgh.
Not only is the future an opportunity to take yet another ACC title, but a chance to move into the top five of the national ranking before the NCAA Championships on March 19-21 in Minneapolis.
