The NC State wrestling team had another great season under head coach Pat Popolizio, a season that included the program’s first ACC dual championship since 2004 and its first 5-0 ACC record since 2000.

Redshirt senior Michael Macchiavello won the individual NCAA championship in the 197-pound division and is the seventh individual in school history to win a national title. Macchiavello, who finished the season 22-3, defeated No. 3 Jared Haught of Virginia Tech in the final, avenging two losses during the season. Macchiavello also beat then No. 1 Kollin Moore of Ohio State. Macchiavello finished second in the ACC tournament in his final season with the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack finished the season 15-2 and is currently ranked sixth after starting the season at No. 8; the last coaches poll of the season marked the 40th time the team has been ranked in the top 10 by the coaches. 

NC State tied for fourth in the team score in the NCAA Tournament and took second place in the ACC tournament as the team continues to solidify itself as a major power in wrestling, a sport usually dominated by schools in the Big Ten, which has 11 of its 14 schools ranked in the top 25. 

Redshirt freshman Hayden Hidlay had an incredible season for NC State. No. 1 Hidlay’s only loss of the season came in the final of the NCAA tournament against the defending champ, Jason Nolf. Hidlay was 26-1 on the season, and has already placed an ACC championship on his resume as well as placed second in the NCAA championship, the second-highest finish of any NC State freshman ever. Hidlay finished the season 12-1 against ranked opponents and his season will go down as arguably the best freshman campaign in program history. 

Senior Kevin Jack finished sixth in the NCAA tournament after finishing the season 23-6. Jack, who is the second-winningest wrestler in NC State wrestling history with 114, placed second in the ACC Championships as well. 

Redshirt freshman Tariq Wilson, placed third in his first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament and defeated the three, four and five seeds in his weight division after being unseeded to start the tourney. Wilson finished the season 27-10.

Hidlay, Macchiavello, Jack and Wilson all received All-American honors for their success in the tournament.

Junior Sean Fausz, who took over for sophomore Tommy Cox as a starter in the 125-pound division, went 15-4 on the season. He lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament, and he lost his first match in the consolation tournament. Fausz, however, did win the ACC Championship. Cox went 17-7 on the season.

Donahue and redshirt junior Jamal Morris split the starting duties at the 149-pound division for NC State. Donahue, however, took the team’s place for the ACC and NCAA Championships. Donahue’s fate was similar to Fausz in the NCAA tournament, going 1-2. Donahue finished fourth in the ACC championship. Donahue and Morris went a combined 40-14 on the season with the pair ending with identical win counts but Donahue having two more losses at eight.

Redshirt senior Brian Hamann went 16-9 on the season and was the only NC State wrestler who competed in the ACC Championships who did not qualify for the NCAA Championships; he finished fourth in the ACC champs to complete his NC State career.

Redshirt freshman Daniel Bullard had the most losses of any starter for the Wolfpack at 11; Bullard had 17 wins including one win against a top-25 wrestler, Matt Finesilver of Duke. Bullard placed third in the ACC Championships and went 1-2 in the NCAA, going out in the second round of the consolation tournament. 

Redshirt senior Pete Renda started off the season 19-0 but fell to 23-4 on the season after running into four top-16 wrestlers. Despite Renda’s seeming fall at the end of the year, he was still able to pull off his first-ever ACC Championship and advanced to the final eight in the championship bracket before losing two straight. 

Senior Michael Boykin clinched the ACC dual championship for the school with an overtime victory over Virginia Tech after the Hokies surged back from down 16-3 to force a winner-take-all final bout in the heavyweight bout. Boykin went 1-2 in the NCAA tournament and took third in the ACC tournament. He went 21-8 on the season.