The No. 6 NC State wrestling team continued its dominance with its first conference win over Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium, 32-6, on Friday, winning eight of 10 bouts.
This was the first time the Wolfpack (11-1, 1-0 ACC) had competed since the marquee matchup against then-No. 3 Oklahoma State in Naples, Italy on Jan. 5. The Pack fell to the Cowboys 19-16 for its first loss of the season and went into Durham with a vengeance for the Blue Devils (2-4, 0-1 ACC).
“Conference matchups matter individually,” NC State head coach Pat Popolizio said. “And obviously for team stuff, but more importantly we just got to continue the process of getting better.”
The night began with the 125 bout, featuring sophomore Tommy Cox and Duke senior Thayer Atkins. The matchup began to heat up in the second round as Atkins recorded a takedown followed by a reversal for Cox to tie 3-3.
In last years’ dual, Atkins won by an 11-6 decision. Once again Atkins’ experience was evident in this battle, but Cox got the better of the veteran with a clutch takedown midway through the third and held on to win 5-3.
The excitement began to build at 133 pounds. Redshirt freshman Tariq Wilson quickly jumped out ahead on a blast double-legged for a takedown and notched another, but then Josh Finesilver of Duke fought back for one of his own to tie it 4-4.
After a blood timeout, Wilson exploded for an escape and pulled off a cradle for the surprise pin at the 2:36 mark in the first for the 9-4 victory.
NC State extended its lead to 14-0 thanks to a tech fall from senior Kevin Jack. The No. 2 wrestler in the 141-pound weight class simply dominated the young freshman Jeremiah Reitz of Duke.
Blue Devil Brandon Leynaud could only muster escape points against senior Beau Donahue in the 149-pound bout. Donahue was the superior wrestler, recording takedown after takedown, dominating Leynaud for the 14-4 victory.
The match carried on rather quickly due to the consecutive victories for the Pack, but No. 3 redshirt freshman Hayden Hidlay and No. 11 junior Mitch Finesilver put on one of the more electric bouts of the night.
Hidlay swiftly took down Mitch Finesilver and seemed to have the match in the bag, holding the Blue Devil in a chokehold for the majority of the first period; however, Mitch Finesilver surprisingly escaped Hidlay’s grasp, but found himself down 6-1 going into the second.
With the bout all but sealed, Hidlay searched for the bonus points to further extend the Pack’s lead. Mitch Finesilver denied Hidlay from a takedown and notched one of his own, closing the gap to 9-5 under 10 seconds to go, resulting in another Wolfpack victory.
“[Hidlay]’s been a huge part of the reason we are able to be in the position we are in as a program,” Popolizio said. “It takes all 10 guys and all of our roster guys, but he’s definitely a great leader for us right now in that aspect that you can win right away here.”
After senior Brian Hamann recorded three-consecutive takedowns in the first period, the 165 bout slowed down considerably. Hamann was down for the second and third period and never escaped Zach Finesilver’s grasp.
The Jackson, New Jersey native appeared to be stalling for much of the match. Once Hamann claimed the 6-3 victory, NC State head coach Pat Popolizio waved Hamann away and the redshirt limped off the floor to the locker room.
The most competitive and exciting bout of the evening came in the 174-pound weight class. Blue Devil Matt Finesilver recorded two clutch escape points in the last seconds of the first period and beginning of the third.
The fourth and final Finesilver’s comeback woke up the home crowd in the third period. He notched a takedown and then got a bonus point for over three minutes of riding time for an 8-5 victory. Matt Finesilver’s upset put the Blue Devils finally on the board, 24-3.
Though Duke was riding high on an unexpected victory, No. 3 redshirt senior Pete Renda promptly silenced the crowd for the Pack’s second tech fall. Renda nearly pinned Duke freshman Kaden Russell in the first 30 seconds of the second, winning 18-0.
“[Tech falls] are something we need to do,” Popolizio said. “When we get to the national tournament that’s our goal, to put up as many points we can as a team. And that’s something we want to do is not leave any matches close.”
The next-to-last match of the evening highlighted redshirt senior Michael Macchiavello pitted against veteran Blue Devil Alec Schenk.
Macchiavello played his neutral stance and handled Schenk for a smooth-sailing 7-3 win, his 13th of his senior campaign.
The match concluded with an energized 285-pound bout between redshirt junior Malik McDonald and Duke’s fifth-ranked Jacob Kasper. McDonald raced out of the gate and recorded a takedown just 15 seconds in, then another and a two-point near fall for a 6-2 advantage.
Kasper looked outmatched and out of breath until the second period. Kasper gained momentum when he notched an escape point and a takedown to close the deficit to 6-5 entering the third.
With one minute left Kasper took his first lead, 7-6, on a takedown and never looked back. McDonald was unable to muster any points nor escape; thus, Kasper notched over one minute of riding time and earned the 8-6 comeback victory.
Wolfpack wrestling will be back in action on Jan. 26 against Virginia in Reynolds Coliseum.
