N.C. State (8-8 overall, 0-2 in the ACC) competed in two matches over the weekend, as it traveled to Chapel Hill to take on UNC-Chapel Hill (8-8-1, 2-3), then came back home to Reynolds Coliseum to take on Old Dominion (6-9-1) but failed to score more than 12 points in either match.
The team had the lead through the midway point in both bouts, but failed to pick up crucial points in the last five matches to drop both dual matches on Friday and Saturday night 24-12 and 28-12, respectively.
While the team was not able to pick up a win in either of its dual matches, coach Carter Jordan said that not all was lost and the team needs to take something away from these types of matches.
“We’ve got to learn from these loses,” Jordan said. “We had a few guys who came out here wrestling to win, but we need that from everyone. That’s part of the process and the maturity of college wrestling.”
Though the Wolfpack could not pull off a win in either match, there were a few bright spots for the team over the weekend. The trio of redshirt senior Darrion Caldwell and redshirt juniors Darrius Little and Colton Palmer, also known as “death row,” continued to earn crucial wins for the Pack.
157-pounder Palmer was forced to sit out of competition last week due to the influenza virus, but made his return to the mat on Friday against the Tar Heels. Palmer was unable to get a win against the Heels, but finished the weekend strong against the Monarchs.
“Colton [Palmer] was really excited to get back out there,” Jordan said. “I think he was really disappointed with the way that the match went against Carolina, but I was really proud of the way that he bounced back against [Old Dominion].”
Jordan felt the match for Palmer at Carolina was winnable, but he disagreed with the officiating of the match.
“Colton [Palmer] was called for a pin in the match against Carolina, which I didn’t quite understand,” Jordan said. “He was called for a pin in a neutral position, which is something I have never seen before. But anyway, he’ll get a chance to redeem himself if he gets a crack at that guy in the ACC Tournament next month.”
Although Palmer went 1-1 over the weekend, 141-pounder Little and 149-pounder Caldwell finished with a perfect 2-0 record to improve to 24-7 and 10-0, respectively. While Caldwell is used to being nationally ranked, as he has been ranked No. 1 the entire season, Little broke into the rankings again this week at No. 24. Little was ranked earlier in the year as well, but he says that he can’t worry about rankings when he is wrestling.
“Rankings really don’t bother me,” Little said. “When I go out there to wrestle, you’re going to get my best. Whether you are ranked No. 1 or No. 100, I’m going to go out there and wrestle you hard. Rankings are nothing but a number to me, it’s what you do at the end of the year that counts.”
The Pack continues to look for its first win against an ACC opponent when it takes on No. 7 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
