The Wolfpack was plagued by injuries on Thursday night, but scratches by the Blue Devils and pins were the remedy for the wrestling team as they defeated Duke by a final score of 30-15 in Reynolds Coliseum.
Both of the first matches on Thursday night were forfeited, therefore the action officially started with junior Darrius Little. Duke wrestler Mike Bell started off with the first official points of the match with a takedown, but Little continued his domination over ACC opponents with a 7-2 decision.
Senior Darrion Caldwell then made his return for the Wolfpack in the 149 lb. weight class. The match ended quickly with a pin at the 1:38 mark, putting his overall record at 7-0 on the season. Caldwell said he was happy to be back on the mat and he looks forward to the rest of the season.
“This was my first time wrestling in the ACC this year, so I was excited,” Caldwell said. “It felt good, I feel like I’m at the exact same point I was a few weeks ago on the mat. I feel like I never left the sport.”
While Caldwell has been away, freshman Matt Nereim took his place. Nereim wrestled in the 157 lb. weight class on Tuesday night following Caldwell’s return, and kept the ball rolling for the Pack with a pin over his opponent.
Though he has not wrestled up a weight class so far this year, Nereim said he had no problem moving up a weight class if it meant he had the opportunity to wrestle.
“When it comes to strength it’s never a problem,” Nereim said. “I feel like I’m stronger than anyone on the wrestling mat. So size is not a problem for me if I get the chance to wrestle.”
While the match ended well for Nereim, things did not look good for the freshman early. At the beginning of the match, Nereim injured his foot and had to be attended to by the coaches. Coach Carter Jordan said that Nereim was suffering from something other than a foot injury.
“Matt twisted his ankle a little bit, but he might have been suffering from a loss of pride,” Jordan said. “He can’t stand to be taken down. He has apologized numerous times for being taken down on the mat. He’s really something else, that kid, huh? I think the fans really enjoyed watching him out here tonight.”
The next four matches did not go as well for the Pack, as it lost in the 165, 174, 184 and 197 lb. weight classes. Losses in all four of those matches brought the score to a much closer 27-15.
After tough defeats in the matches leading up to the heavyweight division, sophomore Eloheim Palma entered the contest after losing his last four matches straight. But Palma would show that he could contend in the ACC by winning a close match 5-4 after a late escape point.
Jordan said the win was a crucial one for Palma going into such a hostile environment this coming up weekend against Oklahoma State.
“[Eloheim Palma] has been really frustrated here lately,” Jordan said. “He just works so hard and I think he really needed that before this weekend.”
The Pack will be back in action this Sunday when it travels to Stillwater, Okla., to take on the No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys.
“This weekend we are going to be looking for a lot of things,” Jordan said. “Intensity, mat awareness, edge wrestling and grit are all things we are going to need to beat a top-10 team.”
