The N.C. State wrestling team finished its trip to the Washington, D.C. area with a record of 1-1, dropping its first match to Maryland 23-14 on Friday and recovering with a dominant 25-12 victory over American University Sunday.
Though the win over American was satisfying for the Wolfpack (13-6 overall, 1-4 ACC), Friday’s loss to Maryland marked State’s fourth conference loss of the season. It also marked the ninth straight loss to the Terrapins.
Friday’s match started with a tough loss at the 197 weight class, 3-2. However, No. 6 redshirt sophomore Nick Gwiazdowski (285) picked up the slack with his biggest win of the season, as he defeated Maryland’s No. 8 Spencer Myers by a score of 11-8, tying the meet at 3-3.
The Pack proceeded to drop matches at the 125, 133, 141 and 149 weight classes. The Terps took an insurmountable 18-3 lead after the four matches, three of which were decided by two points or less.
“It was a little disappointing not having a guy step up when we needed just one guy to come through,” head coach Pat Popolizio said. “We weren’t able to pull out the close matches, and that was the difference between winning and losing.”
State tried to stage a comeback. Wins from No. 19 junior Tommy Gantt (165), senior Nijel Jones (165) and No. 19 freshman Pete Renda (174) decreased the Pack’s deficit to four.
While the Pack had a chance to take the meet with a technical fall or pin in the last match of the evening, freshman Shayne Brady (184) couldn’t keep up with the top-ranked wrestler in the 184 weight class – No. 1 junior Jimmy Sheptock. Sheptock took the match by a technical fall, 16-0, and wrapped up the meet for his Terps.
Looking to move on after an ugly loss on Friday, the Pack delivered in the nation’s capital with a comprehensive 13-point win over the Eagles. The win marked Popolizio’s 99th dual meet win in eight seasons as a collegiate head career.
The Pack opened the match with two losses by decision at the 125 and 133 weight classes. However, State responded with five straight wins to gain a powerful 22-6 lead over the Eagles.
Gantt, Jones and Renda all earned their second wins of the weekend, with Renda taking down his opponent by a technical fall and Jones earning his second straight win by major decision.
After a stretch of six duals earlier in the season in which Jones was benched, the senior earned his starting position back, starting at 165 in the past five matches for the Pack.
“I think it’s all starting to come back for me,” Jones said.
The biggest surprise of Sunday’s match was the emergence of redshirt freshman Cohl Fulk (149), who earned his first ever start in an ACC meet. Fulk did not waste the opportunity, pinning his opponent in the first period.
Along with Fulk and Brady on Friday, freshman Brendan Calas (125) also was given a rare start. Popolizio said at this point in the season, everyone is an option to start.
“We need someone who wants to win right now,” Popolizio said. “There’s little time left before the ACC Championships, and we need to see who’s hungry and who wants to be in our lineup.”
The Pack closed the match with losses at the 184 and 197 weight classes, but also with another big win from Gwiazdowski at the heavyweight position. With his win over American’s No. 25 redshirt junior Blake Herrin, Gwiazdowski notched his 11th straight victory, with five of his last six coming against ranked opponents.
State’s last two dual meets of the year will take place in Durham Saturday, as the Pack will take on Duke and No. 23 Northwestern in Card Gymnasium.
