For years No. 7 NC State wrestling has been the class of the ACC. With a new opponent, Stanford, joining the conference, the Wolfpack added another victim to its list of failed challengers in a 27-13 victory Friday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
“There’s not a lot of history between the two programs,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “But it doesn’t take long to build the intensity with a lot of great wrestling, and we saw that tonight. We know they have a lot of great guys.”
In its final home match of the season, the Wolfpack (11-1, 5-0 ACC) put its perfect home record on the line against the Cardinal (9-4, 1-3 ACC). Don’t let Stanford’s 1-3 ACC record fool you — the West Coast visitors are a talented team with several ranked wrestlers. NC State made sure to take Stanford seriously, leading from start to finish. The Pack took five of the nine matches and added six extra points due to Stanford forfeiting the 125-pound bout.
“It’s great, the lineup that we had and this group of guys,” Popolizio said. “I think this speaks to the work ethic, the attitude and the want to carry that torch of winning culture here at NC State.”
The Pack celebrated senior night against Stanford, honoring seven wrestlers, including four starters. From redshirt senior Kai Orine to senior Ed Scott, this year’s senior class will go down as a special group that is leaving NC State better than they found it, both on and off the mat. This year’s senior class has earned three All-American finishes, seven individual ACC titles and 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
“[The seniors] pour their heart and soul into this program,” Popolizio said. “They take a lot of pride in that, and so for them to leave here with a win tonight is extra special. I’m thankful for our fans that showed up and sent those guys out the way they did.”
Leading the charge for NC State was Scott, who turned in a 13-3 major decision. With years of experience and memories in Reynolds Coliseum, Scott made sure he would earn one more home win. The senior dominated Stanford’s Aden Valencia in the 157-pound bout, taking a commanding 11-0 lead into the final period. With such a large lead, Scott ensured victory well before the bout finished. A tireless worker, Scott’s success tonight reflected the work he does during the offseason and in practice — a staple for successful athletes.
“It’s just all the preparation I’ve put in since the day I stepped on campus,” Scott said. “All the work and the talks I’ve had with coaches and teammates, it’s really just a culmination of it all.”
Prior to Scott’s win, the Wolfpack earned an energizing victory in the 141-pound bout, helping NC State get an early edge. Redshirt sophomore Troy Hohman, who bumped up a weight class for the night, pulled an upset over No. 21 Jason Miranda. Despite wrestling in a different class, Hohman appeared poised and confident against Miranda, remaining within strike distance through the first two periods. Hohman seized a 4-3 lead in the third, then impressively refused to allow Miranda to escape for the rest of the bout. By preventing an escape, Hohman preserved his narrow lead to earn three important points for the Wolfpack.
“Means a lot, a lot of motivation and confidence moving forward,” Hohman said. “Season’s not over, but it feels good to have that win under my belt.”
While the Wolfpack had its ups and downs throughout the rest of the match, two of its top wrestlers stepped up for dominant wins. No. 14 redshirt sophomore Dylan Fishback dominated the 184-pound bout against Cole Han-Lindemyer. Fishback pulled off a 15-0 shutout tech fall, using back-to-back near-falls to seal the deal before the third period could end. Then in the heavyweight bout, No. 4 redshirt junior Isaac Trumble picked up a 19-3 tech fall over No. 31 Peter Ming, showing no mercy till the very end.
In the 174-pound bout, No. 21 Matty Singleton also showed up for the Wolfpack. Taking on Stanford’s Lars Michaelson, Singleton dominated from start to finish, en route to an 11-2 major decision. After cementing himself as a starter this season, Singleton closed his final home bout of the season with one of his best performances of the year.
Despite its wins, the Pack still has work to do after dropping four bouts. In the most high-profile matchup of the evening, No. 13 Orine struggled against Stanford’s No. 7 Tyler Knox. The visiting wrestler earned a 9-1 major decision, sending Orine packing in a rare lopsided loss in the 133-pound bout.
Meanwhile, No. 28 redshirt junior Derek Fields suffered a narrow 6-5 loss to No. 13 Hunter Garvin. After taking a 4-0 lead, Fields fell behind in the third quarter, needing a point to even the score. Fields seemingly picked up a last-second escape for the tie, but after a review, the call was overturned, removing the point and ending Fields’ upset bid.
Next up, NC State will hit the road for its regular-season finale at Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack and the Hokies are slated to battle on Friday at 7 p.m. The dual meet will be available on the ACC Network.
