Very few teams in the country can compete with No. 5 NC State wrestling on the mat, especially in the ACC. Annually the kings atop the ACC, the Wolfpack began conference play the way it often does, pounding its opponent into the dirt. For the 10th year in a row, the Pack defeated Duke, winning this year’s match 47-0.
The Wolfpack (7-0, 1-0 ACC) entered the match, winning the annual series against the Blue Devils (4-7, 0-1 ACC) by at least 25 points for five years in a row and made sure to extend that streak to six. However, this year the Pack hit a new high, with its largest margin of victory over any ACC opponent. While Duke is often an ACC bottom dweller, the win is a remarkable show of dominance as the red-and-white begins ACC competition.
NC State opened strong in the 133-pound bout. No. 7 redshirt senior Kai Orine jumped out to an early 6-1 lead over Duke’s Raymond Adams. Orine remained in complete control of the bout, not allowing Adams to score in the final two periods. With a 12-1 major decision from Orine, the Pack took a 4-0 lead to open the night.
The Wolfpack continued its hot start into the 141 and 149-pound bouts. Redshirt freshman Tyler Tracy made the most of his opportunity to start with a 22-6 tech fall, showcasing his potential. Redshirt freshman Koy Buesgens followed Tracy with an impressive 14-3 major decision in the 149-pound bout. With a 13-0 lead as a team, NC State seized the match early, giving the Blue Devils little chance to make some noise.
No. 12 senior Ed Scott showed no mercy in the 157-pound bout. Consistently one of the red-and-white’s top wrestlers, there was little doubt that Scott would win, however he still managed to surpass expectations. The senior shot out to a 16-3 lead over Duke’s Logan Ferrero before pinning him, securing six points for the Wolfpack.
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No. 32 redshirt junior Derek Fields pulled off the sole upset of the evening by ranking, defeating No. 29 Aidan Wallace. Despite being the lower-ranked wrestler, Fields dominated the 165-pound bout in an 8-2 victory.
Following Fields’ win in the 165-pound bout, the Pack earned five straight tech falls, running up the Pack’s total score. Among these, the heavyweight bout featured a ranked vs ranked matchup, pitting No. 4 redshirt junior Isaac Trumble and Duke’s No. 30 Connor Barket. The bout proved to be a major mismatch as Trumble easily earned his fifth tech fall of the year.
Notably, the night ended with an impressive showing from freshman Louie Gill in the 125-pound match. Despite being in just his first year of collegiate wrestling, Gill thoroughly controlled the bout. By the end, Gill racked up an 18-1 lead, earning a tech fall over Duke’s Ethan Grimminger. As a true freshman, Gill is already showing plenty of promise and should continue to improve.
The Wolfpack faces a quick turnaround, traveling to Stillwater for a Sunday matinee at No. 3 Oklahoma State. The highly-anticipated match will likely be NC State’s toughest test of the season and an opportunity to make a major statement. The dual meet is set to begin at 3 p.m. and can be found on ESPN Plus.
