Following a top-10 win over Cornell, NC State wrestling faced a quick two-day turnaround before battling with Duke; however, the Wolfpack looked as fresh as ever, cruising to a 36-9 win.
The Pack (15-2, 4-0 ACC) took its final regular season road trip to Durham, where it crushed the Blue Devils (4-12, 0-4 ACC). While Duke has been the ACC’s bottom feeder this season, the red-and-white didn’t overlook it and gave the Blue Devils its full fury.
The dual meet opened with a 15-0 tech fall in the 125-pound bout. Redshirt freshman Troy Hohman faced Logan Agin and had no issues with the Blue Devil. Hohman quickly piled up takedowns, leaving Agin with no shot. After the tech fall, the red-and-white held a 5-0 lead.
With the team wrestling two days before, the Wolfpack opted to utilize several of its reserves. This was the case in the 133-pound bout where freshman Vincent Robinson was given the starting nod. Robinson did not disappoint, delivering a 20-10 major decision. With the major decision, the red-and-white’s lead extended to nine.
Next up in the 141-pound bout, freshman Tyler Tracy also got a rare start. Like Robinson, Tracy also delivered a major decision, winning 11-0. Tracy’s ability to prevent his opponent from escaping was an encouraging sign for his future.
Already up 13-0, the red-and-white had almost put the Blue Devils away after three matches. However, Duke earned one of its only wins in the 149-pound match, which pitted freshman Koy Buesgens against former Wolfpacker Jarred Papcsy. The bout was hard fought, but Papcsy pulled out a close win over his former team.
The 157-pound bout featured junior Ed Scott and Logan Ferrero. While Scott is having a down year, he showcased his best against Duke, pinning Ferraro in the second period, making the score 19-3 — essentially icing off any hopes for the Blue Devils.
Redshirt sophomore Derek Fields kept the momentum rolling in the 165-pound bout against Gaetano Console. Fields tossed Console around with ease, en route to an 11-4 decision. The decision stretched the red-and-white’s lead to 22-3.
Fifth-year Alex Faison continued to pour it on against the Blue Devils in the 174-pound match. Facing Duke’s David Hussey, Faison was in full control from the start. The bout ended early as Faison clinched a 21-4 tech fall over Hussey, adding five points to the Pack’s total.
In the 184-pound match, redshirt sophomore Brock DelSignore made a rare appearance and capitalized. DelSignore easily topped Conor Becker in a 15-4 decision. Like so many of DelSignore’s teammates, he left no doubt he was the superior wrestler.
The 197-pound bout brought more of the same as redshirt senior Trent Hidlay dominated his opponent, icing him off with a second-period tech fall. The result was no surprise as Hidlay has been one of the best in his weight class all season.
Despite its strong day, the Pack suffered a disappointing loss in the heavyweight bout to close the match. Redshirt freshman Chase Horne suffered a pin against Duke’s Connor Barket. The Blue Devil ended Horne’s day in just the second period, making the final score 36-9.
Next up, the Wolfpack will face its toughest test in ACC play, hosting Virginia Tech on Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. The dual meet will be available on ACC Network.
