Before the 2015 sports year kicks into high gear, it’s worth taking a moment to remember 2014, which featured a number of memorable storylines in Wolfpack sports. From a resurgent football team that crushed its blue rivals down the road, to record-setting team performances from women’s golf, to dominant individual showings in men’s basketball, to a national champion in wrestling, 2014 was a building block for 2015 and beyond.
1. Gwiazdowski National Champion
In the 2013-2014 season, then-redshirt sophomore Nick Gwiazdowski recorded the best single-season wins percentage in NC State wrestling history at 42-2 before capturing the national championship at 285 pounds. With his 4-2 win over top-seed Tony Nelson of Minnesota, Gwiazdowski became the sixth NC State wrestler to win a national championship.
2. 35-7 over UNC
After falling to the Tar Heels in its past two meetings, the Pack executed a brilliant game plan to swiftly and brutally dominate Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill. The game was marked by the crucial playmaking abilities of redshirt junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett and junior running back Shadrach Thornton, paired with a rock solid Wolfpack defense, which limited the Heels to a season-low 207 total yards. Brissett’s running game was unstoppable as he recorded the most rushing yards by an NC State quarterback with 167 yards in 14 carries. The 35-7 rout capped off the much improved season steered by head coach Dave Doeren, whose 7-5 record eclipsed 2013’s underwhelming 3-9 campaign.
3. Men’s basketball beats Syracuse 66-63 in ACC Tournament
Anchored by the 28 points from ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren, the NC State men’s basketball team defeated No. 2 Syracuse to advance to the semifinals of the 2014 ACC Tournament. Junior Ralston Turner drained a three-pointer to give the Wolfpack a 62-59 lead with 2:28 to go, which NC State would not give up for the remainder of the contest. Although the Pack would eventually lose to Duke in the semifinal, the Syracuse victory remained a top moment for Wolfpack sports in 2014.
4. NC State football wins the 2014 Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl
The NC State football team faced off against the University of Central Florida during the holiday break after receiving a much deserved bowl bid to the Bitcoin bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Pack controlled the game tempo on both sides of the ball for the first three quarters, as the team boasted a 31-13 lead. UCF led a two touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Pack managed to fend off the momentum shift by eating up time on the clock to secure the 34-27 bowl victory.
5. Men’s soccer beats No. 5 Louisville
On a two-game losing streak and facing the then-No. 5 ranked Louisville Cardinals, the NC State men’s soccer team’s prospects did not look bright. With the Wolfpack pummeled by shots in the first half, it seemed only a matter of time before Louisville took the lead. Fortunately for NC State, the game is not played on paper, and second-half goals from sophomore Travis Wannemuehler and junior Reed Norton, plus a 12-save effort from junior goalkeeper Alex McCauley, vaulted the Pack to a 2-1 victory over a top-ranked ACC opponent, earning head coach Kelly Findley and his young team a signature win in 2014.
6. Jarvis Byrd’s comeback
Even one ACL injury can force an athlete to call it quits. Most would part ways with their sport after sustaining two. Quitting after three ACL tears is a no-brainer for anyone with a pulse, but graduate student safety Jarvis Byrd is a rare outlier. The Pahokee, Florida native returned to the gridiron in 2014, demonstrating a feat of true determination and love for the game after suffering three ACL tears in his career at NC State.
7. T.J. Warren puts up 41 at Pittsburgh
In March, Pack superstar, ACC Player of the Year and NBA first-round draft pick T.J. Warren dropped 41 points away at Pitt, a career high and the most points a Wolfpack player has scored in a game since Rodney Monroe went for 48 against Georgia Tech in 1991. The Pack won the game 74-67, avenging a home loss to the Panthers two months earlier. Warren finished 16-for-22 from the field, setting the Petersen Events Center record for points and made field goals in the process.
8. Women’s Basketball makes top 10
In late January, the No. 18 NC State women’s basketball team faced its toughest challenge yet when taking on the No. 8 Maryland Terrapins. After trailing by five in the second half, the Wolfpack organized a 28-10 run in the final 12 minutes of the game to attain the upset victory by a score of 72-63. The Pack soared up the rankings after the win, reaching No. 10 in the nation.
9. Dempster and Mudge duo wins doubles tourney
In October, the No. 9 ranked pair of senior Robbie Mudge and sophomore Ian Dempster won the ITA Regionals doubles tournament, placing first out of a field of 64 teams. In the final, the dynamic duo faced Clemson’s third-seeded tandem of senior Alejandro Augusto and senior Hunter Harrington. Augusto and Harrington won the first set, 6-3. Mudge and Dempster aggressively captured the second, 6-3. Clemson took a 9-7 lead in the tiebreaker and had match point twice, which were both saved by the Mudge and Dempster to extend the tiebreak to 9-9. After which, a forehand to the net by Clemson clinched the victory for the Wolfpack.
10. Women’s golf caps historic season
With a 10th place finish at the 2014 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, the NC State women’s golf team recorded its best season in program history. Led by junior Augusta James, who finished 13th at the tournament individually, NC State climbed from 23rd of 24 teams after the first round into 10th position, also a school-best finish. Multiple top-10 finishes over the course of the season and strong individual play cemented the 2014 women’s golf team in our top-10.
Graduate student fullback Tyler Purvis celebrates with graduate student outside tackle/outside guard Andy Jomantas after a rushing touchdown. Purvis had three receptions, two of which were for touchdowns. The Wolfpack dominated the UNC Tar Heels 35-7 on November 29th at Kenan Stadium.
