The wrestling team will travel to Chapel Hill Saturday to compete in the ACC/Big Ten Clash as it faces Michigan State, Wisconsin and Illinois. At last year’s Clash the Wolfpack, hampered by injuries, lost to Michigan and Purdue. According to coach Carter Jordan, this isn’t going to happen again.
“We’re looking to wrestle a complete match,” Jordan said. “It might be difficult. I’m looking for effort, and intensity — smart wrestlers, tough wrestlers this weekend. I’d like to win the dang-gone thing.”
With 11 freshmen and redshirt freshmen on the roster and redshirt senior Ryan Goodman still playing football, the team is still working on getting their starting lineup set, something that Jordan said he likes to take his time with.
“We take our time to get our stuff together because we make a push at the end of the year,” Jordan said. “From that standpoint, we’re looking for individual effort this weekend, its going to be difficult to beat these teams head on.”
The ACC/Big Ten Clash is the biggest and the toughest matches on the schedule so far according to freshman, Jake Burge. Burge is from Michigan and was recruited by the Spartans before coming to N.C. State.
“I’m looking forward to our dual against Michigan State,” Burge said. “I just want to go out there and wrestle my match.”
Focus on the mat is part of N.C. State’s new positive attitude along with a new work ethic, sophomore Darrius Little said.
“We’re not the same N.C. State team as last year,” Little said. “We have a new idea of team — everybody cheering on each other, not letting anyone down, showing up on time to practice, and doing whatever you need to do to make the team better.”
The Pack’s emphasis on teamwork can be easily spotted during their practices. The team runs together, wrestles together and if one person makes a mistake, the whole team does pushups. Jordan said he is happy with the team’s attitude early in the season.
“I’m real pleased with our effort and intensity,” Jordan said. “It will stay all season or they won’t wrestle — they don’t have a choice.”
Jordan’s tougher attitude is part of his “tighter ship” focus on the team this year. One of N.C. State’s strengths going into this weekend’s tournament is its conditioning.
“Most teams don’t have that early conditioning, like we do,” Burge said. “Our conditioning and endurance is great.”
The team has 6:30 a.m. practices Tuesday through Thursday as well as practice daily in the afternoon.
“Morning workouts help get our metabolism working and help us cut weight easier,” Little said.
