CHAPEL HILL — The wrestling team traveled to Chapel Hill to compete in the ACC/ Big 10 Challenge Invitational on Saturday.
N.C. State wrestled Purdue and Michigan State, but lost the matches 25-15 and 23-15, respectively.
According to coach Carter Jordan, the team lacks the discipline needed to win matches.
“Our guys are not doing the little things that they need to be doing,” Jordan said. “They’re not following the rules, and it is showing up in matches.”
Jordan changed Saturday’s lineup, benching some of his top athletes because of behavioral issues. “We had some guys who were not in the lineup who should have been, and we should have won those matches,” Bobby Isola, a freshman heavyweight, said. “We’re also working on certain guys filling certain spots, and we just haven’t found that guy yet.”
The guys have a tough season ahead of them, coming off a road loss at Oklahoma and the results on Saturday, according to Isola.
“Our whole season is tough,” Isola said. “Were going against the top five teams in the nation and we just need to be prepared.”
Although Jordan was not impressed by much from the weekend, he said he was impressed with Isola’s performance. Isola pinned Roger Vukobratovich from Purdue in 1:49. He also won his match 6-5 against Michigan State, defeating Freddie DeRamus.
“I had problems with single-leg takedowns in the Oklahoma match, and I really focused on that during our drill on Friday,” Isola said. “And now that’s what helped me win both my matches today.”
Jordan was also impressed by Darrion Caldwell’s match against Purdue. Caldwell came back after losing his match in Oklahoma, pinning Jake Patacsil, No. 8 in the country, from Purdue in 19 seconds.
Jordan said he was frustrated with his team after the match with Michigan State. He sent everyone on the bus except Isola. Jordan said his frustration was fueled by the lack of discipline the team exhibited at the meet.
“They need to understand that they are going to miss competition if they continue, and hopefully it will be peer pressure,” Jordan said. “We got beat today by two teams who we could be pretty competitive with, and we weren’t because we didn’t have anyone in our lineup.”
The team ran 10 miles last Monday and Tuesday because of other things that were not up to Jordan’s standards.
“They need to understand that discipline is a huge part of our program,” Jordan said. “They have to do the right thing all the time, not just when it is convenient.”
The Pack also needs a strong team bond, according to Isola. The team is made up of many team members seeing their first significant action, he said.
“We just need to work on team unity,” Isola said. “We need to go out as a team, but it just takes time. Going on away trips together and stuff will help team building.”
Looking forward, Jordan said he has high expectations for the season.
“We have tremendous talent, but it’s worthless without discipline,” Jordan said.
“We’re going to get the discipline right, I promise. We’re working hard, and they are great kids. They’re just making mistakes right now that the team doesn’t need to be making.”