The No. 10 NC State Wrestling team won its second consecutive ACC Dual Championship after a 17-16 decision at No. 14 Virginia Tech was decided on criteria in the Pack’s favor on Friday night in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Wolfpack finished 4-1 in the ACC and shares the championship with UNC-Chapel Hill who also finished 4-1. NC State won the head-to-head matchup against the Tar Heels.
The first matchup of the night was at 184 pounds where the Pack’s redshirt sophomore Nick Reenan lost to Zack Zavatsky 6-2.
The Hokies had a 10-0 lead after three bouts after a decision at 197 pounds and a major decision at heavyweight.
NC State began it’s comeback when redshirt senior Sean Fausz won an 11-0 decision in the 125-pound group, which included 4:08 of riding time.
Redshirt sophomore Tariq Wilson competed for the first time since Jan. 6 and beat Korbin Myers 6-1.
The Wolfpack’s redshirt senior Jamel Morris tied the match at 10 with a 4-0 win and has beaten his opponents 61-5 this season.
Graduate Justin Oliver and redshirt sophomore Hayden Hidlay extended the Pack’s streak to five in a row with 6-3 and 6-4 wins, respectively. At that point, NC State led 16-10.
Virginia Tech’s top-10 competitors, Mekhi Lewis and David McFadden won the last two matches over redshirt sophomores Thomas and Daniel Bullard respectively, to tie the score, but it was too late. The Wolfpack won total team points 53-46 and hence won the match and ACC Championship.
The Pack returns to action for the ACC Championships on March 9 in Blacksburg, Virginia.
