NC State Wrestling
#8 NC State Wins Their 6th ACC Regular Season Dual Meet Championship in 7 Years
The 8th ranked NC State Wrestling team defeated #13 Virginia Tech 20-12 this evening, winning their 6th ACC Regular Season Dual Meet Championship in the last 7 years.
After trailing 12-3 after the first 5 matches, NC State would go on to win the final 5 matches to secure the victory.
Things got started with the 149 pound weight class.
#3 Jackson Arrington lost 1-4 to #2 Caleb Henson.
At 157 pounds, #12 Ed Scott defeated Rafael Hipolito Jr. 12-7. I definitely think that Scott could have picked up bonus points in this match, and at it’s conclusion, I was wondering if that would cost the Pack when it was all said and done.
At 165 pounds, #12 Derek Fields was upset by #22 Connor Brady, who picked up a takedown with 20 seconds remaining. I was beginning to sweat at this point.
At 174 pounds, #30 Alex Faison picked up a moral victory against #2 Mekhi Lewis. Yes, Faison did lose, but it was only a decision, losing 2-9. Lewis was desperately trying to pick up a takedown in the final seconds to pick up a major decision, but Faison held on, managing to not allow Lewis to pick up bonus points.
At 184 pounds, #7 Dylan Fishback was upset by #24 TJ Stewart 2-7. If I’m honest, at this point, I started doing math, and didn’t know if I saw a path forward for a Wolfpack victory.
Obviously, I’m bad at math, because I wasn’t projecting 5 points via a Tech Fall from Trent Hidlay…and why would I have expected anything less from the #2 wrestler at 197 pounds.
Hidlay crushed #26 Andy Smith 18-3, picking up 5 team points for the Tech Fall. Prior to Hidlay’s win, the Pack trailed 12-3. After his Tech Fall, the Pack found themselves within 4 points with 4 matches left.
The victory for Hidlay happened to be his 100th victory of his collegiate career.
Trent seals the deal with his 100th career win on his senior night 🐺💯 pic.twitter.com/3XG8FQ4EeZ
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
Trent Hidlay gets the technical fall in the third period to seal his 100th career win. The win also marks his 65th bonus point win out of those 100.
NCSU 8, VT 12#PackMentality || @hoagieboyhidlay
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
At Heavyweight, #15 Owen Trephan defeated Jimmy Mullen in dramatic fashion, with a takedown in the final seconds of the 3rd period.
TREPHAN TAKES IT😱 pic.twitter.com/nIXfPR7CcW
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
With 3 matches to go, the Hokies led by one point, 12-11.
At 125, #14 Jakob Camacho upset #3 Cooper Flynn 4-1. A takedown by Camacho in the first period proved to be enough.
CAMACHO UPSETS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FdA7nXH4aE
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
The Wolfpack led 14-12 with 2 matches to go.
At 133, #4 Kai Orine defeated #13 Sam Latona 2-1 in dramatic fashion, holding off Latona in the final seconds.
KAI STRIKES AGAIN ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/tmgZIoPRhk
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
With the Pack winning 17-12 with one match remaining, at 141 pounds, #4 Ryan Jack simply couldn’t allow himself to be pinned by #15 Tom Crook. If he were to be pinned, the Hokies would pick up six points and win the dual by 1 point. But, Jack didn’t get pinned. Rather, he defeated Crook 7-3, securing a 20-12 Wolfpack victory over the Hokies.
Earned it. #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/SmUhyRimMT
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024
Eatin’ good tonight 🍗 #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/JMAj9yno8J
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 24, 2024