RALEIGH, N.C. – Redshirt-senior Michael Macchiavello was named the 2018 ACC Wrestler of the Year, while Wolfpack head coach Pat Popolizio was named the 2018 ACC Coach of the Year the league announced on Wednesday. The three awards (including Freshman of the Year) were determined by a vote of the ACC’s six wrestling head coaches.
Macchiavello, from Monroe, N.C., capped an outstanding senior season by winning the national championship at 197 pounds. Macchiavello finished the year with a 22-3 record, and became only the second North Carolina native to win a national title. He defeated Virginia Tech’s Jared Haught, 3-1, in the NCAA Championship finals to claim the title with a takedown in the final 15 seconds.
Macchiavello’s national title was the 18th by an ACC wrestler and the first since former NC State standout Nick Gwiazdowski won the heavyweight crown in 2015. NC State now has had three national champions over the last five seasons.
“We are very proud of what Michael has accomplished, both on the mat and in the classroom,” said Popolizio. “He exemplifies the mentality, work ethic, and lifestyle needed to be successful and has reaped the benefits of trusting the process.
“He came to NC State in the early stages of building the program, when he and our team were facing tremendous growth challenges. From having a losing record as a freshman to winning an NCAA title as a senior, Michael demonstrated what is possible with complete buy-in and goal-oriented focus. He leaves NC State with an undergraduate degree in business management and is currently finishing his master’s degree. Michael embodies everything that our program stands for and what we look for in prospective student-athletes.”
Popolizio, in his sixth season as head coach of the Wolfpack, led NC State to a program-best fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championships, also tying as the highest finish ever by an ACC team. The Wolfpack posted a 15-2 overall record in duals, including a perfect 5-0 mark in the ACC, taking the regular season title for the first time since 2004 and finishing undefeated in conference action for the first time since 2000.
NC State finished the regular season ranked sixth nationally in the NWCA Coaches poll, the third straight season ranked in the top-10 in the final poll.
NC State had two wrestlers in the 2018 NCAA Championship finals for the first time in both ACC and school history, with Macchiavello and redshirt freshman Hayden Hidley (157). In all, the Wolfpack had four All-Americans in Macchiavello, Hidlay, redshirt freshman Tariq Wilson, who finished third at 133, and senior Kevin Jack, who finished sixth at 141.
“This was certainly an exciting year for our squad, setting many new program firsts,” said Popolizio. “All the hard work that started all the way back in the preseason came to fruition on our sport’s biggest stage with NC State’s first team trophy a national champion, and a school record four All-Americans.
“There are so many people behind the scenes that continue to elevate our program. Without their hard work and dedication to seeing our student-athletes excel, we would not be where we are at today. I am both humbled and honored not only for this award, but for all the resources we have as a program.”
Popolizio becomes the first NC State coach to be voted the ACC Wrestling Coach of the Year award since Carter Jordan in 2007. It also marked the eighth time an NC State coach was so honored as former Wolfpack head coach Bob Guzzo was named six times.
In addition to the ACC awards, NC State had three rookies recently named to The Open Mat’s All-Freshman Team. All-American Tariq Wilson (133 pounds) and NCAA Finalist Hayden Hidlay (157) were named to the first-team as the top rookie in their weight class, while NCAA Qualifier Daniel Bullard (174) was named to the second-team.
However, Hidlay was not eligible for the ACC Freshman of the Year award as it is limited to only true freshmen in the conference.
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