There’s something special brewing down on the mats in Raleigh.
The NC State Wolfpack wrestling team has established itself as one of the most dominant and electric programs at the university and they’ve only continued to build on that legacy with yet another piece of hardware for the trophy case.
Already one of the top programs in the nation, the Wolfpack winning a sixth straight ACC title last week in Chapel Hill only further solidifies what many already know.
“It was obviously a great day,” said NC State coach Pat Popolizio to the media present at the ACC Championships. “We knew the competition was going to be really tough. What we did today speaks to the work that these guys have been putting in and I’m really happy for them because they’re the ones who deserve the success from all their hard work.”
The Pack didn’t just win another title either. They dominated the competition in record setting fashion with both the highest team score in program history (116 points) as well as the most individual champions.
In total, the Wolfpack took seven of the 10 weight class championships, with a second and third place finish as well.
“That’s a lot,” Popolizio said. “Obviously [the goal] is all 10, but a lot of people say that. I think our guys backed it up pretty good today though. Seven championships in the ACC is not an easy task.”
Individual champions
Redshirt junior Jakob Camacho (125 lbs), redshirt junior Kai Orine (133 lbs), junior Ryan Jack (141 lbs), sophomore Jackson Arrington (149 lbs), junior Ed Scott (157 lbs), redshirt senior Trent Hidlay (197 lbs) and redshirt junior Owen Trephan (heavyweight) all won the individual championships for their respective weight classes and redshirt freshman Dylan Fishback (184 lbs), redshirt sophomore Derek Fields (165 lbs) and graduate Alex Faison (174 lbs) finished second, third and fourth respectively.
With the victory, Hidlay became just the sixth wrestler in program history to win four individual ACC titles, joining his brother Hayden who accomplished the feat three years earlier.
“When you look at the mentality of our program and where we’re at today, both Hayden and Trent had a lot to do in laying that foundation down,” Popolizio said. “We’ve had a lot of great guys come through here, but those guys carried that torch and then elevated to a whole new level.”
Full crew headed to K.C.
The Wolfpack now looks ahead to the NCAA Championships where its entire lineup will be in attendance.
All 10 wrestlers earned a bid for just the third time in program history (2017 and 2022).
Nine members of the Pack received automatic bids out of the ACC Championships and then Fields was selected as one of just 47 wrestlers to earn an at-large bid.
“Just watching some of the big wins these guys got, I think it’s good momentum and confidence going into the NCAAs,” Popolizio said. “We have to enjoy tonight, but we have to put it behind us and get ready for the big show.
“From coaches to athletes, the expectation is to win. Win the right way and do things right outside the room so you can be in a position for a day like today.”
The NCAA Championships begin Thursday, March 21 in Kansas City and NC State will have some fairly favorable seeds overall.
Hidlay earned a first-round bye as a 2 seed and along with him, the Wolfpack have eight wrestlers ranked in the top 10 of their weight class: Orine and Arrington – third, Jack and Scott – fourth, Camacho – seventh, Trephan – eighth and Fishback – tenth.
The Pack hasn’t had an individual NCAA champion since Michael Macchiavello in 2018, but perhaps this year’s squad has a national champion in the mix.
