Trailing the entire evening, NC State wrestling needed a miracle to escape unscathed against Virginia.
Fortunately for the Wolfpack, a miracle arrived in Reynolds Coliseum.
Down 17-13 with only the heavyweight bout left, sixth year Isaac Trumble took the mat to face Brenan Morgan. Only a pin or a tech fall would win the match for NC State. Despite facing an early 3-2 deficit, Trumble fought back, seized the lead and pinned Morgan for the match-clinching win.
Trumble pins to clinch the win for the Pack 🤯#PackMentality pic.twitter.com/iXc8vXOeSp
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) January 10, 2026
Surging to a 19-17 win, NC State (9-3, 1-0 ACC) began ACC play by earning its 12 straight victory over Virginia (8-4, 0-1 ACC). The Wolfpack finds itself very lucky to maintain the streak after stumbling and trailing throughout most of the match.
Jumping ahead to a 10-0 lead early, the Cavaliers shocked the Wolfpack by winning the first three bouts of the evening. With redshirt sophomore Vince Robinson not competing in the 125-pound match, the Cavaliers seized advantage of an opportunity for early momentum. The Pack then spent the remainder of the evening trying to dig itself out of the early hole.
The Wolfpack earned key momentum in the 174-pound bout when No. 5 redshirt junior Matty Singleton defeated Virginia’s No. 27 Nick Hamilton in decisive fashion. Dominating from the jump to take an early 6-0 lead, Singleton finished Hamiliton off with a 7-1 lead — a key momentum builder for NC State.
Sixth year Don Cates also helped stage the Pack’s comeback with a strong performance in the 184-pound bout. Jumping ahead 9-2, Cates held on for a 17-12 victory over Griffin Gammell — a win which pulled the Wolfpack within a single point of the Cavaliers. Cates’ victory allowed NC State and Trumble to be in a position to have a chance to steal the win at the end of the evening.
Andddd another three for Cates 👌 #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/fkEUE890Cy
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) January 10, 2026
One other key win for the Wolfpack occurred when redshirt sophomore Koy Buesgens earned the first Wolfpack win of the evening, Stopping the bleeding with a win in the 149-pound bout, Buesgens 11-5 victory came at the perfect time for the Pack to rally.
Buesgens fights for the takedown and Reynolds is louddddddd 🫨🫨🫨 pic.twitter.com/Y1qsBrRDNT
— NC State Wrestling 🤼♂️ (@PackWrestle) January 10, 2026
Moving forward, the Wolfpack must be better to uphold its high standards. Getting Robinson back in the lineup will be critical as he gives the Pack a chance against any opponent in the 125-pound class. Additionally, the red-and-white will have to work on improving around the margins in every class.
Next up, the Wolfpack will travel to the west coast to take on No. 24 Stanford on Friday, Jan. 16, at 10 p.m. Streaming is available via ACC Network Extra.
