While NC State wrestling couldn’t secure the ACC team title this year, the Wolfpack earned a pair of individual titles at the ACC Wrestling Championships.
Placing third with 57.0 points, NC State experienced the highs and lows of postseason wrestling. A perennial contender in the ACC, the Wolfpack couldn’t seal the deal as Virginia Tech won the team title. However, the Pack performed admirably in the championship round as sixth year Isaac Trumble and redshirt junior Matty Singleton won individual titles.
Trumble is one of the Wolfpack’s most talented heavyweights in program history. After a knee injury stopped him from earning an ACC title last year, Trumble returned for his final season on a mission to get his crown. Ripping through the heavyweight bracket, Trumble dominated his way to his first ever ACC championship.
In the championship bout, Trumble left no doubt that he’s the ACC’s best heavyweight. Securing a near fall less than a minute into the match, Trumble’s lead became insurmountable and he defeated Pitt’s reigning ACC champ Dayton Pitzer 9-0. With one championship secured, the only thing left for Trumble to accomplish on the mat is winning a national championship — a feat he’s certainly capable of.
In the 174 pound bracket, Singleton defended his crown and won his second straight ACC championship. Entering as the No. 2 seed, Singleton surgically disposed of foes to collect three wins throughout the day.
In his championship bout, Singleton faced Virginia Tech’s Sergio Desiante. While Desiante led for much of the match, a third period reversal allowed Singleton to push the bout to overtime. Singleton then won a sudden death victory 5-3 to claim the title of back-to-back ACC champion.
Redshirt sophomore Koy Buesgens also earned a spot in a championship bout, taking on Virginia Tech’s Collin Gaj in the 149 pound championship. Buesgens and Gaj split their two regular season meetings and this one once again delivered. Despite a valiant effort and nearly getting a pair of takedowns, Buesgens suffered a 2-1 defeat in overtime.
The Wolfpack also earned a trio of third place finishes for six total podium spots. Sixth year Ryan Jack closed his ACC career with a sudden death takedown of Virginia’s Gable Porter in the 141 pound third-place match. Sixth year Zach Redding meanwhile won the 133 pound third-place bout with a last second takedown, clinching an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Finally, redshirt sophomore Vince Robinson closed a challenging tournament with a 5-4 decision over UNC’s Kysen Terukina in the 125 pound consolation bracket.
The most surprising result for the Pack came in the 165 pound bracket as freshman Will Denny took fourth place. The standout freshman entered the tournament as the top seed, but went 0-2 on the day. While the result was unexpected, Denny has the talent to bounce back with experience.
With the ACC Tournament in the books, all eyes turn towards the NCAA Wrestling Championships. The tournament will be held in Cleveland, Ohio from March 19-21. The selection show will be held on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m.
