Caide Wooten
Sophomore Max Rohskopf grapples with opponent Garrett Peppelman (UVA-UNA) during the Wolfpack Open Sunday morning at Carmichael Gymnasium. Rohskopf finished eighth overall within the 165-pound weight class.
The NC State wrestling team hosted the Wolfpack Open on Sunday at Carmichael Gymnasium, and had three wrestlers win their respective weight classes in the event: redshirt junior Nick Gwiazdowski (285), sophomore Pete Renda (174) and senior Tommy Gantt (165).
The Wolfpack was able to cruise past most of the competition on Sunday, which included teams such as the Campbell Camels, Duke Blue Devils, Penn State Nittany Lions, Old Dominion Big Blue, George Mason Patriots, Davidson Wildcats and the Virginia Military Academy Kangaroos. The Pack not only boasted three overall winners, but also had four more wrestlers finish top-three in their weight classes.
As the reigning NCAA Heavyweight Champion, Gwiazdowski was able to dominate on the mat on his way to a 5-0 record, notching three pins and a win by major decision as well. The talented Delanson, New York, native showed that he was ready to pick up where he left off last season in hopes of winning back-to-back national titles at the 285 weight class.
Renda is another member of the Pack who had a strong outing. Renda, who was a NCAA qualifier last year, was able to win the 174-pound weight class with a 4-0 record. He outscored his opponents 35-9 throughout the day, proving to be a tough man to score on.
Gantt was the third member of the Wolfpack to win his weight class. Gantt was able to win his third-straight open championship with his win at the Wolfpack Open. Last season, Gantt was one match out of the top eight at Nationals.
Junior Sam Speno (141), who qualified for last year’s NCAA Championships with Gwiazdowski, Renda and Gantt, looked promising early in the tournament. However, the Mount Kisco, New York, native was feeling under the weather, and his condition was serious enough to leave him sidelined for the remainder of the match.
State also had successful outings from many of its younger wrestlers. Freshman Rodney Shepard finished second in the 149-pound weight class, sophomore Brenden Calas finished third in the 125-pound weight class, freshman Kevin Jack came in third in the 141 pound weight class and sophomore Lee Davis finished third at the 165-pound weight class. Davis’ only loss came to teammate Gantt.
If anything, the Wolfpack Open shed light on the competition for starting spots within the State team. The Pack boasted multiple competitors in five of the 10 weight classes, including six State wrestlers at the 149 weight class. Sophomores Brian Hamann and Cohl Fulk were the Pack’s starters at the 149 class last season, but only Fulk competed in the Open Sunday, finishing fourth.
The Pack will have its next matches this coming weekend as it will face off against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs and the ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday and then the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, the American Eagles and the UNC-Pembroke Braves on Sunday.