The NC State wrestling team will host five opponents this weekend as it looks to topple some tough talent in Reynolds Coliseum.
Beginning Saturday, the Wolfpack will take on Gardner-Webb and Nebraska before facing Lindsey Wilson, American and UNC Pembroke Sunday at the Wolfpack Duals.
NC State is coming off a strong performance at the Wolfpack Open tournament last Sunday, where three Pack wrestlers took first place in their respective weight classes. Additionally, four more Wolfpack wrestlers finished in the top three of their respective weight classes.
NC State will take on Gardner-Webb first. The Bulldogs currently have a 2-3 record this season, but their three losses have come against tough competition, including the No. 9 ranked Virginia Cavaliers, the No. 12 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies and the No. 23 ranked North Dakota State Bison. As a result, their record on paper might not quite indicate the experience and talent that this team has.
The Pack’s next test will come from the No. 7 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. The midwest perennial powerhouse only suffered two losses last year and finished 11th in the NCAA Championship. The Cornhuskers are currently 1-0 on the season and will look to get another win under their belt when they take on the Pack.
The Blue Raiders are currently ranked No. 6 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) coaches’ poll and are led by senior Joe Cozart, currently ranked No. 1 in the 157 pound weight division. They are also coming off a year where they signed one of the top recruiting classes in the NAIA division and will look to prove their talent against some top teams at Reynolds Coliseum.
The American University Eagles will also come in looking to measure themselves against some tough talent Sunday. The Eagles are currently coming off of a 45-6 win over the Campbell Camels and hope to ride that hot streak into their dual matches on Sunday.
The final team that the Pack will wrestle against on Sunday will be the UNC-Pembroke Braves. The team is currently 1-0 on the season but has been to three individual tournaments already. Their wrestlers should be as ready as any team at the dual tournament due to the amount of matches they already have under their belt, which could pose problems for opponents who haven’t wrestled nearly as much yet this season.
NC State comes into this weekend just outside the top 25 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll (NWCA), but with a strong showing, the Pack could move up quite a few spots. If the Pack can get a signature win over a top ranked team like the Cornhuskers and then follow that up with a strong showing at the Wolfpack Duals, the team will be set for a strong season, comfortably placed inside the top 25 in the NWCA poll.
After the conclusion of this weekend, the Wolfpack will travel to Albany, New York where it will participate in the Northeast Duals and also have a match against the No. 3 ranked Cornell Big Red Nov. 29.
