The wrestling team finished the regular season Saturday with a 30-9 home loss to Old

Dominion in Reynolds Coliseum. After being plagued by injuries throughout the year, the Pack was able to finish their season with key contributors back on the mat. Junior Darrion Caldwell, who had suffered back spasms throughout February, returned to give the Wolfpack one of its three wins on the night—an 8-3 decision over Joey Metzler.

“We realize that we are not the best dual meet team, but we’ve got a

bunch of individuals who can compete for ACC titles,” Caldwell, who improved to 30-1 on the season, said.

With the victory, Caldwell becomes only the second wrestler in school history with multiple 30-win seasons. The Wolfpack must now focus their attention on the ACC tournament held March 7 in Blacksburg, Va. The team has increased their practice work load by adding morning practice to their regiment.

“We picked it up this past week. We started doing a lot of work in the

mornings on our own,” redshirt senior 157-pounder Kody Hamrah said.

“We’ve got the ACC’s [and] that’s what we’re getting ready for. We’ve got

it focused in our minds, and that is really what matters from here on out.”

Although the Old Dominion loss was State’s seventh consecutive defeat in dual matches, coach Carter Jordan said the Wolfpack (4-15-1) are improving.

“There has been a lot of improvement from last week to this week, so I was

very pleased with that,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to continue

to struggle, continue to fight and continue to work hard.”

Of State’s seven losses in the ODU match, three were pins, but four were decisions of three or fewer points.

“We lost three really close matches tonight that would have made the

outcome different,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to win the close matches.”

According to Caldwell, the team has its sights set on the ACC tournament and hopes it can realize the potential of the ten competitors they bring to Blacksburg.

“Coach has been stressing throughout the year, winning the ACC title and

coming through till nationals,” Caldwell said. “I really think we’ve got a

good chance at winning [the ACC tournament].  Nobody is going to give up

on our team. The ACC is where it counts, so you’d better watch out for

us.”