The NC State wrestling team will host Brown University Saturday at 3 p.m. at PNC Arena after the NC State men’s basketball game vs. Pitt.
The No. 9 Wolfpack is coming off a tough loss to No. 2 Ohio State, where NC State fell 26-10. The most anticipated match of the day, No. 7 redshirt sophomore Tariq Wilson of the Pack and fifth-ranked Ohio State junior Luke Pletcher, was aborted due to an ankle injury Wilson suffered early in the second period. There is still no word about the seriousness of Wilson’s injury or if he will be ready to go by Saturday.
However, the bright spot for the Pack was the play of fifth-ranked redshirt sophomore Hayden Hidlay. Hidlay scored a pair of takedowns in a 7-2 win over No. 8 redshirt junior Ke-shawn Hayes, Hidlay’s second top-10 win of the season. The win earned Hidlay his second ACC Wrestler of the Week award of the season and the fifth of his career.
As Brown begins the dual meet portion of its season, the Bears will stay in North Carolina for the weekend, facing Davidson Friday and both the Pack and the Duke Blue Devils Saturday.
Recently, the Bears totaled 21 wins at the David H. Lehman Franklin & Marshall Open. Both sophomore Nino Bastianelli and senior Tucker Ziegler led the way for Brown, placing sixth in the 184-pound and 197-pound weight classes, respectively. Bastianelli won three of his first four matches of the day while Ziegler recorded four consecutive victories after losing his opening bout.
In order for NC State to bounce back after the loss against Ohio State, the Pack will need help from the hometown fans. Fortunately for the Pack, this will be the first wrestling match ever competed in PNC Arena.
“We get to have a dual inside a beautiful arena that hosts huge crowds for men’s basketball and of course, NHL hockey,” head coach Pat Popolizio told NC State Athletics. “We want to do our part to keep that arena full after the basketball game, and this will be a great way for our team to get even more exposure to the Wolfpack fans that might not have seen a match in Reynolds before.”
Fans can purchase a ticket for the doubleheader event. After the men’s basketball game ends, fans will be able to move closer to the wrestling mat as the Wolfpack takes on Brown.
